Washington Parish Council
Regular Meeting 6:00 PM
Washington Parish Courthouse
Council Chambers
October 26, 2009
Item No. 1 Call to Order Chairman Nassauer called the meeting to order.
Item No. 2 Invocation Councilman Thomas gave the invocation.
Item No. 3 Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Nassauer 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 Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to approve the minutes of October 12, 2009 meeting. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 6 Approval of Financial Report Councilman Posey offered a motion to approve the Financial Report. Councilman Johnson seconded the motion. All in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
Item No. 7 Public Hearing on Ordinance 09-502 - Chairman Nassauer opened the public hearing on an ordinance to authorize the Parish President to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the State of Louisiana, Division of Administration, Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery Unit for the Implementing Grant under the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program through the Parish Implemented Recovery Program.
There were no comments during the public hearing.
Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to close the public hearing. All in favor and the motion carried.
Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas to adopt Ordinance 09-502. A roll call vote resulted as follows:
YEAS: (7) Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer and Johnson
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAINED: (0)
Item No. 8 Public Hearing on Ordinance 09-503 Chairman Nassauer opened the public hearing on an ordinance to authorized the Parish President to sign all contacts, forms, applications and necessary documents to apply for and administer the grant for the Bogue Lusa Water Works District through the Office of Community Development (CWEF) Program. In the amount of $100,000.00 for a term of three years.
There were no comments during the public hearing.
Councilman Posey 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 Johnson to adopt Ordinance 09-503. A roll call vote resulted as follows:
YEAS: (7) Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer and Johnson
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAINED: (0)
Item No. 9 Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-504 An ordinance authorizing the Parish to sign all contracts, forms, applications and other necessary documents to apply for and administer the grant, for Rural Franklinton Water Corp. through the Office of Community Development Program. In the amount of $75,000.00.
There were no comments during the public hearing.
Councilman Route offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to close the public hearing. All in favor and the motion carried.
Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to adopt Ordinance 09-504. A roll call vote resulted as follows:
YEAS: (7) Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer and Johnson
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAINED: (0)
Item No. 10 Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-505 An ordinance to authorizing the Parish President, to sign all contracts, forms, and other necessary documents to apply for and administer any funding to be used for the Isabel Swamp Road Project.
There were no comments during the public hearing.
Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to close the public hearing. All in favor and the motion carried.
Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to adopt Ordinance 09-505. A roll call vote resulted as follows:
YEAS: (7) Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat, Fussell, Nassauer and Johnson
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAINED: (0)
Item No. 11
Introduction of an Ordinance No. 09-506 An ordinance to adopt the
2010 Annual Operating Budget and the Capital Outlay Budget for the Washington
Parish Government (Introduced by Ken Wheat)
Item No. 12 David Miller Mt. Hermon Web-TV- Mr. Miller came before the Council and gave a
presentation about his company and ask if they would approve the recording onto
videotape of the council meeting on the Mt. Hermon Web-TV. After much discussion on the issue an
agreement was reached as follows:
add in future)
(Councilmen
will have chance to visit the site)
presentation programs to
educate the public concerning government and
different issues to present on
through Web-TV as a source.
Item No. 13 Public Participation There were no comments during public participation.
Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson to close public participation. All in favor and the motion carried.
Item No. 14 President Report President Thomas stated he had received the resignation of Mr. Malcolm James from the Washington Parish Fire District #3 Board.
Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to accept the resignation of Mr. Malcolm James. All in favor and the motion carried.
President Thomas announced a request had been presented by the Washington Parish Fire District #3 to appoint Mr. Larry Duncan as the new board member. His term would expire as of December 31, 2012.
Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to approve the appointment of Mr. Larry Duncan to the Washington Parish Fire District # 3. All in favor and the motion carried.
Mr. Leo Lucchesi, Public Works Director announced the staff was working on an ordinance to be presented in the near future concerning the adopting of the Floodplain FEMA guidelines. Mr. Kuhn, Parish Council Attorney, is in the process of researching this document. This document would be presented in November. The deadline for adopting this ordinance is by the end of December, 2009. There is the possibility of a seminar to discuss the document, if scheduled, then LSU AgCenter would be ask to assist with this project.
Councilman Wheat stated this was not the first time the council has addressed this issue and the federal government did not force us to adopt the guidelines when it was addressed in the past. It is a voluntary issue; however, if the document had not been approved, then the Parish would probably not receive any assistant from the federal government during flooding and other disasters; however the Parish has found adopting of these guidelines through FEMA has been beneficial for receiving funds during past years.
Councilman Johnson ask if residents that live in low area which continue to get flooded could still get flood insurance from the federal government.
President Thomas stated that they can until they flood then to receive additional coverage the residents has to use the money to build the home back up to a higher level or what ever guidelines FEMA requires before continuing coverage. The home can not be below the flood level or probably the government will not continue to cover you, reported President Thomas.
Item No. 15 Council Discussion - Councilman Thomas stated he would like to acknowledge the death of Mr. Berkley Thomas. He was President of the Varnado Water Works Board. His local service with government, through the years, has been greatly appreciated.
The Council agreed to address a letter of appreciation to the Berkley Thomas Family on behalf of Mr. Thomas loyal service to the Varnado Water Works Board.
Councilman Fussell stated he wanted to commend Mr. Posey who once again was constructive in making the Washington Parish Fair a success.
Item No. 16 Executive Session -Chairman Nassauer stated, We have executive session on the agenda tonight, but our attorney has said it will not be necessary to have this item.
Item No. 17 Adjourn - Having no further business coming before the council, the meeting was adjourned on motion by Councilman Posey, seconded by Councilman Fussell. All in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Sharon Lyons, Clerk to the Council Dr. Charles A. Nassauer, Chairman
Washington Parish Washington Parish Council