The Madison Parish Police Jury met Friday, June 6, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Madison Parish Courthouse. Police Jurrors present were Jerry Hicks, Dave Wilson, Johnny Hughes, and Police Jury President Jane Sanders. Stanley Ogden was absent.
The meeting opened with the approval of the consent agenda, which included the minutes from the May 27 meeting, the May Building Report, May Financials, the Garbage and Sewer Report, and the Outstanding Invoice Report.
Representatives from Delta Recovery gave a detailed presentation on the parish’s drug testing protocol. They explained that while samples are collected locally, they are processed by a lab in California, with results returning in approximately three days. Tests are typically reported as either positive or negative. However, samples that are excessively diluted—often due to high water intake—are flagged as invalid and are not accepted as negative results. Jury members asked about temperature checks, adulteration, and the impact of dehydration or heat-related water consumption, particularly for outdoor workers.
Several high school students in attendance requested the opportunity to retest, having previously received diluted results. The students had been placed in an intern program and assigned to various positions across the parish. The jury voted to allow a final retest for those affected, provided documentation is submitted directly to the parish office. Delta Recovery offered to conduct the retests at half cost to reduce the financial burden on the applicants.
The jury approved a $5,000 bid from Industrial Roofing and Construction for patch repairs to the courthouse roof. While emergency work is proceeding, further evaluation is underway regarding the complete replacement of the roof in the future.
Discussion also turned to the old Madison Parish Health Unit building. Jurors considered its potential for rehabilitation and expressed interest in pursuing a nomination for the National Register of Historic Places. Officials plan to contact the Office of Historic Preservation for additional guidance.
District One juror Jerry Hicks commended maintenance supervisor Clinton Epps and his crew for progress in catching up on mowing and grading throughout the parish. District Three juror Dave Wilson requested vegetation spraying near the old health unit and along Brushy Bayou. He also expressed concern about a ditch being worked on in his district by the City of Tallulah and asked the parish maintenance team to check that the project’s grading aligns with drainage needs.
District Four juror Johnny Hughes emphasized the urgency of infrastructure work ahead of the harvest season. He confirmed the arrival of the parish’s culvert order, with at least one already installed, and stressed the importance of respecting private property boundaries unless prior approval is granted by the landowners.
Police Jury President Jane Sanders raised concerns about Bailey Road, which has become a high-traffic bypass route. The jury discussed installing speed limit signs to manage traffic and reduce damage from heavy vehicles.
The jury unanimously approved the purchase of a new truck for the maintenance department from Jackson Ford for $65,800. Funds for the vehicle came from a grant allocated for public works equipment. While a fuel tank was also discussed, its purchase was deferred due to cost considerations and remaining budget.
The jury accepted an $18,900 bid from D\&J Construction in West Monroe for repairs to the port road. The work is expected to improve access and reduce long-standing drainage issues in the area.
In other business, the jury approved the appointment of Haggard to the Madison Parish Recreation Board. They also adopted an ordinance authorizing the sale of adjudicated property on North Walnut Street.
The meeting concluded with jurors emphasizing the importance of fairness and accuracy in drug testing protocols, the need to support youth employment opportunities, and the ongoing challenges of maintaining infrastructure with limited resources.
