Washington Parish Council

Regular Meeting – 6:00 PM

Washington Parish Courthouse

Council Chambers

August 24, 2009

Item No. 1 – Call to order – Chairman Nassauer called the meeting to order.

Item No. 2 – Invocation - Councilman Wheat 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 Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to approve the minutes of the August 3, 2009 meeting. All in favor and the motion carried.

Item No. 6 – Adoption of Finance Report – Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson to adopt the financial report. The motion unanimously carried.

Item No. 7 – Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 09-498 – Chairman Nassauer opened the public hearing on an ordinance entering into an Intergovernmental agreement and lease for the Washington Parish Animal Shelter.

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 Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to adopt Ordinance 09-498. A roll call vote resulted as follows:

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

NAYS: (0)

ABSENT: (0)

ABSTAINED: (0)

Item No. 8 – Introduction of Ordinance No. 09-499 – An ordinance to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the State of Louisiana to repair storm damaged roads throughout the Parish (Introduced by Dr. Charles A. Nassauer)

Item No. 9 – Introduction of Ordinance –No. 09-500 – An ordinance amending and restating Ordinance No. 06-377 entitled “An ordinance authorizing the Washington Parish Communications District to identify all streets, roads, highways and dwelling places in the district which are not otherwise designated by name and number and to change existing names where necessary due to duplication, all in order to carry out the purpose of the Washington Parish Communications District”(Introduced by Andre’ Johnson)

Item No. 10. David Miller – Approval of Video Recording of Council Meeting – Mr. Miller was not present at the meeting.

Item No. 11 – Dr. Berenson – Health Program – Dr. Berenson gave an overview of the data acquired in a research program that has been on going concerning health issues with children in Washington Parish. He thanked the Council for their past funding and asks if they would once again help fund the program to keep it alive. Also, he thanked Riverside Medical Center for partnering in the research program with school teachers concerning their health, since they are to be the roll models for children, and the hospital’s support in other areas. Dr. Berenson gave background data to support the program’s results. He gave a speech on why the program is desperately needed to educate our children in the Washington Parish. Some of the educational programs subject matter covers the following:

· Stop Smoking

· Drug Abuse

· Obesity

· Nutrition

· Teenage pregnancy

· Stress

· Drop Out Rate in School

· Dental Care

Dr. Berenson submitted reports to be entered into the record as follows: (Attachment A, B, C and D).

Councilman Fussell asks, “Are you asking for another $50,000.00 or what amount.”

Dr. Berenson replied, “Yes I am, because you do not start a program like this overnight, because it is research. We are just getting started with this. You need to think about the tobacco research and it took years and it really did not take hold until the lawyers got involved. You did not see reduction in smoking until this occurred. We are hoping that Washington Parish will help us with this worthwhile program dealing with prevention. You are dealing with $10.00 a child for education of prevention verses what the cost is for heart surgery and other diseases. It is really needed in this Parish. Dr. Berenson said this is not his program, but a Washington Parish Program. We have people from other countries that are coming to look at our program research.”

Chairman Nassauer asks, “Do you have matching funds for this, is that still in place?”

Dr. Berenson replied, “We used them up, because we are now about in our third year. We are now down to about $34,000.00 to carry us into December. I think this is a large investment for the children in this Parish. What I hope by me talking nationally and internationally that we will be a role model for other countries and counties across America with the paper we have published. ”

Councilman Thomas asks, “Dr. Berenson, you were talking about retirement, so who will carry this program forward?”

Dr. Berenson acknowledged the question was a tuff one to answer, but he has been talking to Tulane about who will fill the position. He said he just did not know at this time.

Item No. 12 – Public Participation – Mr. Winford Pittman, Pine Grove area, gave a report and a copy of the new application submitted by the Washington Parish Reservoir Commission. He gave an overview what was submitted in the application and a rebuttal of why, once again, a reservoir is not needed in Washington Parish. Mr. Freeman submitted reports to be entered into the record as follows: (Attachment E and F). Mr. Freeman said as far as the reservoir helping with the advancing of industry it would not happen, because he had researched the problem and the reason industry would not come to the Washington Parish was the lack of infrastructure with the highways. “The Parish doesn’t have the four lane highways, the airport is not sensible, and no rail system which is needed, so an industry that cannot get access to an interstate to truck it products out, rail it out or fly it out is not coming to Washington Parish. You can flood the whole parish, but they are not coming. So the reservoir is getting heated up again and you will be hearing from me again.” stated Mr. Pittman.

No further comments were made during public participation.

Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas seconded the motion to close public participation. All in favor and the motion carried.

Item No. 13 – President’s Report – President Thomas read a letter submitted by the Honorable Johnny Crain, Washington Parish Clerk of Court requesting authorization from the council to place for public bid a 2004 Ford Expedition. The vehicle is titled to and in the custody of the Washington Parish Clerk of Court and is not longer needed for public purposes.

Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Wheat to adopt

Resolution No. 442 – A resolution authorizing the Washington Parish Clerk of Court to dispose of surplus property of a 2004 Ford Expedition through public bid. All in favor and the motion carried unanimously.

President Thomas reported he had received a request for reappointment of Mr. Russell Passman to the Board of the Washington Parish Fire District No. 9 for a period of five years ending on September 10, 2014.

Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to reappoint Mr. Russell Passman to the Board of the Washington Parish Fire District No. 9. All in favor and the motion carried.

President Thomas announced he had received a letter, due to health problem, from Mr. Tom Mitchell resigning from the Washington Parish Fire Protection District 7.

