Washington Parish Council

Minutes

August 8, 2011

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 Wheat gave the invocation.

Item no. 3 – Pledge of Allegiance – Councilman Wheat 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 Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson to approve the minutes of July 25, 2011 meeting. Roll call vote as follows:

YEAS: (7) Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas and Route

NAYS: (0)

ABSENT: (0)

ABSTAIN: (0)

Item No. 6 – Resolution No.11-529 – A Resolution by the Washington Parish Council to Authorize the Parish President to sign contract documents for formulation of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to adopt Resolution No. 11-529. Roll call vote as follow:

YEAS: (7) Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas and Route

NAYS: (0)

ABSENT: (0)

ABSTAIN: (0)

Item No. 7 - Strategic Opportunity Study Report – Ken Wheat - Councilman Wheat gave an overview on the Strategic Opportunity Study prepared by the Washington Parish Council and Washington Parish Economic Development Foundation. The research was compiled by Southeastern University. The topics addressed with visual charts in the overview are as follows:

Background and Demographics
Land Use
Infrastructure
Traffic Counts
Education & Health Care
Cultural Activities & Recreation
Employment, Commuting Patterns & Earnings
Property & Sales Tax
Geodemographic Market Segmentation
Consumer Spending Patterns
Retail Trade Analysis
Conclusion – Opportunity gaps

Councilman Wheat concluded his presentation by stating when looking at the areas presented above, there are opportunity gaps. The Parish offers an abundance of open land and available labor for opening the path for industry relocations and expansions. Retail demand offers opportunities for retail growth. The Parish has a low-to-average cost of living and recreational opportunities. Natural areas are available to new residents though out the Parish. Citizens of Washington Parish need to work on changing the public outlook and find “FAVOR IN WASHINGTON PARISH’. The study was completed with no cost to the Parish. This report is posted on the Parish website.

Item No. 8 – Powerline Road – Tina Stewart – Harold Quave, from the Varnado Area came to speak about the problems concerning Powerline Road and Layton Lane. He gave and overview as follows:

24 permanent residents
40 camps
20 property owners
Hunters – use roads to river
Culverts – to small - damaged
Ditches needed digging
Road - lower than property
Drainage problem – both roads
River floods up to 21 feet – No Postal & Ambulance Service
No Road Signs - lower end - Powerline & Layton Lane

Leo Lucchesi, Public Works Director, stated he would research and complete a study concerning the whole area with drainage and road construction on Powerline and Layton Roads. The houses on these roads are elevated, because this area is in a flood zone. If the Parish starts a construction project dealing with drainage in this area, then it has to establish that the Parish is not creating a problem by bringing more water in from the river or flooding the surrounding neighbors. He reiterated, due to regular rainfall, the water will stay in this area and take longer to drain. The Parish has spent money on these roads in the past and has constantly been maintaining them.

Mr. Quave stated the residents are glad to see the gravel and maintenance on both roads, but there are other problems with the roads, especially Layton Land, which has serious problems. There is a need for drainage and culvert replacements.

President Thomas assured the residents the Public Works Department would do a study concerning the issues of drainage in the area of the above roads. Also, the Parish would replace stolen signs, and would try to do a better job on the road maintenance.

Item No. 9 – Public Participation – There were no comments.

Councilman Route offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to close public participation. Roll Call vote as follows:

YEAS: (7) Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas and Route

NAYS: (0)

ABSENT: (0)

ABSTAIN: (0)

Item No. 10 -President’s Report – President Thomas read and presented a proclamation proclaiming September 5^th, 2011, not only “Labor Day”, but also as the “Day of Remembrance of the 10^th Anniversary of 9/11 and the 6^th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, in the State of Louisiana”. He urged all Citizens to participate in, observe and help to properly remember these tragic events and their effect on our State and on our Nation.

Public Works Director’s Report as follows:

Bogalusa Public Library – Air Condition Bids - open July 29th
City Limit Road – Bid open – August 16^th
Construction conference on Swamp Road Project

Transportation Director’s Report as follows:

Construction on Road Project – Phase III
Matinville Road Bridge completed
Noble Cemetery Bridge & Poplas Street Bridge – Next projects
Update - Tire Issue – taken to landfill

Permit Department’s as follows:

Permit Issued

44- House
100 or more – Mobile Home
15 Commercial Building

President Thomas stated that everyone needs to be positive, because the Parish is moving forward with getting rid of old debt and with the road program.

Item No. 10 - Council Discussion – Councilman Johnson ask residents to have patience with the road program. All work orders, called in, will be resolved.

Councilman Thomas asks for prayers and sympathy for the deaths of our soldiers in the recent down helicopter crash in the war zone. Some of these soldiers were from Louisiana. Also, he asks residents to ‘SHOP AT HOME’.

Councilman Fussell thanked Councilman Wheat and President Thomas for the informative report presented. He thanked Public Works and the crews for the work that has been accomplished with the road program. Also, he thanked the residents on Powerline Road area for attending to the meeting. He said the problem has been noted.

Chairman Posey announced the ‘FLAG RAISING’ for the Washington Parish Fair has been scheduled September 23^rd at the Courthouse in Franklinton and September 22^nd at City Hall in Bogalusa, with both events starting at 10:00 AM.

Item No. 11– Adjourn - No further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on motion by Councilman Route, seconded by Councilman Fussell. A roll call vote resulted as follows:

YEAS: (7) Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas and Route

NAYS: (0)

ABSENT: (0)

ABSTAIN: (0)

(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