PAGE019-2024

MINUTES OF THE ROAD COMMITTEE

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

July 2, 2024

MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Ramsey, Chairman; Jim Bonsall, Adam Lee, Mike Griffith, Steve Lemmons, Beverly Kennon, LaTanya Grigsby, Bruce Blanton, Nancy Hines, Daniel Thomas, Allen Gilbert and Randy Thomas

Mr. Steve Ramsey called the meeting to order (8:30A.M) and asked Mr. Steve Lemmons to open the meeting with prayer. Mr. Steve Ramsey asked for additions to the agenda.

Mr. Adam Lee moved, seconded by Mr. Randy Thomas to add Town of Cullen to replace culverts, Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Chris Bagwell, Permit Officer gave a report on the permits issued in June 2024. Discussion followed.

Mr. Mike Griffith moved, seconded by Mr. Randy Thomas to approve the culverts on Midget Road to 60ft culvert length and 40ft to 45ft length to culverts on Woodmill Road. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Adam Lee moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve to add plastic pipe DOTD approved culverts to be placed in the driveways in the parish. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Adam Lee discussed changing the driveway permit application in the office, it will be looked at in the next meeting.

Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to approve DOTD to put up “NO UNMUFFLED BRAKE” signs on Hwy 79 in Webster Parish. The landowner will get the permit from DOTD and DOTD will install the signs that the Webster Parish Police Jury furnishes. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Danel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Allen Gilbert to approve the Resolutions from the Town of Sarepta to repair potholes within city limits, cleaning ditches on North Main, trimming limbs on Davenport or any other responsibilities listed on the streets inside the town, using Municipality Funding. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve to clean the ditch on private property off of Brown Road and approve permission to go on land. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall led discussion about the possibility of hiring a weights/measures enforcement officer. This will be discussed in detail at a later date. Mr. Steve Lemmons also brought up the idea of the possibility of doing contract labor for road projects in the future, since we are short handed on the road crew.

Mr. Allen Gilbert moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve the Resolution from the Town of Cullen to install culverts inside the town for the residents. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Craig Watson, business owner from Goodwill Frontage Road, spoke to the jury about the update from LADOTD. Sen. Adam Bass was also in attendance and he spoke on the issue. Sen. Bass will set up a meeting with Sec. of Transportation, Donahue later this month. Discussion followed.

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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                                                                   MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

July 2, 2024

Members Present: Beverly Kennon, Chairman, Jim Bonsall, Vice Chairman, Steve Ramsey, Adam Lee, Steve Lemmons, LaTanya Grigsby, Nancy Hines, Randy Thomas, Daniel Thomas, Allen Gilbert and Mike Griffith and Bruce Blanton

Ms. Beverly Kennon called the meeting to order at (9:30A.M.) and asked for additions to the agenda. 

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Ms. Nancy Hines to approve the May 2024 Financial Statement, Check Register and Bank Reconciliation. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Beverly Kennon presented the Financial Reports for the month of June 2024 to be approved at the August 2024 Meeting.

Mr. Jim Ritchie with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana spoke to the jury on the renewal for the WPPJ.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve the renewal of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Insurance Plan of Webster Parish Police Jury and the Webster Parish Library including the current medical plan with increased rates (10.7%) and the current dental plan with increased rates (2.5%) effective August 1, 2024. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Allen Gilbert to approve the contracts between the Webster Parish Police Jury and the Webster Parish Sheriff, Jason Parker for July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028. All contract amounts are the same as last term 2020-2024. (Inmate cost, stenographer, litter crew and front door security) Motion carried unanimously.

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

______________________                                    _________/s/___________

Lisa C. Balkom                                                           Beverly Kennon

Secretary-Treasurer                                                   Chairman

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                                                            MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

July 2, 2024

Members Present: Randy Thomas, Chairman, Steve Ramsey, Vice Chairman, Adam Lee, Steve Lemmons, Nancy Hines, Mike Griffith, Jim Bonsall and Bruce Blanton

Mr. Randy Thomas called the meeting to order (9:40 A.M.) and asked for additions to the agenda.

Mr. Jason Brancamp from Republic Waste led discussion on the water in the bar pits off of Gifford Hill Road. They are within the standards and the water engineer firm can test the water. Discussion followed.

