Washington Parish Council
Regular Meeting
Washington Parish Courthouse
Council Chambers
January 26, 2015
Monday – 6:00 PM
Item No. 1 – Call to Order – Chairman Fussell called the meeting to order.
Item No. 2 – Invocation – Kreig Todd gave the invocation.
Item No. 3 - Pledge of Allegiance – Chairman Fussell led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item No. 4 - Roll Call – Council Clerk Sarah Cook called the roll. Present were Michael Fussell, Andre’ Johnson, Charles Nassauer, Greg Route, Pete Thomas, Ken Wheat and Aubrey Posey.
Item No. 5 - Approval of Minutes – Approval of Minutes dated January 12, 2015.
Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Wheat to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 12, 2015.
Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 6 – Kreig Todd – President of Memory Walkers – Speaking in regards to Alzheimer’s disease.
Mr. Todd said “an event to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s is scheduled for June 20 at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds. This is a free event includes musical guests the River Hit Squad. Other activities in the future include 5k race and motorcycle Rally.” Todd said Alzheimer’s touches millions of lives. “Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain and affects 5 million people nation-wide,” Todd said. “It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It particularly affects women as two out of three women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s each year. It’s a real disease that nobody wants to talk about. In Louisiana, 82,000 people are affected. That means 1,295 people in Washington Parish have it.” Todd said his group raised $2,800 last year. Most of the funds went toward research, care and advocacy. The Dorothy Wood Memorial Fund was to receive $250. Dorothy Wood died from the disease in May 2014. Memory Walkers was chartered in July 2013. Kreig Todd said “It’s important to involve the community; we feel it is important to give back to the donor base.”
Item No. 7 - Consideration of Adopting Resolution No. 15-680 – A Resolution authorizing the signing of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the audit of Washington Parish Government for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas to adopt Resolution No. 15-680 authorizing the signing of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the audit of Washington Parish Government for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 8 - Consideration of Adopting Resolution No. 15-681 – A Resolution authorizing the signing of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the audit of Choctaw Road Landfill for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Councilman Wheat offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Johnson to adopt Resolution No. 15-681 authorizing the signing of the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the audit of Choctaw Road Landfill for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 9 Introduction of Ordinance No. 15-595 - An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of immovable property together with improvements thereon, including a warehouse building, located in section 30, township 2 South, range 11 East, Washington Parish, Louisiana, having municipal address of 2185 Greenlaw Ave, Franklinton, Louisiana.
Item No. 10 - Public Participation – Chairman Fussell asked if anyone would like to come forth before the Council. State your name and address you have 3 minutes.
Judy Pittman, 10231 Revier Rd, Bogalusa, La: “Please consider the Community of Oak Grove. We have children that are scared to death of losing their homes. A young girl who is now scared to leave her mother’s side because she is extremely scared.” “This is not right and not fair. Since when has it been acceptable to people’s property for the sake of a dollar?” Mrs. Pittman then quotes a verse from the bible. (Exodus 20:17) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s. “Isn’t this what Senator Nevers, Richie, and Huey Peirce is doing? They are trying to take our property and remove our children from our homes, this is not right!” Thank you for your time.
Chairman Fussell thanked Mrs. Pittman. Chairman Fussell asked if anyone else would like to come forward to speak. “Please state your name and address.”
Phillipp Bedwell, P.O. Box 338, Bogalusa: “Mr. Chairman, at the last council meeting, during my discussion with Councilman Thomas about the proposed reservoir, I did not follow proper procedure when I asked him direct questions about what he thought about certain parts of the law. I would like to apologize to the council in general and specifically to Councilman Thomas for the way I asked the questions. I want the council to know I appreciate the council being willing to listen to the people of the parish and I did not intentionally violate the council’s procedures.”
“I am asking the council members to let the people of the parish know their individual opinion about the reservoir. I want you to know that I intend to do everything I can to have every elected official or candidate in the parish publicly state their support or opposition to the reservoir.”
“At the last meeting I addresses some public safety concerns, i.e., emergency notification procedures for those that will live downstream of the dam if they reservoir is built; emergency management issues like hurricane evacuation or law enforcement and medical responses due to roads that will be closed if the reservoir is built; and, how will the road closures affect the sheriff’s department response.”
“I would like to know if anything has been done to initiate a review of these issues so the people of the parish will know how the reservoir will affect them if it is built.”
“In addition to safety issue that I think needs to be reviewed is the response of the parish fire department. If I understand it correctly there are only 2 parish fire stations staffed on a 24 hour basis, the station on Hwy 21 and the District 7 station on Bill Booty Road, both of these stations are close to Bogalusa. If Hwy 439 is closed and there is a fire in the Sheridan / Pine area, the fire department personnel from the District 7 station will have to go through Bogalusa to respond, adding several minutes to their response time.”
“Another issue that was brought to my attention a few days ago is the people in the southern parts of the parish like Rio, Isabel and Enon that bring material to the landfill using south Choctaw Road will now have to travel several additional miles to come into the landfill from Hwy 10.”
