Washington Parish Council

Regular Meeting – 6:00 p.m.

Courthouse Building

August 8, 2005

Item No. 1 – Call to order – Chairman Darwin Sharp called the meeting to order.

Item No. 2 – Invocation – Councilman Rodney Brown gave the invocation.

Item No. 3 – Roll call – Clerk Sylvia Forbes called the roll. Present were Kenneth Wheat, Clinton Miley, Charles Nassauer, Rodney Brown, Relton Sumrall, Marvin Thomas and Darwin Sharp.

None were absent.

Item No. 4 – Approval of minutes – Councilman Miley offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Brown to approve the minutes of the July 25, 2005 meeting. All in favor the motion carried.

Item No. 5 – Adoption of the financial report – Councilman Miley offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Brown to adopt the financial report as presented. All in favor, the motion carried.

Item No. 6 – Introduction of an ordinance – An ordinance authorizing the Parish President, upon his discretion, to sign Letters of Commitment, Third Party Agreements, Maintenance Agreements and required contract provisions for DBE participation for Grant No. 03LRT-WSH-0001. The ordinance was laid over for publication and a public hearing to be held on August 22, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.

Item No. 7 – Introduction of an ordinance – Chairman Sharp asked that introduction of the ordinance be postponed until the next meeting to allow legal counsel to review the ordinance.

Councilman Miley offered a motion to open the agenda to include the introduction of an ordinance. Councilman Sumrall seconded the motion and it carried.

An ordinance was introduced authorizing the Parish President to enter into a contract(s) with Covington Paving on the Parishwide Road Improvement Program. The Ordinance was laid over for publication and a public hearing to be held on August 22, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.

Item No. 8 – Public hearing – Chairman Sharp opened the public hearing on an ordinance authorizing the Parish President to enter into a contract with the successful bidder for construction of cells 4 & 5 of the Choctaw Landfill.

There were no comments during the public hearing.

Councilman Miley offered a motion to close the public hearing. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and it carried.

Councilman Nassauer offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Miley to adopt Ordinance No. 05-358 authorizing the Parish President to enter into a contract with the successful bidder for construction of cells 4 & 5 of the Choctaw Landfill. A roll call vote was as follows:

YEAS: 7 (Sumrall, Thomas, Sharp, Wheat, Miley, Nassauer and Brown)

NAYS: 0 (None)

ABSENT: 0 (None)

Item No. 9 – Public hearing – Chairman Sharp opened the public hearing on an ordinance authorizing the Parish President to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the State of Louisiana, Division of Administration, Office of State Lands, regarding the Pearl River Navigational Canal.

No one commented during the public hearing.

Councilman Miley offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Sumrall to close the public hearing. All in favor the motion carried.

Councilman Brown offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Miley to adopt Ordinance No. 05-359. A roll call vote resulted as follows:

YEAS: 7 (Sumrall, Thomas, Sharp, Wheat, Miley, Nassauer and Brown)

NAYS: 0 (None)

ABSENT: 0 (None)

Item No. 10 – Public participation - Jalon Beech presented the council a copy of the questions prepared for the Reservoir Commission. Ms. Beech read the questions and they are as follows;

August 8, 2005

Public Questions To Be Presented To The Washington Parish Reservoir Commission By The Washington Parish Council

The public requests that the responses to the following questions be issued in writing and submitted back to the Washington Parish Council to be made part of the Washington Parish Government record. The public also requests that the responses be timely and returned to the Washington Parish Council by the next scheduled council meeting, August 22, 2005.

