Washington Parish Council
Minutes
May 10, 2010
Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM
Washington Parish Courthouse
Council Chambers
Item No. 1 – Call to Order – Chairman Posey called the meeting to order.
Item No. 2 – Invocation - Councilman Johnson gave the invocation.
Item No. 3 – Pledge of Allegiance – Councilman Johnson called for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item No. 4 – Roll Call – Acting Clerk Sylvia Forbes called the roll. Present were Randy Thomas, Greg Route, Aubrey Posey, Ken Wheat, Michael Fussell, Charles Nassauer and Andre’ Johnson
Item No. 5 – Approval of Minutes – Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to approve the minutes of the April 28, 2010 meeting. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 6 – Adoption of the Financial Report – Councilman Wheat offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to adopt the financial report. All in favor and the motion carried. (Attachment A)
Councilman Fussell asks the Director of Finance, Donna Alonzo, to give an update on the new accounting software system.
Ms. Alonzo reported the personnel had been to Shreveport for training and will “go live” tomorrow with the new software program and everything should go smooth.
Item No. 7 – Resolution No. 10-469 – A resolution approving the holding of an election in Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 6, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, October 2, 2010, to authorize the levy of a special tax therein.
President Thomas reported the financial advisor had looked over the resolution and approved it and asks for the resolution to be added to the agenda.
Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson to approve Resolution 10-469. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 8 – Resolution No. 10-470 – A “Resolution of Concern” regarding the shifting of public service from the Federal and State agencies to public libraries with no compensation for the added space, staff, technology, and training needed for libraries to meet the needs of Federal and State agency clients.
Councilman Route offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to adopt Resolution No. 10-470.
Chairman Posey called for discussion.
Director of Washington Parish Library, Joseph Sbisa stated, “The resolution came about recently with the Louisiana reduction in funding for the statewide libraries of Louisiana with the recent budget cuts at the state level. The budget was cut, earlier this year, by $300,000.00 dollars and that was in addition to other cuts they had earlier this year. This was for this fiscal year and meanwhile, the federal and state governments are leaning on us libraries in the area and the state and the entire country for more and more services.”
Councilman Fussell asks, “I was just wondering, Mr. Joe, did you say this $300,000 is statewide or parish?”
Mr. Sbisa replied, “Statewide, this affects our state aid. For example, two years ago we got over $37,000.00 in state aid, but this past year we got $18,000.00. That is a pretty good cut. Some libraries in the state got cut down to practically nothing. The state aid comes to us and it is there to help us get the latest technology and proof our services to people in our parishes. Without this we can not afford to do to much.”
Councilman Fussell asks, “In the resolution are the libraries from different parishes taking action to circumvent this?”
Mr. Sbisa said the libraries are taking action to make a statement to the Governor, the Chairman of the Senate and House Committees, who oversee the budget, and bring to their attention the budget cuts. If they are going to give the library all these responsibilities and all this work, then libraries would like the funds restored statewide.
Attorney Wayne Kuhn suggested Mr. Joseph read a portion of the Resolution No.10-470, starting at “THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED” and Mr. Sbisa read the above section.
Chairman Posey called for a vote on Resolution No. 10-470. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 9 – Public Participation – The family of Mr. C.M. Alexander was recognized and asks to delay their acceptance of a proclamation under the President’s Report of the agenda.
There were no further comments.
Councilman Route offered a motion to close public participation, seconded by Councilman Johnson. The motion carried.
Item No. 10 – President’ Report – President Thomas read and presented a proclamation to the family of Mr. C.M. Alexander celebrating his 100th birthday on May 10, 2010. Guests and family members were acknowledged. Family members present were Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick Alexander and Mrs. Juanita Barker. President Thomas gave his congratulations to Mr. Alexander on a life well deserving of a celebration of 100 years of love and friendship with his family, friends and members of his church.
