Tallulah, Louisiana
April 24, 2023
The Madison Parish Police Jury met in regular session and convened at the Courthouse Building, Tallulah, Louisiana on Monday, April 24, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
President Sanders called the meeting to order and gave the invocation. The roll call followed the announcement of a quorum. The following members were present at roll call:
District 1 Jerry Hicks
District 2 Stanley Ogden
District 3 Dave Wilson
District 4 Johnny Hughes
District 5 Jane Sanders
Visitors: B. Bell, T. Thomas, C. Slacks, B. Rogers
A Public Comments Period held at the beginning of the meeting to allow for comments on agenda items received no comments.
President Sanders requested the approval of the Consent Agenda (approval of April 24th and 27th minutes, approval of April Building, Financial Activity Report, Garbage/Sewer report, and the Outstanding Invoice Report). A motion was made by Mr. Ogden, seconded by Mr. Wilson to approve the consent agenda. No further discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Hughes offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Ogden, to approve the request to pay outstanding invoices with available funds or as funds become available. No further discussion. Motion passed.
The engineer was presented with a list of items at the courthouse that needed to be addressed. It was asked that the items, that included the eaves, facia, gutters, shutter cleaning & painting or replacement, be added to the window project. Doing or after repairs we will request the contractor to provide estimates on possible painting and repairing cracks of the exterior.
The jurors were asked if there would be a Summer Youth Program. Mr. Wilson offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Hicks to offer the program this summer. The program will be extended to students between 16-19 and starting on June 1, 2023. The hourly wage will be $9.00 an hour. A roll call vote resulted in the following:
District 1 yes
District 2 yes
District 3 yes
District 4 yes
District 5 yes
No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Hughes offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Wilson, to reimburse Mr. Hearns for fees paid for his wife to attend the Police Jury Conference, but was unable to attend at the last minute.
No discussion. Motion passed.
Bids were received for the Replacement of the Drawdown Gate at the Brushy Bayou Dam. The low bidder was Dixie Overland Construction with a base amount of $549,840, that is approximately $154,840 more than was estimated. Mr. Hicks offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Hughes, to accept the bid with a revised total cost for the project as $607,240. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Silas, former custodian at the LSU Extension building, stated that he had obtained a full-time position elsewhere. Ms. C. Barnett, who formerly held that position has agreed to return. It is a part time position, 4 hours a day at a rate of $13.67 per hour. Mr. Hicks offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Hughes, to rehire Ms. Barnett at $13.67 per hour. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Hughes offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Wilson, to increase Ms. Shoulder’s salary to $15.07 per hour, effective the next pay period. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Hughes and Mr. Wilson will contact North Delta Regional Planning regarding grant opportunities.
Following the Superintendents report, each juror gave a report of concerns in their district.
At the request of the Attorney General’s office, the Police Jury offered a resolution, to join in the litigation against FEMA to challenge Risk Rating 2.0. Mr. Hughes offered the motion, seconded by Mr. Wilson.
Resolution 2023-5
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “is updating the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) risk rating methodology through the implementation of a new pricing methodology,” titled “Risk Rating 2.0: Equity in Action”1;
WHEREAS, FEMA states that Risk Rating 2.0’s “methodology leverages industry best practices and cutting-edge technology to enable FEMA to deliver rates that are actuarily sound, equitable, easier to understand and better reflect a property’s flood risk”2;
WHEREAS, the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana, members of both the Louisiana legislature and the federal legislature, members of state government, numerous Parish Presidents and their Councils, and many other entities in Louisiana and around the nation have grave concerns about the soundness of Risk Rating 2.0’s underlying methodology, its failure to properly take into account any of the numerous improvements Louisiana’s Levee Boards have made to the flood protection systems, and its catastrophic effect on Louisiana’s flood insurance rates and the ability of Louisiana’s homeowners to purchase flood insurance;
WHEREAS, many of those entities have repeatedly raised their concerns to FEMA, have asked FEMA for documentation showing FEMA’s underlying methodology, and have been passed from one federal office to the next without receiving any meaningful answers to their questions or documents showing FEMA’s underlying methodology;
WHEREAS, FEMA has denied and continues to deny the efforts of those who are trying to protect their interests, the interests of their members, the interests of many Louisiana industries, and the interests of Louisiana citizens, making what is supposed to be “Equity in Action” an inequitable program across the entire State of Louisiana;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Parish Police Jury joins the Attorney General of Louisiana in litigation against FEMA to challenge Risk Rating 2.0.
Ms. Carolyn Slacks of NOVA Workforce Institute of NE Louisiana, Inc., gave a brief presentation on the mission of NOVA and asked the Parish to consider providing employment to their graduates.
Mr. Hughes offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Wilson, to adopt the Sexual Misconduct Policy for the Parish. (Refer to Appendix A) No discussion. Motion passed.
There was no discussion of correspondence.
During public comment, Constable T. Thomas approached the Jury to request safety vest be provided to constables as a protective measure in their line of duty. It was suggested that he contacted the Sheriff to see if he would provide them, first.
Also, Mrs. B. Rogers requested the jury to provide four dumpsters for the spring cleanup, which is scheduled for three weeks. Mr. Hicks offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Wilson, to provide the dumpsters to assist with the spring cleanup. No discussion. Motion passed
Mr. Hicks offered a motion to adjourn.
/s/ Margarett Dew /s/ Jane Sanders
Secretary/Treasurer President
Tallulah, Louisiana
April 27, 2023
The Madison Parish Police Jury met in special session and convened at the Courthouse Building, Tallulah, Louisiana on Thursday, April 27, 2023, 3:00 p.m.
President Sanders called the meeting to order and gave the invocation. The roll call followed the announcement of a quorum. The following members were present at roll call:
District 1 Jerry Hicks
District 2 Stanley Ogden
District 3 Dave Wilson
District 4 Johnny Hughes
District 5 Jane Sanders
Visitors: B. Bell
A Public Comments Period held at the beginning of the meeting to allow for comments on agenda items received no comments.
The President asked for a motion to amend the agenda to add discussion of sidewalk proposals to the agenda. Mr. Ogden made a motion to amend the agenda, seconded by Mr. Wilson. A roll call vote resulted in the following:
District 1 yes
District 2 yes
District 3 yes
District 4 yes
District 5 yes
No discussion. Motion passed.
The Secretary read the summary of bids for Madison Parish Port Entrance Road. The bids were as follows:
Amethyst Construction, Inc. $1,725,469.11
D & J Construction Co. $1,275,638.73
Kepper Trucking and Dirt Contracting $2,312,045.95
Mr. Wilson, offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Ogden, to award the bid for Port Road to D & J Construction Co., LLC, as a resulting of having the lowest bid. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Hicks offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Hughes, to pay the temporary employee for the Register of Voters Office $10.00 an hour. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Hicks offered a motion, seconded by Mr. Hughes to accept the bid from Grindstone for the construction of the sidewalk from the north end of the courthouse to the south end. No discussion. Motion passed.
Mr. Hicks offered a motion to adjourn.
/s/ Margarett Dew /s/ Jane Sanders
Secretary/Treasurer President
1 https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/risk-rating.
2 https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/risk-rating.
