MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

October 6, 2009

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Charles Walker, Vera Davison, Charles Odom,  C. C. Cox, Steve Lemmons, Steve Ramsey, Jim Bonsall, Jerri Lee, Steve Duggan, Bruce Blanton , and Daniel Thomas.

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Jimmy Thomas

PUBLIC HEARING:  To sit as a Board of Review for the 2009 assessment of real and personal property of the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana and to Adopt the millage rates for the tax year 2009.

The Webster Parish Police Jury received one filed protest from the Springhill Sr. Housing:

Parcel#’s 125538,124368,125382,124918,125360,125350A,125361B and 125363A.

Mr. Gene Corley, Dept. Assessor for the Webster Parish Assessor’s Office presented the Assessors facts concerning the assessed property for the Springhill Sr. Housing.

Mr. Larry Hoss, Springhill Sr. Housing presented the property owner’s facts concerning the assessed property.

There were no other filed protests to hear.

The Public Hearing ended.  The Regular Meeting of the Webster Parish Police Jury was called into session.

 Mr. Charles Walker called the Regular Meeting of the Webster Parish Police Jury to order and asked Mr. Richard Noles to open the meeting with prayer and asked Mrs. Charlotte Beard to lead in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Walker then began with the first order of business, Additions to the agenda. 

Mr. C. C. Cox moved, seconded by Mr. Jim Bonsall to add to the agenda #5-A Springhill Sr. Housing Protest of Assessed Tax.  Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mrs. Jerri Lee to adopt the minutes of the September 1, 2009 Administrative Committee Meeting, the September 1, 2009 Road Committee Meeting, and the September 1, 2009 Regular Meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Odom moved, seconded by Mr. C. C. Cox to approve invoices for payment pending review of the committee.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Richard Noles, appointed member of the Workforce Investment Council for Webster Parish and North West Louisiana gave a presentation on the goals and initiatives of the Workforce Investment Council. 

 Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Ms. Vera Davison to adopt Webster Parish Police Jury Ordinance # 990 to levy the taxes for revenue for expenses of the Webster Parish Police Jury for the year 2009.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Odom moved, seconded by Mr. Jim Bonsall to uphold the decision of the Tax Assessor concerning the filed protest of the Springhill Sr. Housing with the information that was presented to the Jury and with the understanding that the Louisiana Tax Commission would have ultimate consideration of the protest.  Motion carried with the following vote:

9 Yea                        1 Nay –Blanton                        1 Abstain – Duggan  1 Absent- J. Thomas

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to adopt the Annual Certification of Compliance for Off System Bridges, and to Adopt Amendment to Webster Parish Ordinance # 856- Off System Bridge for 2009, and to adopt Resolution authorizing the President relative to off System Bridges for 2009.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mrs. Jerri Lee moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to authorize Patrick Jackson to take action relative to the KCS claim for the 2005 Dixie Overland Water System Grant.  Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Ramsey to advertise for a Public Hearing to hear comments concerning Amendment to Webster Parish Ordinance # 829 of 2/02/1988- Webster parish FEMA Floodplain Ordinance updated.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Duggan moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to approve the following Resolutions of Support for application to LGAP:

1-       Germantown Water System               $25,000.00                 Replace building housing pumps and electrical

2-       Pleasant Valley Water system            $  6,700.00                 Relocate generator for efficient water service

3-       Stateline Water System                      $35,000.00                 Replace 2” water line with a 4”.

4-       Blocker Water Works                        $35,000.00                 To purchase a backhoe

5-       Doyline Water Works                       $20,000.00                 To replace existing water meters

Mr. C. C. Cox moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve a Resolution giving signature authority for Fran Harvey, Executive Director for the Webster Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Mr. Jim Bonsall to approve the following board appointments for the Webster Parish Fire Protection District # 4- Dubberly:

                F. E. Robinson          Reappointment                         2 year Term

                Don Sayers               Reappointment                         1 year Term

                Charles Mims           Reappointment                         2 year Term

                Ronnie Chreene       Reappointment                         1 year Term

                Chief Redelk            Reappointment                         2 year Term

COMMENTS:

Bobby Garrett, Executive Asst. to Senator Robert Adley

Wanda Finley, Head Start

Beverly Hammett, Webster Parish Library

Lynn Dorsey, Tourism

Webster Parish Humane Association-

                Patti Powell, Charlotte Beard, Ava McWhorter, and Sue Beatty

Joan Almond, LSU Ag Center

COMMITTEE REPORTS/JUROR COMMENTS:

Mr. C. C. Cox reported that 26^th Judicial District Judge Jeff Cox wished all Jurors well and hopes to be at the next Police Jury meeting.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Charles Odom to approve the action taken at the Road Committee meeting held earlier this day.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Odom reported on his recent trip to Baton Rouge for the Environmental Committee.  During his stay he attended a meeting with the Cultural Crossroads of Minden.  Cultural Crossroads is one of the finalists in a statewide “Entrepreneurship Project.  Cultural Crossroads is the only completely volunteer entry for the state and federally funded grants project.

Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mrs. Jerri Lee to approve the minutes of the Administrative Committee meeting held earlier this day.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall reported that a Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting was held earlier today, but that there was no action taken at the meeting. 

There being no further business to bring to the Jury, the meeting adjourned.

Ronda C. Carnahan                                                                                              Charles R. Walker

Secretary-Treasurer                                                                                             President