President Thomas presented an Executive Order executed this morning. He read the following:
Leo Lucchesi gave an update report as follows:
2010 Roadway
A survey of the sections of roadway surface that has failed on Lee’s Creek
reveals that it will take 54 tons of Asphalt mix to adequately repair the
areas of base failure. Cutting back to a “stable” base and utilizing a full
Depth patch is recommended. This will cost $5,000.00 to repair.
Four Roads scheduled for 2 shot asphalt and stone overlay.
Albert Magee, Wesley Alford, Monroe Creek and Glen Guy
New road to Bogue Chitto State Park-R.J. Booty reports that scheduled
Completion date is July 19, 2010; this is 90 day contract commencing on April 19. There is a possibility of added work by the State which may extend the completion date. This is construction under state funds.
Discussion: Louisiana Highway 10 Passing Lane
A discussion of developing a slow traffic lane on Highway 10 to allow slower traffic to move over in certain areas to allow faster traffic to go around safely
2010
Permit Department
As you know the Building Permit Office is committed to serve the public
daily basis: As of Monday, May 3, the new permit & planning office is
located at #203 11th Avenue in Franklinton.
Dollar Road Bridge
@Pushepettapa Creek - Construction is scheduled to begin on June 10, 2010, centerline striping
reflectors are not included in the contract. Bridge timbers that are removed
and re-usable will be given to the Parish.
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) – Memorandum of
agreement for $305,000 from the Department of Natural Resources is now in
in process. This program will fund HVAC for the Courthouse.
President Thomas said he had signed a contract with Barrier Construction for $99,000.00 to enter into Phase I of Isabelle Swamp Road. The staff is still working on acquiring funding for the completion of this project.
John Taylor stated update on blacktop roads as follows:
Holland Brock Road – 1.7 of a mile
J.W. Riles – 1/2 mile
Monroe Creek started – resealing -1.5 miles
Chairman Posey ask how many more miles does the parish have to complete the road flood program.
Mr. Taylor replied he thought around 7.5 miles to complete, but that is included in this week completion of roads.
Chairman Posey ask for a motion to open the agenda to add a resolution.
Item No. 10-A- Resolution 10-471 Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Nassauer to open the agenda to add Resolution 10-471 which concerns a variance.
The chairman called for a vote to open the agenda and add the resolution. All in favor and the motion carried.
Councilman Thomas stated, “If I might go ahead and clarify what this resolution purpose is about. It is concerning a Deer Field Subdivision. What it pertains to is this subdivision was mapped out in 2008 and we had an ordinance that pursued thereafter in 2009 concerning subdivisions, but at that time of 2008 Mr. Leo and the gentlemen that is heading up the subdivision, Mr. Scott Gilbert, they had agreed on the roads that were meeting the specs at that time. Since we have increased the size of the roads to 60 ft. Mr. Gilbert did agree to give the parish a 10 ft. servitude to be added to the roads that are already parish roads and one new road that is going to be a part of the subdivision, which will protect the integrity of the ordinance. This was done before the infrastructure committee this afternoon, which we did approve and that is what the resolution is concerning.”
Councilman Fussell offered a motion to adopt Resolution 10-471, seconded by Councilman Route.
Chairman Posey called for any further comments.
There were no comments.
Chairman Posey called for a vote on Resolution 10-471. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 11 – Councilmen Discussion – Councilman Wheat stated, “I want to commend John and his crew for being ahead of schedule like he is with the flood money. This says a lot about the way our crews are working now. I appreciate that. The other thing I want to mention to make sure the facts are known. Leo mentioned the Lees Creek Road and the failure of the roadway. I just want it to be known that has nothing to do at all with our design. The failure of the roadway occurred, because of a trucking company’s failure to comply with our routing we have in our parish. That particular road is a “no through” roadway. Anyway, it had nothing to do with Parish design. The road was built according to correct specifications and installed properly. It was just that the local trucking fail to comply with weigh limits, etc. here. I just wanted to make sure that was clear. That is all I have.”
