Tallulah, Louisiana
December 20, 2021
The Madison Parish Police Jury met in regular session and convened at the Courthouse Building, Tallulah, Louisiana on Monday December 20, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
President Sanders called the public hearing to order and gave the invocation.
PUBLIC HEARING:
A Public Hearing conducted for the purposes of affording the public an opportunity to inspect the proposed budget and the parish to respond to any questions that may arise.
There were no comments. The public hearing adjourned.
REGULAR MEETING
The roll call followed the announcement of a quorum. The following members were present at roll call:
District 1 Mr. Preston Walker
District 2 Mr. Stanley Ogden
District 3 Mr. Dave Wilson
District 4 Mr. Johnny Hughes
District 5 Ms. Jane Sanders
Visitors: B. Blake, H. Allen, S. Pitts, R. Patterson
There were no comments on the agenda items.
President Sanders requested the approval of the Consent Agenda (November 29th minutes, December 6th Minutes, November Financial Report, and the Outstanding Invoice Report). A motion was made by Mr. Walker, and seconded by Mr. Hughes, to approve the consent agenda. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mrs. Sanders discussed the problem with the lift station on Chicago Street.
The Secretary requested permission to pay outstanding invoices with available funds or as funds become available. A motion was made by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Wilson to pay outstanding invoices with available funds or as funds become available and pay whatever bills come in by the end of the month to be paid. No discussion. Motion carried.
Ms. Dew stated that Mr. Walker had requested a list of individuals that are on the delinquent garbage report. It is being worked on as well as the addresses.
Ms. Dew reported that she has advertised for a receptionist. Mrs. Thompson will be leaving at the end of February.
A list of the meeting dates for 2022 as well as a list of the holidays was included in each juror’s packet.
Ms. Dew also requested that the remaining employees from Public Works and the administrative office employees be awarded the same raises as the Public Works employees. A motion was made by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Wilson to award the remaining employees and the administrative office employees a ten percent raise. No discussion. A roll call vote resulted in the following:
District 1 yes
District 2 yes
District 3 yes
District 4 yes
District 5 yes
Motion passed.
The President announced the meeting dates for January will be the 4th , February 28th, March the 14th, April 25th. If all is well, twice a month in May. A motion was made by Mr. Wilson seconded by Mr. Hughes that the above meeting dates will be enacted for the first four months of the 2022 year. No discussion. A roll call vote resulted in the following:
District 1 yes
District 2 yes
District 3 yes
District 4 yes
District 5 yes
Motion passed.
Ms. Dew reported to the Jury that she had spoken to Mr. Moberley in regards to the affect the construction would have on conducting court. The judges will probably have to relocated during February and March to conduct court. He’s going to meet with the Village of Richmond to discuss possibility of having court there. Construction will move to the police jury office probably mid-January through February.
Ms. Dew reported that it was thought that the funding from the Off-system Bridge Program would be used to replace Atkins Road Bridge, but it was not. It was a special rural program that they were using funds to replace that bridge. A motion is needed that the Jury will not be using the Off-system Bridge Program funding, but that the bridge will be replaced using box cars and that the Jury will be deleted from Rural Bridge Program. A motion was made by Mr. Ogden, seconded by Mr. Wilson to request removal from Rural Bridge Program. No discussion. A roll call vote resulted in the following:
District 1 yes
District 2 yes
District 3 yes
District 4 yes
District 5 yes
Motion passed.
Mr. Hughes reported that he had an opportunity to meet with the school board and the city concerning the broadband. They are requesting a letter from the Jury concerning the grant application. The letter is due by December the 31st. Funds from the Gumbo Grant will be used for installation of the broadband.
Superintendent talked about equipment operators. He needs someone who is experienced to do the job. Ms. Dew requested that Mr. Epps go and look at Verhagen Road because it’s getting worse
Mrs. Dew stated that she closed out the account for Office of Homeland Security that had a balance of $773. A check was written to the Sheriff’s Office to close out that particular account. Also, there were funds in remaining account for E911. A check was written to Madison Parish Communication District to close out that account also.
Mr. Patterson gave a report on the sewerage. Once the floats are replaced the system will be operational.
A motion was made by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Walker to accept the recommended bids for Public Works Material:
Delta Fuel……………………….fuel, oil, grease, lube
Ergon……………………………asphaltic material
Diamond B………………………asphaltic concrete
Wilson Culverts…………………metal pipe
Ware Parts and Equipment Co…..grader blades
Irrigation Mart…………………. .plastic covered pipes
Also noted that confirmed that delivery fees on orders less than $3500 will be $500 and orders between $3500 and $5700 will be $300. And that’s regarding the plastic cover pipe from Irrigation Mark. No discussion. A roll call vote resulted in the following:
District 1 yes
District 2 yes
District 3 yes
District 4 yes
District 5 yes
Motion passed.
Bryant Killen addressed the Jury regarding a plan to create a Northeast Louisiana Railroad Development District. He introduced the controlling statute that allows two or more governing authorities of the parish to go together to create the district. A motion was made by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Wilson to publish the proposed ordinances for three consecutive weeks for the purpose of creating a Northeast Louisiana Railroad Development District. No discussion. A roll call vote resulted in the following vote:
District 1 yes
District 2 yes
District 3 yes
District 4 yes
District 5 yes
Motion passed.
Harold Allen addressed the Jury. Mr. Allen asked for a Parish-wide Fire District to have a Board to address the issues of the fire department to see where the department is headed, the Board will then bring the issues to the Jury.
Approval of Madison Parish Proposed 2022 General Fund Budget: A motion was made by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Wilson to approve the Madison Parish Hospital Proposed General Fund Budget. No discussion. Motion passed.
Adoption of Madison Parish Sales Tax Ordinance: A motion was made by Mr. Ogden, seconded by Mr. Hughes to adopt the Madison Parish Sales Tax Ordinance. No discussion. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Ogden to adopt Madison Parish’s Amended 2021 budget. No discussion. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Wilson to adopt the proposed budget for 2022 for Madison Parish Police Jury. No discussion. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Mr. Ogden, seconded by Mr. Hughes to approve the LA Crime Lab Amended 2021 budget and the Proposed 2022 budget. No discussion. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Ogden to select Halford Firm as auditor for fiscal year 2022. No discussion. Motion passed.
A motion was made by Mr. Hughes, second Mr. Ogden to accept the Madison Parish Hospital Service District Amended 2020 General Fund Budget. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Wilson offered a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Wilson.
/s/ Margarett Dew /s/ Jane Sanders
Secretary/Treasurer President
