TENSAS PARISH
POLICE JURY
REGULAR MEETING
October 8, 2024
10:00 AM
The Tensas Parish Police Jury met this day in regular session convened. There were present the following officers and members to-wit:
Bubba Rushing, President
Pauline Doyle, Secretary/Treasurer
Members: Billy Joe Arceneaux, Robert Clark, Bill Sid Crigler, Clay Foster, Terrence South, Bubba Rushing, and Alex Watson.
Clay Foster, Invocation
Alex Watson, Pledge of Allegiance
Guest present were: Todd Merriett, Kiley Sanders, Winn Nettles, Hyram Copeland, Clarissa Newman, and Thelma Bradford
There were no comments from the general public regarding the agenda item(s).
Upon a motion by Robert Clark, duly seconded by Clay Foster, it was unanimously agreed to approve the agenda as printed. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Billy Joe Arceneaux, duly seconded by Robert Clark, it was unanimously agreed to approve the minutes for the Regular Meeting held on September 24, 2024. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Alex Watson, duly seconded by Bill Crigler, it was unanimously agreed to approve payment of bills as authorized by the Finance Committee. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Presidents Report: Bubba Rushing reported Representative Travis Johnson/Southern College would be at a meeting on October 15, at the warehouse building across the levee for a potential business venture. He also discussed a clearance grant through CDBG for demolishing old buildings.
Secretary/Treasurer Report: Pauline Doyle gave an update on a grant through DAR for Industrial Drive. She also met with Dr. Russ about the school property for the Recreational Building in St. Joseph ($7500.00 per acre). She reported that the 2023 auditor’s report had no findings.
Superintendents Report: Todd Merriett updated the Jury on ongoing Maintenance Unit work-report attached.
OEP Report: Kiley Sanders updated the Jury on activities concerning Homeland Security-report attached.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Robert Clark, it was unanimously agreed to approve the Budget vs. Actual Financial Statements for the period ending September 30, 2024. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Billy Joe Arceneaux, duly seconded by Terrence South, it was unanimously agreed to approve materials for the Tensas Maintenance Unit. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, duly seconded by Billy Joe Arceneaux, it was unanimously agreed to allow Clarissa Newman with the Tensas Council on Aging address the Jury. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Terrence South, it was unanimously agreed to give $15,000.00 to the Council on Aging to be paid for with the ARPA funds. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, seconded by Clay Foster, it was unanimously agreed to allow Winn Nettles with Bryant Hammett & Associates address the Jury. Winn Nettles gave an update on the Recreation Parks.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Billy Joe Arceneaux, it was unanimously agreed to accept the Blue Cross Blue Shield renewal for 2025. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Robert Clark, it was unanimously agreed to pay the CDL fee for maintenance unit employees with the stipulation that they sign a contract stating they will work for a year after receiving the license. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Billy Joe Arceneaux, duly seconded by Bill Crigler, it was agreed to set a yearly budget of $1000.00 per Juror for Juror expenses. Roll Call vote taken: Billy Joe Arceneaux-yes, Robert Clark-no, Bill Crigler-yes, Clay Foster-no, Terrence South-no, Alex Watson-no. Nays have it. Motion failed.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, duly seconded by Clay Foster, it was agreed to set a yearly budget for $1500.00 per Juror for Juror expenses. Roll call vote taken: Billy Joe Arceneaux-no, Robert Clark-yes, Bill Crigler-no, Clay Foster-yes, Terrence South-yes, Alex Watson-yes. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, duly seconded by Robert Clark, it was agreed to give an advance travel check to Jurors attending Police Jury meetings out of town. Roll call vote taken: Billy Joe Arceneaux-no, Robert Clark-yes, Bill Crigler-no, Clay Foster-yes, Terrence South-yes, Alex Watson-yes. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Billy Joe Arceneaux, it was agreed to require SALARIED office employees to punch a time clock daily. Roll call vote taken: Billy Joe Arceneaux-no, Robert Clark-yes, Bill Crigler-no, Clay Foster-yes, Terrence South-yes, Alex Watson-yes. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Billy Joe Arceneaux, duly seconded by Terrence South, it was agreed to approve a one-hour lunch break for salaried office employees. Roll call vote taken: Billy Joe Arceneaux-yes, Robert Clark-yes, Bill Crigler-yes, Clay Foster-yes, Terrence South-yes, Alex Watson-yes. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, duly seconded by Robert Clark, it was unanimously agreed to bid out for a CPA firm to perform the annual audits. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, duly seconded by Bill Crigler, it was unanimously agreed to exit regular session and enter into executive session. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, duly seconded by Bill Crigler, it was unanimously agreed to exit executive session and return to regular session. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Terrence South, it was unanimously agreed to give employe #92R a $2.00 per hour raise with full benefits effective October 10, 2024. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Terrence South, it was unanimously agreed to give employee #58R a $3.00 per hour raise with full benefits effective October 10, 2024. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Bill Crigler, duly seconded by Terrence South, it was unanimously agreed to put employee #51W on a bi-weekly salary. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
Upon a motion by Terrence South, duly seconded by Bill Crigler, it was unanimously agreed to adjourn. Ayes have it. Motion carried.
10/30
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION
Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Board of Aldermen, acting as the governing authority (the “Governing Authority”), of the Town of St. Joseph, State of Louisiana, (the “Town”) on July 8, 2024, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the Town on Saturday, December 7, 2024, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the Town qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, to-wit:
TOWN OF ST. JOSEPH,
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Shall the Town of St. Joseph, State of Louisiana (the “Town”), be authorized to levy and collect a special tax of nine and forty-eight hundredths (9.48) mills on all the property subject to taxation in the Town (an estimated $39,540 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, for any lawful municipal purposes?
The said special election will be held at the following polling places situated within the Town, which polls will open at seven o’clock (7:00) a.m., and close at eight o’clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to-wit:
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS & REGISTRATION REPORT FOR THE TOWN
|
PRECINCT |
PRECINCTS LOCATION |
POLL PLACE NAME & LOCATION |
CITY |
|
09 (in part) |
Tensas Media Center‚ |
704 Plank Road |
St. Joseph |
|
11A (in part) |
Tensas Media Center‚ |
704 Plank Road |
St. Joseph |
|
11B (in part) |
Lake Bruin Fire Station‚ |
2913 Hwy 606 |
St. Joseph |
|
12 (in part) |
Police Jury Meeting Room‚ |
12 Hancock Street |
St. Joseph |
The polling places set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those designated according to law.
Notice is further given that a portion of the monies collected from the tax described in the Proposition shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law.
The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitute therefor, as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, City Hall, 125 Plank Road, St. Joseph, Louisiana, on January 13, 2025, at four o’clock (4:00) p.m., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the results of the said special election. This Governing Authority reserves the right to advance or postpone the date and time set forth above for the canvass of the returns (without any further publication of notice of change in date, time and/or location). All registered voters of the Town are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used thereat. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that a portion of the monies collected from the tax described in the Proposition above shall be remitted to certain state and statewide retirement systems in the manner required by law.
The estimated cost of the election as determined by the Louisiana Secretary of State is $600.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED, at St. Joseph, Louisiana, on this, the 8th day of July, 2024.
/s/ Heather Richard, Clerk
/s/ Matthew Alexander, Mayor
10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30