Councilman Fussell stated, “I would like to comment on the new software that the accounting stated on. Donna has come on board and she is getting her feet wet, but she is moving forward. I hope good things come from it. I want to commend the road crew and ditch crew. I turned in a work request about a week ago on a road on Ben Ford Road and the situation in there has already been repaired; very well done. I called Mr. Leo and told him to pass it on and get ready to do some serious work here in the summer, hopefully, on roads and get back in shape and get some improvements done. I commend everybody on public works.”
Councilman Thomas stated, “I just want to express my appreciation to Mr. Nevers for his input to DOTD. Louisiana Department Transportation did get out there on Highway 10 and it is heavy marked “no passing” and for this I do appreciate, and feel like this can help be some benefit to the drivers and the safety of that road. I thank everybody that was involved. I do want to encourage the police department both local and state to continue with their patrol and catch those speeders and those that are passing on the yellow lines.”
Councilman Nassauer stated, “I know we have already passed the approval of the minutes, but I was just looking back over the minutes again. I just wanted to get permission from the council. I made a remark, in the minutes at the last meeting, page 4, Item No.13-Resolution 10-466 and I was just basically making a remark what a good job Leo was doing with the crews and with us doing the road ourselves with much lesser cost. Reading this quote in here it looks like either, there are some typos are maybe there are parts of the tape they could not hear or something---- it’s just not reading right at all. I just want permission from the council to go back and listen to the tapes just suggest this is a quote; sort of speak, to be sure it is correct as presented in the minutes. It is not going to change------ It is not really any legislation. It is basely a quote. I just want to be sure that it is in the minutes the way it was on tape. Are you guys definitely okay if I do that? Is everyone okay with that? I appreciate that. It is not going to change the nature of the minutes at all. I just want to be sure the quote is appropriate.”
Councilman Wheat asks, “Can the minutes be amended to reflect it?”
Councilman Nassauer stated, “If that is what it takes, I’d like to listen to the tape, if I could, cause some of this stuff----------.”
Councilman Wheat offered a motion to amend the minutes to show the excerpt off the tape per verbatim.
Councilman Nassauer stated, “I appreciate that. There is one sentence here that states “with us doing them ourselves was average cost was $20,000.00 a mile. I do not think that is right-----I don’t think that-------- that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Maybe I was talking and not making a lot of sense -------- that is possible, but that is why I want to listen to the tape. I don’t think I’d do that.”
Councilman Route stated, “Chuck on page six, too. I had made a statement and I saw it and I wasn’t going to say anything, ---------- but I was referring to recreation districts. It only says District 3 and it actually should include District 2 and 3, but it wasn’t recorded that way, so we need that to be corrected.”
Councilman Nassauer stated, “I
just would like the approval of my part of the minutes, just to quote, is
presented as recorded on tape.”
Councilman Wheat offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Nassauer for the minutes to reflect from the tape per verbatim those excerpts concerning Councilman Nassauer comments and Councilman Route comments.
Chairman called for a vote.
All in favor and the motion carried.
Councilman Johnson stated, “I just want to say shortly that I would like to commend the administrative side for all the hard work they do. I know sometimes you have a thankless job, because for some of the citizens they don’t understand what you have to deal with in this parish, as large as it is, and the resources that you have. I just want to thank you and commend you for all your hard work. One more thing that I ask for is that they do renew the millage for fire, which is primarily in my district, and to help our firemen do a better job and also to keep insurance rates down. That’s it.”
Chairman Posey stated, “Two items; the next meeting is scheduled for the 24th of May. Greg is going to be out of town, so kind of look at your callender. He is suggesting May 26th. Please let us know in the next few days and we will set an appropriate meeting time and date. Sylvia, we appreciate you filling in.”
Item No. 12 – Adjourn – No further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on motion by Councilman Fussell, seconded by Councilman Route. All in favor and the motion carried.
(All Ordinances, Resolutions and
Attachments in its entirety is available at the office of Clerk of the Council
at 909 Pearl Street, Franklinton, Louisiana)
_______SIGNATURE__________ ___SIGNATURE________
Sharon Lyons, Clerk to the Council Aubrey Posey, Chairman
Washington Parish Washington Parish Council
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Sylvia Forbes, Acting Clerk
Washington Parish