The Washington Parish Council held its regular meeting on Monday, February 10. After the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes from the January 27 meeting were approved by the Council. Next on the agenda was notice that at its regularly scheduled meeting on March 10 the Council will discuss and consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling an election to authorize the renewal of four existing ad valorem taxes currently being levied in the Parish for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating public health units in the Parish; improving, maintaining and operating the Courthouse and related public buildings in the Parish, including specifically the payment of utilities; constructing, improving and maintaining public roads and bridges in the Parish; and improving, maintaining and operating the public library system of the Parish and its branches. These are not new taxes but renewals.
Next, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Washington Parish Government to administer a grant through the Hazard Mitigation Program. The funds from this grant will be used to provide emergency power to critical facilities to ensure uninterrupted operations with the purchase and installation of transfer switches and seven trailer-mounted generators (4-65kw, 1-25kw, and 2-18kw). If the grant is funded, matching funds in the amount of $61,884.90 will be provided by the Washington Parish Government.
Director of Finance Donna Graham clarified that the generators and trailers will be purchased through a bid process. Council Vice-Chairman Reginald McMasters emphasized that these will be used in emergency situations only.
This was followed by the adoption of a resolution to enter into a contract with Rock Solid Trail Contracting, L.L.C. for Phase V of the Mountain Bike Trails Project at the Bogue Chitto State Park. Louisiana is currently operating under a Title 38 contract with Rock Solid Trail Contracting L.L.C. from Bentonville, Arkansas, to complete the construction of mountain bike trails and bike courses at Bogue Chitto State Park. Washington Parish Government has agreed to contribute $35,000 toward the contract. Ms. Graham shared that a $10,000 grant is also being applied for with International Paper, so the parish will provide $25,000. She added that the completion of this phase will bring the bike paths to being one of the premier courses in the country. The bike paths are extremely popular in the state park and attract hundreds of visitors to the park and the parish each month.
The final item was the adoption of a resolution to appoint Herbie Eric Hanson as a member of the Board of Directors of Washington Parish Fire Protection District #4 to replace Roy Duncan who recently passed away. Mr. Hanson's term will be effective immediately and expires on December 31, 2026.
In public participation, Sheriff Jason Smith explained that he has delayed the work on the Varnado Satellite Jail to focus on the court system which has begun with the new year, and this has increased the number of Department of Corrections (DOC) inmates at the jail awaiting transfer to state institutions. Sheriff Smith added that the DOC's statistics have declared the Washington Parish Jail as the most overcrowded facility in the state at 163 percent. Currently the jail houses 266 inmates with 236 in Franklinton's jail and 30 in other facilities at an approximate cost of $1000 each per month. Smith will be reconvening to look at the Varnado site but there needs to be "an institutional fix" to solve the problem, he said. Sentenced criminals usually wait in the parish jail six to eight weeks before the DOC moves them.
Hackley resident William Lee told the Council that he has received a summons to court for walking on his grandparents' property. The problem, as he expressed it, is that Louisiana is an heir property state, and this is hurting minorities most. Councilman McMasters recognized that Mr. Lee has a noted problem with the legalities of his family's property, but the parish council cannot help with it as it is a legal issue. Parish attorney Matthew Garver agreed to meet with Mr. Lee after the meeting to discuss the situation further.
In the President's Report, Donna Graham explained to the Council that she provided each with historical information on the ad valorem taxes since 1937 when the first millage was put in place. She also provided a sales tax schedule so that council members have insight into the parish's tax situation.
Kelvin Brown reported that since January 27 crews have replaced 19 signs on 11 parish roads, cleaned and cut five locations and picked up 517 bags of trash on 47 parish roads. Brown shared how disheartening it is for him and his crews to pick up trash and return to the location less than a week later to see more trash. He also noted that about 40 tires have been dumped on one parish road and the littering situation in the parish is sad and "we have to do better."
A more detailed look at the trash problem shows that of the 47 roads cleaned up in a two-week period, 43 bags of trash were picked up on Seven Mile Road, 28 bags on Jim Edwards Road, 26 bags on W Stateline Road, 25 bags on Thomas Cryer Road, 24 bags on Frank Dillon Road, 23 bags on RS Riley Road, and 23 bags on Bethel Road. Parish President Ryan Seal added that the Department of Tourism is using grant money to educate children on litter with hopes of making a difference.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall reported that the sidewalk project Segment A in Franklinton is steadily moving along, and depending on the weather, the project seems ahead of schedule to finish before the summer break. Crews are currently trying to get ahead with bush hogging and scraping the shoulders where grass has taken part of the roads. The Courthouse renovations will be completed within a week with only the mechanical panel remaining. The last of the flooring is being installed which was an add-on from the original scope of work. Extra security lighting has been installed in the alley at the rear of the courthouse to make it safer for anyone going to their cars at night.
Parish President Seal reported that a new sign has been installed at the Varnado Recreation Center and there is more to come at this location. Seal recently attended the dedication of the Youth Build Building at Northshore Technical College and it has been named after "a class act," the late Danielle Keys. Seal also attended the annual Chamber Banquet at the Willows and heard positive reports from Representative John Wyble and Senator Beth Mizell.
Sadly, in the past week Seal attended the funerals of three community-minded, great Christians in Richard Morgan, Sherry Gill Simpson, and Kenny Kellis.
President Seal added some pertinent statistics for 2024 in Washington Parish which included 1800 building permits issued, 80 new homes were constructed, 96 contractors were registered, 174 drainage projects were completed, 493 roads were graded for 911 miles, 3,247 miles were bushhogged and 5,278 bags of trash were picked up. Seal emphasized that progress was made in 2024 in Washington Parish and parish government is staying busy.
The Council's next meeting will be held on Monday, February 24 at 5:30 pm.