“The last issue I would like to raise tonight concerns the possible economic impact on the businesses in Franklinton and Bogalusa that may be affected if the reservoir is built. The people on the south and east side of the reservoir site that want to go to Franklinton to shop will now go to Bogalusa or if they need to conduct business at the courthouse will have several miles added to their trip. The people on the north and west side of the reservoir site that shop in Bogalusa will have several miles added to their trip or, more likely, they will just go to Covington. Thank you for your time.”
Chairman Fussell thanked Mr. Bedwell and asked if anyone else would like to come forward.
Winford Pittman, 10231 Revier Rd, Bogalusa La: “I just would like to know if the criteria of being put on the agenda has changed.” Chairman Fussell stated, “You would tell me or the Clerk and it has to be done by 12:00 pm the Thursday before our council meeting.”
Chairman Fussell asked if anyone else would like to come forward.
Kenneth Clayton, 1154 Clayton Rd, Bogalusa La 70427: “I would like to thank the council for choosing my idea for the dumpsters at the landfill for recycling. I heard they are doing a little bit of business and hopefully other people will have more ideas so the parish can improve the dump and also improve the income. Thank you.”
Chairman Fussell asked if there were any other comments from the public. No one came forward Councilman Posey offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route, to close public participation.
Roll call for vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Chairman Fussell would like to thank Mr. Phillipp Bedwell appreciate your apologetic time you spent at the podium and appreciate you coming forward.
Item No. 11 - President’s Report – President Thomas received a letter from the Washington Parish Planning Commission to reappoint Commissioner’s Bradley Cooper, Vance Rogers, and Darryl Peterson for another 3 year term.
Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Thomas to reappoint Commissioner’s Bradley Cooper, Vance Rogers, and Darryl Peterson to another 3 year term of the Planning Commission Board.
Roll call for vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
President Thomas received a letter from the Washington Parish Fire district No. 5 to reappoint board members Daniel Keaton, Chick Boyd, and Freddy Jefferson for a 3 year term.
Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to reappoint board members Daniel Keaton, Chick Boyd, and Freddy Jefferson for a 3 year term.
Roll call for vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
President Thomas received a letter from the Washington Parish Fire district No. 5 to reappoint board members Huey Newcomb and Donald Williams for 2 year terms.
Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Posey to reappoint board members Huey Newcomb and Donald Williams for a 3 year term.
Roll call for vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
President Thomas received a letter from the Washington Parish Fire District No. 6 with sad news of Mr. Joe Johnson passing away. Fire District 6 was blessed with his services of 14 years. Fire District No. 6 would like to appoint John Nathaniel to replace Joe Johnson on the Board.
Councilman Johnson offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Route to appoint John Nathaniel to the Washington Fire District No. 6 board.
Roll call for vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Leo Lucchesi - Director Department of Public Works – updates for public works are as followed:
Roadway blacktopping report – Thus far 31 miles of Parish maintained roads have designated as roads to be blacktopped during 2015: 14 of the 55 roads (26%) listed have the cross-culverts installed.
WPSO air conditioning – the 60 –ton Chiller unit is in full service to the WPSO administration offices and Jail
DOTD Road Transfer Program – Parish roads (Choctaw & Dummyline) are now in the DOTD maintenance program. Choctaw Rd. (Hwy 10 North to Hwy 436) will be designated as LA. 3111 and Dummyline Road (John Jones Rd. to Hwy 1072) will be designated as LA 3171. The project Number is H.011755 and will be bid on August 12, 2015
Poole’s Bluff Recreational Trails Program – In preparation for the construction of the Pearl River Nature Park Fishing Pier; the sub-structure materials (wood pilings, caps, stringers, & decking) are ordered and scheduled for delivery tomorrow January 27, 2015.
Washington Parish Animal Shelter – At the Planning Commission Meeting last Tuesday evening this council chamber was filled with avid supporters and potential volunteers to assist is developing an animal control program; we are in the process of identifying volunteers to assist with the overall program; many at the meeting were very knowledgeable and involved with t4he Magnolia Chapter of the Humane Society of LA.
Item No. 12 - Council Discussion –
Councilman Thomas: “appreciates the apology from Phillipp Bedwell. I didn’t take it offensive towards me and I appreciate that.”
Councilman Posey: “I would like to remind everyone about the Jr. Livestock show. If you would like to make a contribution you can make check payable to Washington Parish Jr. Livestock show and mail it to 1104 B Bene St. Franklinton, La 70438.”
Councilman Wheat: “I commend Mr. Bedwell for stepping up; it shows a lot about your integrity it’s admirable.”
Chairman Fussell: “We do appreciate you coming forward and I don’t think we were greatly offended from last meeting. Thank you.” I also would like to congratulate Darryl Peterson, Bradley Cooper, and Vance Rogers for their reappointment to the Planning Commission Board.”
Item No. 13 - Adjourn - No further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned and motion by Councilman Posey, seconded by Councilman Route.
Roll call for vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Nassauer, Johnson, Thomas, Route, Posey, Wheat and Fussell