The first regular meeting of the Washington Parish Council for 2026 was held on January 12. Following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the Council amended the agenda to have the nominations and elections of Reginald McMasters as Council Chairman and Steven Branch as Vice-Chairman. This was followed by the approval of the minutes for the December 15, 2025, regular meeting.
The Council then introduced an ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 09-486 regarding the condemnation of buildings and structures relating to Notice of Hearing; to provide for hearings before a hearing officer; and to provide for related matters.
This was an introduction-only item, and it will be discussed at a public hearing that will be held on January 26 at 5:30 pm.
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The next four resolutions were explained prior to voting by Public Works Director Alex Sumrall as each addressed the parish assisting the Villages of Varnado and Angie as well as Franklinton and Bogalusa with (but not limited to) any drainage issues or flooding within the municipalities.
The Council then approved resolutions to authorize the Parish President to sign an Intergovernmental Agreement to assist the Village of Varnado, the Village of Angie, Franklinton and Bogalusa with skilled labor and mechanized equipment to facilitate construction and maintenance of road rehabilitation, drainage, and flood control projects. Sumrall added that these are reciprocal agreements and is a standard procedure at the beginning of the new year.
Next was the adoption of a resolution concerning the completion of the sidewalk project in downtown Franklinton authorizing the close-out of State Project No. H.014913.
In other business, the Council adopted a resolution appointing a Hearing Officer to conduct Code Enforcement Proceedings for the Washington Parish Government and providing for duties, authority, term effective date, and related matters. Attorney Matt Garver explained that the latest ordinances concerning blight allow for this. Trent Temples, an attorney in Bogalusa, will serve in this position. Garver feels Temples has the requisite skills to run a docket and make determinations. Parish President Ryan Seal added that this makes the process more independent as it must be managed legitimately in a legal docket format. Temples will act similarly to a judge and make determinations concerning those cited for failure to clean up blight.
The Council then adopted a resolution authorizing the Washington Parish Government to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. This office is housed in the same building as the permit office, and this is an annual agreement.
The next resolution adopted by the Council amended Resolution No. 25- 1411, a Resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for a grant under any of the FTA Programs managed through the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Attorney Garver explained that the original resolution was worded with Department of Homeland Security when it needed to be Washington Parish Government. This new resolution acknowledges the correction.
The final action by the Council was the adoption of the reappointing of Pamela Breland to the Riverside Medical Center Board of Commissioners effective January 1, 2026, and expiring on December 31, 2031.
In public participation, Jason Pierce introduced Duane Fuller to the Council. Fuller is the new Fire Chief for Fire District #7. Fuller shared that he is a 25-year veteran of fire service and he is ready for the challenge to move District #7 forward.
Sheriff Jason Smith reported that the parish jail currently has 232 total inmates with 212 housed on site which is 70 over capacity. He reminded the Council that 50 of these are state DOC inmates waiting to be transferred to a state facility and 35 are probation/parole holds. These 85 inmates are intended to be housed somewhere else and without them the jail would have 147 inmates. Smith is collaborating with DOC and is hoping there will be movement soon.
The new camera upgrade is slated to begin on January 13, and he is hoping for no delays. He also noted the recent drainage improvements by parish government at the Sheriff's Office and added that the kitchen has improvements ongoing.
In the President's Report Public Works Director Alex Sumrall reported that he, Transportation Supervisor Danny Knight, and Bobbie Jo Breland with Homeland Security spent most of the weekend of January 10-11 monitoring the Bogue Chitto River and lower line flood areas to make sure that no evacuations would be needed. There is also a yard behind the Sheriff's Office where gravel, clay, and a couple of pieces of equipment are stored and that is an AE Flood Zone. Thankfully, nothing had to be moved or evacuated. The river crested close to 16 feet and anything more could have been a problem for those who live in those AE flood zones.
Sumrall will be joining a Final Plan Review meeting on January 14 for the Mitch Road Bridge Recall over Peters Creek. He also gave the December Transportation Report. Among other things, crews completed drainage projects on 30 roads, installed 9 culverts, bushhogged 75 roads for 184 miles, and picked up 563 bags of litter on 50 roads. Sumrall did add that the holidays saw less days worked, but crews have been busy.
Finally, the permit department was busy in December. Among other items, the office processed 18 contractor registrations, issued 11 new residential construction permits, 12 mobile home permits, and assisted 97 walk-ins. BJ McNeese, Dewitt Williams, and Scott Dickerson completed 364 inspections.
Parish President Ryan Seal began his report with congratulations to District #7 who "hit a homerun" with hiring Duane Fuller. He also shared that State Representative John Wyble hosted a mass for all public leaders recently at Holy Family Catholic Church to help 2026 off to a positive start. Seal also attended a recent Parish President's Association meeting and discussed recent state and federal legislation. He is happy with Washington Parish's situation in regard to these. The next Parish Pulse meeting will be in February and is a growing event.
Seal also noted that he is now officially halfway through his term as Parish President and is pleased with the work being done for the parish. He also noted that during Kim Wagner's term as Council Chairman in 2025, 33 ordinances and 83 resolutions were adopted.
The Council ended the meeting by congratulating Councilman Reginald McMasters as the newest Chairman and welcoming Duane Fuller to his new position in District #7.
McMasters ended by reminding everyone of the sacrifices of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and welcomed everyone to attend the annual programs on Monday, January 19 in Franklinton and Angie.
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on January 26.
