Page 010-2011

            MINUTES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

April 5, 2011

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Vera Davison, Chairman; Jerri Lee, Vice Chairman; Daniel Thomas; C. C. Cox; Charles Odom; Steve Lemmons; Jim Bonsall; and Charles Walker, President.

Ms. Vera Davison called the meeting to order, and opened with prayer.

Mr. C.C. Cox moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to add Teddy Holloway, Public Works Director, personnel matters to the agenda.  Motion carried unanimously.

The first item on the agenda is renewal of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Group Insurance quote for May 1, 2011.  Mr. Jim Ritchie presented the proposal of 7% increase for the year at the same level of benefit.  Mr. Ritchie then discussed the new Health Care Reform Law and how it has affected the group.  He went on to explain how that “Grandfather Status” would also affect our plan.  Mrs. Jerri Lee moved, seconded by Mr. C. C. Cox to approve the 7% increase for 2011-2012 and to have a “fact finding” committee formed to work on issues to reduce insurance benefit cost to the Jury.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Doug Mitchell, Parish Demographer then presented the current Plan #5 Redistricting Plan for Webster Parish.  There was discussion on how to best make minor adjustments to plan 5 for approval.  Mr. Mitchell went over the time line for approving a plan and sending to Secretary of State and then to the Department of Justice.  A revised Plan 5 will be presented at the 10:30 meeting for approval.

Teddy Holloway then told the Jury that Don Owens has been hired as an 11 month – Part Time Employee at $7.99 per hour, when Mr. Owens receives his CDL license, he will be hired Full Time at $9.25 per hour as a Truck Driver.  Mr. Charles Walker moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to ratify this action.  Motion carried unanimously.

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

Ronda C. Carnahan                                                    Vera Davison

Secretary-Treasurer                                                     Chairman, Administrative Committee

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MINUTES OF THE ROAD COMMITTEE MEETING

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

April 5, 2011

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

Mr. Steve Ramsey called the Road Committee Meeting to order, and then asked for additions to the agenda.

Mr. Charles Walker moved, seconded by Mr. Jim Bonsall to add the following items to the agenda:  #7.  Doyline Resolutions: A- To grade and base Agape Lane from Hwy 163 to the bridge and at 770 Fuller from 163to the “Y”, and Alex Fuller Road using municipality funding for materials and any additional cost will be paid by the Village.; B- To repair culvert crossing Strong Street near the intersection of Strong St. and College St.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Walker moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to set the speed limit at 20MPH on Westwood Camp Road from end to end, and to install speed limit signs and children at play signs.   Motion carried unanimously.

Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Jim Bonsall to approve a Resolution from the Village of Dubberly to do pothole repair and ditch cleaning on Garrett Road/ Garrett Loop using municipality funding.  Motion carried unanimously.

Page 011-2011

Road Committee – Continued—

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Duggan to approve a Resolution from the Town of Sarepta to install culverts inside the city limits for the year 2011 upon approval of the Public Works Director.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Mr. Charles Walker to approve a Resolution from the Village of Dubberly for cleaning ditches on Davis Drive.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Duggan moved, seconded by Mr. C. C. Cox to set the speed limit on Shane Drive at 20 MPH from end to end.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Walker moved, seconded by Mrs. Jerri Lee to approve a Resolution from the Village of Heflin to install culverts for the year 2011 with the Village responsible for materials, and the Jury responsible for labor upon the approval of the Public Works Director.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Walker moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Duggan to approve two Resolutions from the Village of Doyline.  A- To repair the culvert crossing on Strong Street.  B- To put iron ore base and gravel if needed and grading Agape Lane from Hwy 163 to the bridge, 770 Fuller from Hwy 163 to the Y, and Alex Fuller Road using municipality funding and overages paid by the village.  Motion carried unanimously.

Patrick Jackson explained the procedure for installation of culverts within the municipalities and on LA State Hwys.  He stated that the procedure is the same as for parish right of way with the exception that the parish must have approval of the municipality and/or the state to do the installation.  If the Parish Public Works Director determines that the reason for the installation is to improve drainage for a public purpose, the Jury can do the installation.  If it is for a private citizens use only, the Jury can do the installation, but the landowner or the municipality will have to reimburse all cost back to the Jury.

There was discussion on the increasing litter problem across the parish.  Mr. Odom stated that he was meeting with the Sheriff next week to address this problem. 

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

Ronda C. Carnahan                                                                Steve Ramsey

Secretary-Treasurer                                                                 Chairman

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

April 5, 2011

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

PUBLIC HEARING:             To obtain views on the adoption of a Twelve (12) District Single Member plan of reapportionment for Webster Parish to comply with reapportionment laws based on 2010 PL94171 data and to rearrange, change, and relocate voting precincts.  There were no comments from the public.  Demographer Doug Mitchell went over the proposed plan.

