Washington Parish Council
Minutes
July 12, 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 Fussell gave the invocation.
Item No. 3 – Pledge of Allegiance – Chairman Posey called for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item No. 4 – 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.
Item No. 5 – Approval of Minutes – Councilman Nassauer offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to approve the minutes of June 28, 2010, with the stipulation that under Item No. 12, Councilman Nassauer’s discussion is to be corrected by paraphrasing the whole paragraph. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 6 – Adoption of the Financial Report – Finance Director Donna Alonzo told the council that the finance report will be the audit report, which would be given later during the meeting by Kushner & LaGraize.
Item No. 7 – Public Hearing on Ordinance No.10-524 – Chairman Posey opened the public hearing on an ordinance to enter into a contract with Larry Kinlaw & Associates.
There were no comments during the public hearing.
Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to close the public hearing. All in favor and the motion carried.
Councilman Route offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas to adopt Ordinance No.10-524. A roll call vote resulted as follows:
YEAS: (7) Fussell, Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey and Wheat
NAYS: (0)
ABSTAINED: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
Item No. 8- Public Hearing on Ordinance No.10-525 – Chairman Posey opened the public hearing on an ordinance to extend Washington Parish Recreation Districts lines by amending Ordinance No.10-488.
There were no comments during the pubic hearing.
Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson to close the public hearing. All in favor and the motion carried.
Councilman Route offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas to adopt Ordinance No. 10-525. Roll call vote resulted as follows:
YEAS: (7) Fussell, Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey and Wheat
NAYS: (0)
ABSTAINED: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
Item No. 9 – Public Participation – There were no comments during public participation.
Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson to close public participation. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 10 – President’s Report – President Thomas stated he would like to yield some of his time to the auditor from Kushner & LaGraize. Mr. LaGraize gave the report on the 2009 audit for the last financial year.
Audit report as follows:
v Reduction in sales tax revenues
v Mandated expenses
v Make sure revenues are collected
v Hard line on mandated expenses
Councilman Wheat, Finance Committee Chairman, gave an overview of the steps taken by the administration and council to address the problem with the general fund. He reported the Finance Director has taken positive action by putting in place procedures and she is gathering information concerning the State requirements on mandated expenses which must be paid out of the general fund. It will probably take some hard measures to resolve this problem. If this is the case, then the Finance Committee will probably recommend that this be accomplished in phases. It will be approached prudently and through the priority system. He pointed out that all the other funds are very healthy and doing very well.
President Thomas recommended the appointment of Mr. Keith Bahm to the Washington Parish Gas Utility District No. 2. The term will end December 31, 2012.
Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to approve the appointment of Mr. Keith Bahm to the Washington Parish Gas Utility District No. 2. All in favor and the motion carried.
Public Works Director Leo Lucchesi gave his report as follows:
Isabel Swamp Road – Phase one (Hwy 16 North to Bridge) is complete
Phase two from bridge north to St. Tammany Parish line-Environmental reviews
have been solicited; upon completion of reviews, project plans and specifications
will be completed; job will be advertised, awarded and monitored through La.
DOTD – Estimated time to bid date 90-120 days.
Wardline Road Well Site Filters – Plans and specifications have been issued,
Environmental reviews are completed; awaiting approval of loan program from
Rural Utility Services (RUS), a division of U.S.D.A. – Estimated time to bid date
60 to 90 days
Off-System Bridge Program – The apparent low bidder for three off-systems
Bridges is Guinn Brothers LLC, Jennings, LA (Hilltop Road, Mike Fisher and
Martinville Road is included. (Bid Value $1,107,098)
Parish DPW – will be accepting bids as advertised for installing Clay base at
Parish roads – bid time is at 10 AM tomorrow.
President Thomas thanked Senator Landrieu and Senator Nevers for their assistance in acquiring funds for the Isabel Swamp Road project.
Councilman Nassauer asks for an update on the project concerning the section of the Isabel Swamp Road that comes under the authority of St.Tammany Parish.
President Thomas stated he had been informed by President Davis that his engineers are working hard on the project and he will have it completed before his term has ended.
Councilman Posey ask for an update on the River Road Bridge.
Lavelle Gerald, Bridge Inspector, explained he was waiting on the timbers to come in. The pilings have been installed and the headwall forms are completed.
Councilman Posey ask for an update on the Phase II Road project.
John Taylor stated Phase II is almost halfway completed.
Councilman Johnson asks about the completion time allotted for the Dollar Road Bridge.
Mr. Lucchesi pointed out that the contract stipulates the contractor has six months to complete the project.
Item No. 11 – Council Discussion – Councilman Thomas stated, “I would like to express my appreciation to Ms. Donna. She took over the job of financial director under difficult circumstances and she got the audit done in a timely fashion and installed new software. That is a monumental thing to happen for this parish. That is a big step forward and from my understanding of it this should make government run a little smoother, financially. I appreciate her efforts.” He stated he appreciated the efforts of the community, government and the sheriff’s office with helping keep the parish free of litter. He touched on “SHOP AT HOME”. He asks citizens to please shop in the parish, so tax dollars will support programs needed by parish residents. He asks for an update on the state park.
Mr. Lucchesi explained the State of Louisiana is still working on the road, but he would try to get an official update by the next meeting.
Councilman Thomas stated he appreciated the road programs and the crews out there working so hard and the excellent maintenance work being accomplished. The residents are seeing a smoother ride on parish roads.
Councilman Wheat stated he just wanted to echo what the other Councilmen had already addressed, and make one more statement. He said the public probably doesn’t know about some of the new engineer practices or administrative policies that have been addressed. These things have been evolving over the years. Thinking out of the box is helping the government to advance to a new level where it is getting more mileage on the roads in a given day. The finish product is better than what it was five years ago. Government is spending less money to get the same results. Little things add up to help save money. This means a lot when government functions and serves the people. Councilmen Wheat stated, “We are here to serve. That is part of our responsibility and it is being fulfilled.”
Councilman Fussell commended the auditors and Ms. Donna on the audit that was completed in a timely manner.
Councilman Posey commented on the new Comprehensive Development Plan booklet given to the Councilmen and recognized Attorney Wayne Kuhn.
Mr. Kuhn said he felt the booklet is quit an accomplishment. The booklet was compiled in pieces. The Infrastructure Committee, Planning Commission and a lot of citizens spent many hours completing the Comprehensive Development Plan document and it wasn’t easy. He highly praised the Council and Administration for having received high rating on the audit.
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