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

___________/s/_______                                            __________/s/___________

Lisa C. Balkom, Secretary-Treasurer                                     Randy Thomas, Chairman

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The Webster Parish Road Committee was opened back up to allow the Webster Humane Association to speak.

Patricia Powell gave a report and announced that the phone lines have been down, the issue has now been resolved.

Meeting adjourned.

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                        MINUTES OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

JULY 2, 2024

Members Present: Daniel Thomas, Chairman, Randy Thomas, Vice Chairman, Adam Lee, Steve Ramsey, LaTanya Grigsby, Mike Griffith, and Jim Bonsall

Mr. Daniel Thomas called the meeting to order (10:05 A.M.) and asked for additions to the agenda.

Discussion led on blighted properties in the parish. Patrick Jackson, Parish Attorney said this will be complaint driven. Patrick Jackson said to give the landowner 10 days -notice of this and then the Webster Parish Police Jury can bring a civil action of the blighted property. We can possibly have a budget for this next year. The Webster Parish Police Jury will use the Intergovernmental Committee as the Property Standards committee. Discussion followed

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

________________/s/_______                                    _____________/s/_________

Lisa C. Balkom, Secretary-Treasurer                                     Daniel Thomas, Chairman

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                                       MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

                             WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

                                  July 2, 2024

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Jim Bonsall, President; Steve Ramsey, Vice President; Beverly Kennon, Mike Griffith, Steve Lemmons, LaTanya Grigsby, Nancy Hines, Randy Thomas, Daniel Thomas, Allen Gilbert, Bruce Blanton and Adam Lee

PUBLIC HEARING: To hear comments and concerns on the millage proposition for the Webster Parish Council on Aging.

Shall the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana (the “Parish”), be authorized to levy a tax of 1.75 mills on all the property subject to taxation in the Parish (an estimated $500,000 expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, for the purpose of constructing, improving, maintaining, operating and supporting facilities and programs for the elderly in the Parish through the Webster Council on Aging.

NO COMMENTS

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED

Mr. Jim Bonsall called the meeting to order at 10:30am and asked

 Mr. Steve Lemmons to open the meeting with prayer and asked

Mr. Mike Griffith led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

There were no comments from the audience concerning the agenda.

Mr. Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve invoices for payment pending review by juror Steve Lemmons.  Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Nancy Hines moved, seconded by Ms. Beverly Kennon to adopt the minutes of the June 4, 2024 Road Committee, Finance Committee, and Regular Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Allen Gilbert moved, seconded by Mr. Mike Griffith to Approve the contract between the Webster Parish Police Jury and Carlise Thompson, LLC effective June 23, 2024 to June 22, 2025.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to Approve a Cooperative Agreement and Ordinance for the Webster Adjudicated Property Program between the Webster Parish Police Jury and E&P Consulting Services, LLC. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Mike Griffith to approve to call for a Public Hearing on September 3, 2024 at 10:30AM in the Webster Parish Courthouse Annex at 401 Main Street, Minden, Louisiana to hear comments and concerns on the millage rates for the Webster Parish Police Jury. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Ms. Beverly Kennon to approve general fund funding to expend $350 for water sampling at McIntyre Road creek bank in Webster Parish. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve to allow Cothren, Graff, Smoak Engineering, Inc.  to advertise to bid the Webster Parish Women’s Jail, Webster Parish, Louisiana. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Beverly Kennon moved, seconded by Mr. Allen Gilbert to approve a Resolution 003-2024 ordering and calling a Special Election to be held in the Parish of Webster, State of Louisiana, to authorize the levy of a special election therein, making application to the State Bond Commission, and providing for other matters in connection therein. Motion carried unanimously.

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COMMENTS:

Denise Edwards                        Denise Edwards/Assessor

John Monzingo                          LSU Ag/Extension Service

Brian Williams                           WPPJ OEP/HS Director

Jessica Gorman                        Parish Historian/Dorcheat Historical Museum

Kathy Babers                            Congressman Mike Johnson

Johnny Johnson                        Webster Parish Council on Aging

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.

Ms. Beverly Kennon moved, seconded by Mr. Adam Lee 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. Balkom Secretary-Treasurer                                          Jim Bonsall      President

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