MINUTES OF THE ROAD COMMITTEE

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

September 5, 2023

MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Ramsey, Chairman; Jim Bonsall, Adam Lee, Mike Griffith, Steve Lemmons, Bruce Blanton, Daniel Thomas, and Vera Davison

Absent: Cayla Cox, Randy Thomas, Allen Gilbert and Beverly Kennon

Mr. Steve Ramsey called the meeting to order and asked Mr. Steve Lemmons to open the meeting with prayer. Mr. Steve Ramsey asked for additions to the agenda.

Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to add Frenchie Dulaney Road to the agenda.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Chris Bagwell, Permit Officer gave a report on the permits issued in August 2023.

A landowner requested closing part of Frenchie Dulaney Road at the end of the road. Mr. Teddy Holloway, Public Works Director will contact the landowner and this will be addressed at the October meeting.

Mr. Bruce Blanton moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to apply for Capital Outlay Funding for the Federal Hwy 371 Widening Project. NLCOG will apply and submit paperwork, the jury will help as needed. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to call for a Public Hearing on November 7, 2023 to Abandon or Close 673 feet of East Road in Cullen, Louisiana. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve a Resolution from the Town of Sarepta for blacktopping Sarepta Loop using Municipality Funding. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to amend Webster Parish Ordinance #994 to read $750,000 per mile bond on each parish road to replace the $200,000 in Chapter 15 Section 15 of the ordinance. The amendment from July will be retracted until legal review. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to declare 2004 OEP Cargo Trailer as Surplus and bid to sell on govdeals.com, serial #47ZWB24234X028369. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Mike Griffith to amend Webster Parish Ordinance #976 to read

(c)  Any person or persons or company or corporation or any person or persons who are individually representing or acting as an agent for any person or persons or company or corporation who violates this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00 plus all court cost and or a jail sentence not to exceed six (6) months or both. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. David North, Engineer with LADOTD spoke to the jury about the Goodwill Frontage Road and addressed questions and concerns on the timeline of the project. It is set to be bid in the fall of 2025. Mr. Craig Watson, business owner, was in attendance of the meeting.

Judge Sherburne Sentell spoke to the jury on the juvenile detention housing problems in the parish. He suggested that the new women’s facility could possibly hold 8 juvenile beds in the future. Discussion followed. Senator Mills and Sheriff Parker was in attendance.

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

            /s/                                                                                 /s/                                            

Lisa C. Balkom                                                                        Steve Ramsey

Secretary-Treasurer                                                                  Chairman

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                                                                PAGE 029-2023

                                        MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

                                                                            WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

                                                                                        September 5, 2023

Members Present: Jim Bonsall, Vice Chairman, Steve Ramsey, Adam Lee, Steve Lemmons, Vera Davison, Bruce Blanton, Daniel Thomas, and Mike Griffith.

Absent: Cayla Cox, Randy Thomas, Allen Gilbert and Beverly Kennon

Mr. Jim Bonsall called the meeting to order and asked for additions to the agenda. 

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Mike Griffith to approve the July 2023 Financial Statement, Check Register and Bank Reconciliation. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall presented the Financial Reports for the month of August 2023 to be approved at the October Meeting.

Mr. Kevin Preston with LA Downs spoke to the jury on requesting to establish off track betting in Webster Parish and establish a facility within the parish. Discussion followed. Mr. Preston will attend another meeting at a later date.

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

_________/s/_________________                                ___________/s____________________

Lisa C. Balkom                                                            Jim Bonsall

Secretary-Treasurer                                                      President

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                                                                     MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

                               WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

                                             September 5, 2023

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Jim Bonsall, President; Steve Ramsey, Vice President; Cayla Cox, Mike Griffith, Steve Lemmons, Vera Davison, Bruce Blanton, Daniel Thomas, and Adam Lee

Absent: Randy Thomas, Allen Gilbert and Beverly Kennon

Mr. Jim Bonsall called the meeting to order and asked Mr. Steve Lemmons to open the meeting with prayer. 

Mr. Mike Griffith led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Jim Bonsall then asked for additions to the agenda.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to add E911 board appointment to the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

There were no comments from the audience concerning the agenda.

Mr. Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Ms. Cayla Cox to approve invoices for payment pending review by juror Steve Lemmons.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Adam Lee to adopt the minutes of the August 1, 2023 Road Committee, Finance Committee, and Regular Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Mike Griffith moved, seconded Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve the 2022 Audit of Financials presented in the August meeting by Jennie Henry, Allen, Green & Williamson, CPA for the Webster Parish Police Jury year end December 31, 2022. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Cayla Cox moved, seconded by Mr. Adam Lee to approve Webster Parish Police Jury Resolution

008-2023 approving the holding of an election in Shongaloo Fire Protection District No. 9 of the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, November 18, 2023 to authorize the continuation of a special tax therein. Motion carried unanimously.

      PAGE 030-2023

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve Webster Parish Police Jury Resolution 009-2023 approving the holding of an election in Cullen Fire Protection District No. 6 of the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, November 18, 2023 to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds therein. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Denise Edwards, Webster Parish Assessor explained the Millage Rates for 2023 and asked for questions or concerns. There were none.

Ms. Vera Davison moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to adopt the Millage Rates for Webster Parish for 2023 and approve Resolution 010-2023.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve Recreation Funding: District #3-$1000 Town of Sarepta and District #7- $1000 Village of Dubberly to overlay Brushwood Drive in Dubberly. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve Board Appointments for Evergreen Fire Protection District to reappoint Denise G. Miller to a two- year term to expire 12/31/2025. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Mike Griffith to approve Board Appointment for the Webster Parish Communication District E911 to appoint Dr. Shannon Spigener to replace Mr. Ray Brown, term to expire 12/31/2025. Motion carried unanimously.

COMMENTS:

Melinda Davidson                    WPOCS Director

Wanda Finley                           HeadStart Director

Serena Gray                            WP C.V.B. (Tourism)

Christie Cox                             WP Coroner/Allen Mosley

COL. Carl Thompson               Webster Parish Assessor/Denise Edwards

John Monzingo                         LSU/AG

Brian Williams                           OHSEP Director

Angie Chapman                        E911 Director

Senator Robert Mills

Judge Sherburne Sentell

Mr. Adam Bass, Candidate for State Senate addressed the jury.

Ms. Dorothy Henderson, concerned citizen had questions about private property.

Ms. Tan Grisby, Candidate for Police Jury District 10, addressed the jury.

Ms. Nancy Hines, Candidate for Police Jury District 8, addressed the jury.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve the action taken at the Road Committee Meeting held earlier today. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Mike Griffith moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to approve the action taken at the Finance Committee Meeting held earlier today.  Motion carried unanimously.  

Mr. Jim Bonsall then gave Presidents’ closing remarks.

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

/s/                                                                                                                            /s/                                                           

Lisa C. BalkomSecretary-Treasurer                                                      Jim Bonsall      President

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