The Washington Parish Council met before a packed house on Monday, July 27.
Attendees were asked to wear red to show support for the efforts to stop any new solar farms in Washington Parish. Some of the Council members were also wearing red.
Parish President Ryan Seal noted several corrections that needed to be made in the July 13 minutes. First was the mention of work done at the Plainview Athletic fields instead of Kennedy. The next were concerning statements he made during the President's report concerning his time with the Economic Development Foundation and subsequent accusations that he encouraged solar farms to Washington Parish. Following the approval of July 13 Regular Council Meeting minutes, the Council addressed a fairly short agenda of items.
First was the adoption of two resolutions amending Resolution No. 26-1491 to correct an error regarding the highway designation for the Downtown Franklinton Sidewalk Improvement Project, Segment A2. Public Works Director Alex Sumrall explained that a typo resulted in the highway being labeled as 16 when it should be Highway 25. The Council then adopted a resolution amending Resolution No. 26-1472 to correct an error regarding the highway designation for the Downtown Franklinton Sidewalk Improvement Project, Segment A2. This was the correct resolution.
The Council then adopted resolutions reappointing Bradley Cooper, John Seal, Stuart Varnado, and Keith Dellsperger to the Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 Board of Directors. All four terms will expire on December 31, 2027.
Next, a resolution was adopted reappointing Shaunna Freeman, Jon Pinell, and Tracy Verret to the Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 9 Board of Directors with terms expiring December 31, 2027.
The final item of business was the adoption of a resolution to declare surplus and/scrap movable property and authorization to dispose of it. Alex Sumrall explained that he hopes to realize enough proceeds at the auction to possibly purchase two pick-up trucks. However, if any of the items are not purchased, they will be scrapped.
Prior to Public Participation, Council President Reginald McMasters explained that each speaker would have five minutes, and he urged all comments to be as professional and clean as possible.
Jerry Parker from the Lee's Creek community implored the Council to look at the Pearl River Navigational Canal. There is no direct access to the Pearl River, and the area cannot be utilized by boaters or residents. He would like to see a possible bridge, parking lot and boat launch below the canal dam to open this up to residents.
Shellie Thomas, Tim Tackett, and Jim Adams all spoke on behalf of their community's strong opposition to solar farms. Mr. Tackett noted that the rural lifestyle is what attracted him to the area and he hopes the Council will weigh the benefits versus the detriments.
Shellie Thomas posed the question, "What are you actually willing to preserve? Leave behind a legacy worth inheriting."
Mr. Adams stated, "Washington Parish will not gain but lose from this."
However, it was the comments at the previous meeting by President Ryan Seal that stirred up the passions of several citizens. Seal ended his President's Report during the July 13 meeting with: "In 2017, I was director of Economic Development when I received a call about solar power. During my tenure I was not recruited by a solar company wishing to come to Washington Parish and anyone who says otherwise is a liar, liar, liar!”
“No one knew a lot about solar farms at the time and LSU allowed Experiment Station property to be used. Across the road, landowners (within their rights) sold property for the second farm. This was done before the current ordinance was in place.”
Seal ended with, 'To say I wronged the parish because I recruited solar is wrong. I am tired of it and come what may, I've had enough. Truth has become a casualty, and I want decisions to be based on truth."
Several citizens spoke in rebuttal to this.
Former Council member David Anthony read the minutes from an Infrastructure Committee Meeting in 2018. A summary is that Ryan Seal was in attendance as Director of the Economic Foundation asking for support of solar farms. He explained the solar farms' purposes and how they work and the Industrial Property Tax Exemption.
Ben Sarro followed up with Parish Council Regular Meeting minutes from July 9, 2018. He stated that the resolution was not introduced as an introduction with a two-week period before voting by the Council. This gave the public no time to know about the farms and react to them.
Sarro stated that Seal said, "I didn't recruit. It was my job to present and sell to the Council."
Sarro said concerned citizens didn't have the opportunity to object and the solar farms on the LSU Experiment Station property went through. Nobody knew about it.
(Writer’s comment: It is worth noting here that Seal's job with Economic Development was to attract industry and business. Regardless, this entire situation helped the Council institute the most comprehensive solar farm ordinance in the state that other parishes presently use as a guide.)
It was comments by Nick Smith Jr. that drew the most attention.
Smith and his father have been some of the most outspoken opponents to the solar farms and have never shied away from commenting at Council meetings. He read from a prepared statement based on “truth vs facts”. In part, he said, "Facts can tell you what happened. Truth tells the whole story… It's factual to say that the former Economic Development Director (Seal) didn't bring solar projects to Washington Parish because he didn't simply call solar companies and invite them here. But it's not truthful to suggest that he opposed those projects. The truth is that he was --- and still is --- in a position to support these projects."
Smith went on to question Seal's transparency and accused Seal of blurring the issues and working behind the scenes to make deals without involving the Parish Council.
Smith ended with, "I have every right to ask questions about projects that will affect our community for decades to come…Washington Parish doesn't need leaders who are more concerned with winning arguments or calling people names. We need leaders who are willing to tell the whole truth."
To his credit, Seal did not respond to any of the comments or accusations.
Council President Reginald McMasters did add that he was on the Council in 2018 when this issue first erupted and recalled that there was no introduction to the solar farm permit item.
However, McMasters said, "We have a tough job. We want to protect the landowner."
Nick Smith Sr. interjected that the Council recently refused to grant a permit to allow a cell tower. They can also do this with solar farms, he said.
McMasters continued, "If landowners get a one-million-dollar offer, they will take it. We have a difficult position. As elected officials we must figure out what is the best and legal way to proceed. A moratorium is underway and we are listening. We want to do what's right for Washington Parish. We will present all the information to the public before we vote. We hear you. We are on you guy's side."
In the President's Report, Finance Director Lacy Burris briefly went over the highlights from the June 2026 financial report and reported positive balances for all major funds. She is very happy with the fund situation at present.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall had no specific reports but noted that fleet manager Brad Toney unexpectedly lost his brother and asked that everyone remember Brad and the Toney family in prayer.
President Ryan Seal gave a summary of the recent National Association of Counties Conference held in New Orleans. Key topics were jails, mental health, healthcare in jails and infrastructure. Seal recently attended a street dedication in Bogalusa in memory of Valeria Hicks, widow of civil rights champion Bob Hicks. The newly named street intersects Bob Hicks Street, and the couple's family home is located on the corner. He noted that the Council on Aging has opened its fifth parish feeding site in Mt. Hermon. Seal was very complimentary of the great work the Council is doing in the parish.
The next meeting will be held on August 10, 2026.
