The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, July 28. The meeting began with a public hearing immediately followed by the regular meeting. The first item of business was the approval of minutes from the Regular meeting held on July 14.
The Council was then addressed by Leona Magee, Director of the Washington Parish Council on Aging. Ms. Magee reported that four meal sites provide a hot lunch for seniors in Bogalusa, Franklinton, Pine, and Angie. From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, 30,849 meals were served. There were 41,544 meals provided to homebound clients. The Council also provides a homemaker service for two hours per week for 34 clients and a medical alert system for ten clients as well as respite service to allow caregivers an opportunity to "take a break." Ms. Magee also shared that 89-year-old volunteer Ms. Bea telephones and checks on homebound clients and made a total of 1,196 calls in the past year.
Council on Aging Director of Transportation Hollis Kagler told of the transport services available as well as the process of obtaining this service. Last year the transit system, which serves the entire parish, provided 13,810 trips for clients.
Eight vehicles with accommodations for handicaps are utilized for this service.
Continuing on the agenda, the Parish Council adopted an Ordinance to relocate Ward Four, Precinct 4-9 and 4-9A, Voting District of Bogalusa. Public Works Director Alex Sumrall explained that the polling site has been the unused Denhamtown Elementary School. Because the building is vacant, there is mold, asbestos, and no working air conditioning. This not only affects election workers but voters as well.
The new polling site will be at Fire District #7 headquarters at 17380 Bill Booty Road near Bogalusa. The firehouse will provide a safer, more adequate polling location for voters.
Next, the Council adopted an ordinance to Amend the Amended Compiled Ordinances of the Washington Parish Alcohol Policy. Director of Finance Lacy Burris explained that there are no longer any dry wards in Washington Parish per state law. Since the sale of alcoholic beverages requires a permit, a $50 application fee has been added as well.
An ordinance was introduced to amend the 2025 Annual Operating Budget for the Washington Parish Government to reflect projected actual revenues and expenditures for Capital Projects-Roads and Bridges, Fund 24. A public hearing will be held on August 11, and the ordinance will be voted on at the Regular meeting.
The Council then adopted a resolution accepting the Industrial Tax Exemption Program Application of the International Paper Company. According to Parish President Ryan Seal, the company is expanding operations to be safer and more efficient with upgrades to machinery. It was clarified that this is a phase of a previously approved project.
The final item of the night was the adoption of a resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for a grant under any of the following FTA programs managed through the Department of Transportation and Development: 49CFR 5311, Formula Grant for Rural Areas and CFR, Grant for Bus and Bus Facility Program.
In the President's Report, Finance Director Lacy Burris reminded everyone that on October 11 four property tax renewals will be on the ballot that are essential for operations. These include the public library, health unit, roads and bridges, and Courthouse maintenance. It was also noted that these are renewals and none are new taxes.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall reported that the Clerk of Court Conveyance Room Remodel project is on track to begin in approximately two weeks. Plans for the sidewalk project segments D & E are currently at 60 percent and will be finalized soon. This segment will go south on Main Street past Riverside Medical Center. The department is also working to make new sidewalks the east side of North Main Street a top priority.
Sumrall reported that Animal Shelter managers Kelsey Knight and Diana Riley completed classes in Lake Charles recently and received another award for being a No-Kill Shelter in 2024. There are currently 11 dogs on site and staff will assist with the adoption process.
Finally, 133 building permits were issued in July with 16 of these for mobile homes and 13 for home construction. The permit office has issued 1,136 permits in 2025. Additionally, 73 logging permits were issued for July.
Parish President Ryan Seal said he is especially proud of the nice homes being built in the parish and grateful for folks choosing Washington Parish for their home.
Seal discussed the many projects going on in the parish with improvements at recreational areas in Varnado, Plainview, and the Atoki facility near Franklinton.
He said overlay projects by Barriere start next week on 30 roads with parish crews providing much of the prep work. The parish is working on more grants and is currently trying to buy two new basic dump trucks with a waiting list of up to 30 months. Seal thanked the Council on Aging for "doing God's work" adding, "Ya'll are a blessing." He ended with a reminder that there have been numerous fatalities on Hwy 21 in the past month. "Pay attention when driving so we have a safer parish for everyone."
Council members all expressed their honor at being a part of the Purple Heart Parish ceremony held prior to the Council meeting and thanked the Council on Aging representatives for their work. Everyone was urged to be cautious of extreme temperatures and wished all students and teachers a great year. The next meeting will be held on August 11.
