Washington Parish Council
Regular Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
Courthouse Building
March 24, 2008
Minutes
Item No. 1 – Call to order – Chairman Nassauer called the meeting to order.
Item No. 2 – Invocation – Councilman Johnson gave the invocation.
Chairman Nassauer called for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Chairman Nassauer announced that the Council unanimously agreed to schedule the Pledge of Allegiance as a standard item to the agenda.
Item No.3 – Roll Call – Clerk Sharon Lyons called the roll. Present were Kenneth Wheat, Michael Fussell, Charles Nassauer, Andre’ Johnson, Randy Thomas, Greg Route, and Aubrey Posey.
None was absent.
Item No. 4 – Approval of minutes - Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2007 minutes. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 5 – Adoption of the financial report – Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to adopt the financial report. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 6 – Public Participation – No one addressed the council during public participation.
Item No. 7 – President’s report – President Thomas reported that the Twenty- Second Judicial District Youth and Children’s Board had received the resignation of Mr. Merlin Duke. The President announced the appointment of Danielle J. Magee to replace Mr. Duke on the Board. Also, the President stated that he would be sending a letter of appreciation to Mr. Duke for his dedicated service from the Council and Washington Parish Government.
Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas to appoint Danielle J. Magee to the Twenty –Second District Youth and Children’s Board. All in favor and the motion carried.
President Thomas asked the council to open the agenda for the introduction of an ordinance concerning the receiving of funds from the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals.
Councilman Wheat offered a motion to open the agenda to include introduction of an ordinance.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Posey and the motion carried.
Item No. 7-A - Introduction of Ordinance- Councilman Nassauer introduced an ordinance authorizing the President to enter into a contract with the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals (CCP) regarding funds provided to Washington Parish Government.
President Thomas introduced Mr. Lou Gavin, representative of Children’s Advocacy Center and Hope House who stated that the Center is located in Covington, Louisiana, and the department serves Washington Parish and St. Tammany Parish with the program. Mr. Gavin introduced Mrs. Dorothy Garcia, Executive Director of the organization.
Mrs. Garcia, Executive Director, stated that for thirteen years the Center has been serving abused children of the Twenty-Second Judicial District. One-third of the children we see are residents from Washington Parish. The department will see about 300 children a year and only one out of ten ever tell. The unit works close with the District Attorney, local law enforcement and the child protection services in the parish. Mrs. Garcia thanked the Council for the financial support given to Hope House. Also, she stated that April has been proclaimed “Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month”.
Chairman Nassauer ask, “Can you tell us about the fundraiser coming up”?
Mrs. Garcia stated that the department is having a fundraiser on May 10, 2008 at the St. Scholastica Academy from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., which will be a “Mad Hatter Tea”, but the tea is a family event and every person is invited.
Chairman Nassauer stated that he would like to attend the event and could Mrs. Garcia please send the council written information concerning the event?
Mrs. Garcia stated she would be glad to send the council brochures and the center will be advertising in the local newspapers concerning the fundraiser.
President Thomas read and presented to the Mr. Lou Gavin, Mrs. Dorothy Garcia and Mrs. Liz Taurman, representives of the Children’s Advocacy Center, a proclamation declaring the month of April 2008, “Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month”.
Item 8 – Council Discussion – Councilman Johnson stated that the Road Committee recommends that Eden Lane and McKay Lane be added to the inventory list; however, these two roads have never been on the inventory list.
Councilman Wheat stated that the council has in place guidelines for roads being added for the first time to the inventory list. In this case, the council would need to pass an ordinance pertaining to Eden Lane and McKay Lane if they meet the standards of the inventory list.
Councilman Johnson agreed to review the guidelines and if Eden Lane and McKay Lane met the criteria, then he would introduce an ordinance for these two roads to be added to the inventory. He asked that Eden Lane and McKay Lane be placed on the agenda at the next meeting.
Councilman Johnson stated that the Road committee recommends the following:
Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Wheat to return to the inventory list Laura Oak Lane. Also, add Mouton Tate Road as an extension of ¾ of a mile. All in favor motion carried.
Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to add Cecil Painter Road, Pearlie Causey Road and Wilson Road to the Asphalt Paving Phase list. All in favor motion carried.
Councilman Route stated that he was very sad over the recent murders that had taken place in our parish over the last five months. Yesterday there were five shootings and two killed. The Council wants to assure the citizens that our police officers of the Parish and city are doing a wonderful job and are apprehending the people who are responsible for these murders. He said the people of Washington Parish need to know it is still a safe place to live and a safe place to visit. The new park is being built soon and we want people to visit and feel safe. Councilman Route stated he really did not know how the Council could control the situation, except to support our law enforcement. Also, it is unbelievable that this is happening in our parish, but the people need to know that Washington Parish is a safe place to live and to visit in the future.
Chairman Nassauer stated, “Our hearts go out to all the families, because I understand in the shooting yesterday that an innocent bystander was involved and killed. This is a horrible thing. I know they made an arrest for a previous murder, so we know law enforcement is doing their job. “
Councilman Route reported that the law enforcement had apprehended two people for the shootings of the previous day incident.
Councilman Thomas asked Miss Peck, who is researching funding for the litter program, if she could give a report on the project. Miss Peck stated that she had contacted America the Beautiful and had scheduled a meeting with the organization. The organization helps with funding and establishing the program in different areas. Miss Peck announced that she would keep the council informed about the program as it develops in the future.
Item No.9 - Adjourn - Having no further business to come before the council, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Posey, seconded by Councilman Fussell. All in favor motion carried.
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Sharon Lyons, Clerk of the Council Dr. Charles A. Nassauer, Chairman
Washington Parish Washington Parish Council