PUBLIC HEARING:             To obtain views on the housing and community development needs of the Police Jury and discussion of application submittal for Louisiana Development Block Grant Program.  There were no comments from the public.

Mr. Charles Walker called the meeting to order and asked COL Carl Thompson to open the meeting with prayer; Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Regular Meeting – Continued-

There were no additions to the agenda.

Mr. C. C. Cox moved, seconded by Mrs. Jerri Lee to adopt the minutes of the March 1, 2011 Road Committee Meeting and the March 1, 2011 Regular Meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Bruce Blanton moved, seconded by Ms. Vera Davison to approve invoices for payment pending review of the committee.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Odom moved, seconded by Mr. Jimmy Thomas to approve the budget amendments as presented for the 1^st quarter 2011.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mrs. Jerri Lee to adopt Plan 5 contingent upon the discussion at the Administrative Committee meeting held earlier today.  The changes will include moving Precinct #13 out of District #5 and Precinct #2 out of District #1 which is currently in District 4 in Plan 5.  The Plan will be called Plan 6.  Ordinance #998 will be completed with correct legal descriptions to be adopted at the next Police Jury Meeting.  Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Ramsey to approve change of polling place for submittal to the US Department of Justice.  The change will be for precinct #18, currently located at Stewart Elementary School.  Stewart Elementary School will be closed due to the realignment of schools in Webster Parish.  The above stated precinct will be relocated to the Alternative School.  Submittal will be included with the reapportionment plan.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve an application for Public Facilities - Sewer by the Webster Parish Police Jury for the funding year FY2012 - FY2013, and to approve a Citizen Participation Plan/Citizen Complaint Procedure to be adopted and Ronda Carnahan be appointed as Citizen Complaint Officer for compliance with the LCDBG program, and to authorize Mr. Walker to proceed with procurement and selection of professional services for the project.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. C. C. Cox moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to appoint Fran Harvey Executive Director of the Webster Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services for 2011-2012.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Duggan to transfer ownership of improvements made using the 2006 LCDBG funds to the Webster Parish Sewer District #1 under a cooperative endeavor agreement.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Jimmy Thomas to call for an election to authorize an additional homestead exemption in Webster Parish effective January 1, 2012 for certain disabled veterans and surviving spouses.  Motion carried unanimously.

Olivia Ward, Trailblazer RC&D addressed the Jury on Water Quality and Groundwater Quality workshops and training, and Entrepreneur Program that is sponsored through Trailblazer.

Mr. Daniel Thomas stated that he was interested in a study to improve water quality in Webster Parish and for the Sparta Aquifer by a plan to flood the bar pits.  Mr. Walker asked Mr. Thomas to look into this.  Steve Ramsey told the Jury that Trailblazer is working currently with DEQ to establish a groundwater plan.

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Regular Meeting – Continued—

MONTHLY REPORTS:

 Wanda Finley                                      WPPJ Head Start

Beverly Hammett                                               Webster Parish Library

Susan Baird                                          Webster Parish Humane

Lynn Dorsey                                         Webster Convention and Visitors’ Bureau

Joan Almond                                        LSU Extension Service Webster Parish

COL Carl Thompson                          LA National Guard – Camp Minden

John Stanley                                         Webster Parish Homeland Security

Chris Broussard                                   Cultural Crossroads

Mr. Richard Durrett, Retired Administrator and Engineer from Lincoln Parish spoke to the Jury.  Mr. Durrett is now a consultant with Waggoner Engineering. 

Others attending the meeting were Mr. Roy Kirkland with the American Legion; Mr. Sydney Cox, and Chief Will Lynd of Springhill. 

JUROR COMMENTS:

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Charles Odom to approve the action of the Road Committee Meeting held earlier today.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Ramsey also encouraged all to attend the Heflin Sawmill Festival on the 1^st Saturday in May, and to remember Jerry Lott and his family on the loss of his wife, Margaret. 

Mr. Bruce Blanton recognized some Springhill residents in attendance, Mr. Gerald Holland and Chief Will Lynd.

Mr. Daniel Thomas asked that those present remember and pray for unity in our parish.

Mrs. Jerri Lee stated COL Thompson spoke at the CDC Luncheon at Barksdale recently and he did make the Jury and Webster Parish look good.  Mrs. Lee told COL Thompson that Jurors attending the CDC luncheon appreciated his kind words.

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

Ronda C. Carnahan                                                                Charles R. Walker

Secretary-Treasurer                                                                 President