1. How will the proposed reservoir benefit the residents of Washington Parish who will be forced to sell their private property?
2. What will happen to the homes and property of the residents who live within the flood zone, and will anyone be able to build homes within the flood zone?
3. The Washington Parish Reservoir Commission meetings have the appearance of being shrouded in secrecy and appear to have intentionally dodged the public forum. Are the Washington Parish Reservoir Commission meetings subject to the open meetings law? Please respond with a simple yes or no.
4. Why does the Washington Parish Reservoir Commission conduct meetings at 11 :00 a.m.? We ask that the reservoir commission hold their meetings at 6:00 p.m. so that the working public may observe and ask questions for themselves.
5. Oak Grove Baptist Church is just up the hill from the Bogalusa Creek and is on the edge of the footprint of the proposed reservoir. The public requests a statement from the reservoir commission that the Oak Grove Baptist Church and its cemetery will not be affected by the proposed reservoir.
6. SB 475, Act 71 allows for golf courses, marinas, retirement communities, playgrounds, and commercial establishments. Since none of the above will float, will eminent domain be used to expropriate properties outside the footprint of the reservoir to make these projects a reality?
7. At present, the reservoir commission has utilized out of parish and out of state contractors for this project. Will the reservoir commission commit to contracting/employing/hiring residents of Washington Parish exclusively?
8. Currently, there are two cemeteries within the footprint of the proposed reservoir; approximately nine more are within the flood zone. The public requests to know the particulars of how our cemeteries will be handled and where our loved ones will be relocated.
9. Since there has been a public outcry against placing the proposed reservoir on top of an existing community with its historic homes and cemeteries, will the commission reconsider another location that will not affect homes, churches, and cemeteries?
10. Reservoir commissioners say that the construction of the reservoir is for much needed potable water. Where are the studies to show this need, and why did you pick a site that is located next to a landfill?
11. Does each reservoir commission member commit to signing his or her name at the next reservoir commission meeting beneath the following statement, "I have not and will not profit directly or indirectly from the possible construction of a reservoir in Washington Parish?"
12. The public consensus is that the negative human, animal and environmental impact on the Oak Grove Community and the communities down stream from a huge, fallible earthen dam would be too great of a burden for the public to bear for a reservoir of this magnitude. Have the reservoir commissioners considered the risks involved to the public? If so, please list the risks that you have discovered.
13. In the Reservoir Commission's opinion, please list, by priority, the alleged benefits that Washington Parish will realize as the result of constructing a reservoir: recreation, potable water, economic development.
14. It is inconceivable that the reservoir commission will offer residents whose property will be expropriated only fair market value. How much would it cost a person to replace 70 acres of land, outbuildings, a four-bedroom brick home, a log home built in the 1800's? Fair market and replacement value are very different. How will fair market value be determined? Will it be valued as land and homes that will be inundated with water, or the normal market value of other surrounding properties prior to a reservoir being on top of it?
15. Elderly retirees will be the majority of people who may lose their homes and property to the proposed reservoir. Will they be offered any financial assistance with expenses to relocate their belongings, or will they be required to sacrifice even more to bear this burden also?

Respectfully submitted,

Jalon Pittman Beech Bogalusa, LA

Winfred Pittman addressed the council with concerns about the proposed reservoir in Washington Parish

Abraham Lincoln described our form of government in 1863 as a GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, For THE PEOPLE. I thought that I would never see it put into practice until the last meeting we had here. Before it seemed that you were listening to the wrong people. Those people did not put you in those chairs. The people who did are; the people who get up every day to go to the paper mill, milk cows, cashiers at the supermarkets, mechanics, retirees, and the everyday common resident of this parish. Because of the things that have been going on in the last few months many residents of this parish has lost confidence, faith, and trust in this governing body. I can say this with some confidence because my travels through out the parish trying to save my home and community from a glorified mud hole and looking on the chat rooms on the internet, this is what I have heard and read. They are disgusted and they want a change but not at the expense of someone's home.

On July 25,2005 all of you seem to hear Mister Lincoln and took the first step from being glorified police jurors to becoming real leaders of the people of Washington Parish. You’ve starting listening to us, really talking to us, and trying to help us. This is a step in the right direction in turning our Parish around, but that is just one step and there are many more to go. Please do not take a step backwards. We need to all work together if there is any hope of putting our parish back on the right tract. If we work together we could stop being the dumping ground for the state and the blunt of jokes from other parishes. We could be a model for all to follow, and that would be a pleasant change. A government that is of the people, by the people and for the people, working together and seceding. Just thank; Mister President, consul, the true respect that you would command when you enter into a meeting an say I am from Washington Parish and this is what the people of Washington Parish believe. This kind of respect will have influence even at the state level. I'm personally getting tired of being treated like a red headed stepchild. Aren't you? I am also tired of being told where and how to live by people from out side of this parish. I do understand that we have to follow state guidelines, but we are capable in governing ourselves.

Lets look at five positives if the reservoir is built and our homes are stolen from us.

1. If the reservoir is built Denman Engineering, Mike Thompson, and Bryant Hammett . and who knows who else outside the parish will get richer

2. As Mister Taylor said on the 25th of July none of the elected officials or the reservoir commission can profit from the reservoir. Then the people who will build the reservoir, retirement communities, golf courses, picnic areas will come mostly from out side of the parish. They will probably bring in their own work force. But lets not forget the first rule of getting things done in politics "I'll scratch your back, if you scratch my back" in other words I'll help you get this job if you help me get that job.

3. If and when the rich retirees that we hear about come (and we have not heard of any by name) they do not shop at Wal-Marts, the Dollar Store, Save-a-Lot or eat at Burger King, Western Sizzling, or Glynn's Drive Inn. They will go to St Tammany Parish were the malls, Gap, J C Penny's, Meryvin's and they wi1l eat at Copeland’s, etc. Since we do not have the shopping infrastructure in place here that these so called rich retirees are a custom to. A question we must be asking ourselves is what do we have in Washington Parish that will entice them to come here? The residents and businesses of St. Tammany should be thanking you, Nevers, and Ritchie for trying to help boost their economy.