Councilman Posey offered a motion to approve the resignation of Mr. Tom Mitchell from the board of the Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 7. The motion was seconded by Councilman Johnson. All in favor and the motion carried.

Chairman Nassauer asks the President to send a letter of appreciation to Mr. Tom Mitchell for his years of service to the community.

President Thomas recommended the appointment of Mr. Lamar Stewart to fill the vacancy on the board of the Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 7.

Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to approve the appointment of Mr. Lamar Stewart to the board of the Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 7. All in favor and the motion carried unanimously.

President Thomas stated he had received a letter of request from the Washington Parish Hospital Service District No.1, Riverside Medical Center, informing him of the existing vacancy due to the recent untimely death of Mr. Glyn Breland and asks for an appointment to fill this vacancy and Councilman Randy Thomas District 5 has ask for the endorsement of Mr. Danny Knight to fill the vacancy.

Mr. Thomas stated,” I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Breland. We are so sorry for your lose.”

Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to ratify the appointment of Mr. Danny Knight to the Washington Parish Service District No. 1, Riverside Medical Center Board. All in favor and the motion carried.

President Thomas recognized Public Works Director, Leo Lucchesi and asks that he be allowed to give the report as follows:

Bridges (The week of Labor Day two bridges will be close down)

A. Mitch Road Bridge (Will have by-pass accessibility)

B. Burt Road Bridge (No through traffic)

Health Unit

A. Move into new facility

B. Operation active as of last week

Old Health Unit

A. This facility will be remodeled

B. Following departments will be housed:

a. Quad Area

b. Gas Company – extend space

c. Washington Parish Permit Office

Animal Shelter

A. Hosting a meeting - (Washington Parish Council Chamber –

Wednesday night at 6:00PM)

Councilman Fussell asks, “Is there any anticipation to where we will be getting the 911 office relocated or adjacent to the permit office, so we can stop some of the confusion.”

Mr. Lucchesi stated even if the 911 office was next door the residents would still have to go through various steps to achieve a permit.

Mr. Jim Coleman from the 911 office stated the department was in the process of putting pamphlets in different locations and educating the residents concerning the procedure to help make the process flow.

Councilman Fussell stated, “Maybe it is a procedure thing that everyone gets confused about. Could we ask IT Director, Dempsey Parden, if the procedure could be posted on the Parish website?”

President Thomas stated in the future we are planning to use the website and power points at scheduled meeting throughout the Parish at different locations and try to educate the residents on where we stand with different issues and procedures of the various departments. Also, at these meeting the staff will try to explain our financial problems and let the people know what is going on and know the real facts.

John Taylor, Director of Transportation stated the government had sold surplus property that was useful and it brought in about $5,000.00.

Councilman Johnson asks about where the culverts on Mitch road would be located.

Leo Lucchesi replied, “East of the Fish House.”

Councilman Thomas asks if the staff could post the criteria of “Adopt –A- Road” or Adopt –A- Spot” on the website?

Mr. Lucchesi replied, “Yes.”

Item No. 14 – Council Discussion - Councilman Johnson touched on the fact that Mississippi seems to have a lot of new construction due to the stimulus bill and he would like for our officials and staff to research what the opportunity would be for our Parish to receive these funds for road construction. He said it amazed him how much construction was going on in the state of Mississippi.

Councilman Thomas stated he wanted to convey his thanks to Glyn Breland Family for the wonderful service he gave to the Parish through the years. He was always a great roll model and his work is greatly appreciated.

Council Fussell ask that a letter of accommodation to be given to Mr. Tom Mitchell concerning his resignation with the Washington Parish Fire District 7, because he has been a major factor in starting the organization of the volunteer fire department in the Parish.

Councilman Posey stated, “We have been beat up pretty bad, early in the year about rolling forward and all that. It is all about trust and I think if we can get some communications out to these areas to the people and show them the money we get is being spent to the best advantage at this time. Also, we can show these other projects, Richard, Leo, John and everybody is working on to try to move this Parish forward. Hopefully, this will become a reality soon. Also, to the council members we need you to let Sherry know if you are going to the Region VI meeting.

Chairman Nassauer stated he would like to see Washington Parish have a large turn out of representation at the Region VI meeting for September 16, 2009 due to the fact that Tangipahoa Parish, who is the sponsoring parish this year, was really supportive when our Parish was sponsoring the meeting. Also, this meeting is a really good informational meeting and gives staff and councilmen a chance to learn and network with surrounding parishes. Also, learn about the issues and talk about programs and hopefully learn from other parish’s mistakes and successes.

Councilman Fussell stated, “Dr. Berenson, we want to address your point, tonight. Councilman Wheat is the Finance Committee chairman. I think we are going take your request under advisement and will schedule a Finance Committee Meeting and get with President Thomas to discuss the financial issues that were presented to us already. We will get back with you.”

Chairman Nassauer stated he would wait for the Finance Committee’s recommendation.

Attorney Kuhn stated, “Just for the record I would like to submit a copy of the changes in Ordinance 09-500 that was introduced as renaming the roads and streets. That ordinance actually amends and restates the original ordinance, but the changes are in italics. It will make it easier to read and understand and see what was done.

Item No. Adjourn – No further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on motion by Councilman Posey, seconded by Councilman Route. All in favor and the motion carried.

_____________________________ ____________________________

Sharon Lyons, Clerk to the Council Dr. Charles A. Nassauer, Chairman

Washington Parish Washington Parish Council