4. If there is an influx of these people our politics will change. They will not want to be governed by a bunch of hicks as they call us. They will want their own people to govern them. They will try to turn Washington Parish into New Orleans, the very thing that they come here to get away from. You see to them we do not know what is good for us and we are to dumb to govern ourselves. I do not want to live in New Orleans I want to live in Washington Parish.

5. The insurance companies will get richer because you will have to rezone everything from the dam to the Pearl as a flood zone. Those residents will have to pay a min. of $400 a month that many can't afford, but who cares as long as the insurance companies prosper.

What made Washington Parish great in the past, it was not the economy, it was the people. I ask you to join with us to help turn this parish around. By putting your foot down, stand up against the taking of people’s homes for economic development for land developers and help us start a real economic development program in this parish that won’t take anyone's homes. Commitment, education, and accountably are keys to success.

Donald Westmoreland, Turkey Road, Franklinton addressed the council concerning the Washington Parish Library. Mr. Westmoreland is an assistant librarian in St. Tammany Parish and said there may be a reason for the problems the library system is having, which is resulting in the closing of some branches. The parish library system is supported by approximately $9.00 per person in the parish and the state average is $23.00 per person. He said he felt the parish could do better and asked the council to be receptive when the library board comes to them with a plan.

Lee Kelly of Bogalusa said that President Taylor had said that elected officials could not profit from the construction of the reservoir, could elected officials outside of the parish profit from it.

President Taylor said he did not know what ethics they follow, but suggested she write a letter to the ethics commission and they could tell her.

Ms. Kelly referred to a newspaper article in the paper regarding the parish receiving $975,000 in 2001 to be used as a revolving loan account for economic development. Ms. Kelly asked how many businesses had been helped with the fund and how much money is available for use.

President Taylor replied two businesses and there are zero available funds. President Taylor gave a brief report of the Breedlove Farms’ involvement in the revolving loan funds. Upon advise from legal counsel declined further comment.

Item No. 11 – Parish President’s report – President Taylor answered the No. 4 question on Ms. Beech list. He said the Reservoir Commission was bound by the open meeting law, but agreed that the meetings should be held at a time when the public could attend. He also said that with the new legislation passed in Baton Rouge, the commission will be allowed to expropriate only the land needed for the pool of water. He said he would ask the commission to respond to the questions by the 22nd meeting, but felt it would be at least 4 weeks before getting a response.

President Taylor informed the council that the signing of the Cooperative Agreement with the state was scheduled for Wednesday, but have been asked to delay it because of the funeral of Corporal David “Bear” Stewart. The ceremonial signing is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

President Taylor asked that all flags be flown at half mass for a 24-hour period on the day of the funeral for Corporal Stewart who was killed in the Iraq conflict. He also reported the parish is having a monument prepared to add to the one on the courthouse square for the names of those killed in action in Iraq can be inscribed on it. We hope the monument can be dedicated soon.

President Taylor reported the cost of construction of a mile of road had increased from $75,000 a mile to nearly $85,000 a mile due to the increase in cost of materials. During the period of January through July 2005, parish crews have re-dug 39.43 miles of drainage ditch, installed 2,458 feet of culverts, hauled off 20,845 yards of trench material, re-graded or raised the grade on 33.61 miles of shoulders, rebuilt 3.49 miles of roadway, cleaned out 116 culverts, recycled 1.82 miles of asphalt roadway with asphalt zipper, cut shoulder of 22.24 miles of roadway, sealed and resurfaced 4.1 miles of parish road, stockpiled 1.595 CY of gravel in preparation for resurfacing 6.5 additional miles of roadway and used 732 tons of asphalt to patch potholes.

President Taylor said the constructions of new cells at the landfill are still on target.

President Taylor said he appreciated Mr. Westmoreland’s comments regarding the parish library. Next year the library millage will be up for renewal. He said the Library Board is planning to form a citizen’s task force to try to develop a solution to the financial problem. The Library Board of Control will meet on the 18th at 5:45 in Franklinton.

President Taylor said he had received correspondence from the Mt. Hermon Water Board requesting Rochelle Brumfield be appointed to replace board member Everett Roberts who passed away and ask for council confirmation.

Councilman Wheat offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Miley to appoint Rochelle Brumfield to the Mt. Hermon Water District board.

Item No. 12 – Council Discussion – Councilman Sumrall offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Miley to send a letter to the Washington Parish Reservoir Commission requesting their meetings be held on or after 6:00 p.m. to allow for the working public to attend. All in favor the motion carried.

Councilman Miley called for a Road Committee Meeting at 5:00 p.m. before the August 22nd meeting.

Chairman Sharp informed the council that due to a conflict in meetings with one of the councilmen, the September 12 meeting would be held on Tuesday September 13th.

Item No. 13 – Adjourn – Having no further business to come before the council, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Sumrall.

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Sylvia Forbes, Clerk of Court Darwin Sharp, Chairman