Regular Meeting of the Franklin Parish Police Jury
December 8, 2022 @ 5:00 p.m.
Franklin Parish Police Jury Room, 6558 Main Street, Winnsboro, LA 71295
The Franklin Parish Police Jury met in Regular Session on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 5:00 P.M. in the Police Jury Meeting Room, Courthouse Building, located at 6558 Main Street, Winnsboro, LA 71295 with the following present: President James Harris, Vice President Leodis Norman, Chaplain Gary Peters, Juror Ricky Campbell and Juror David DeBlieux. Juror Keiona Wesby and Juror Howie Robinson were unable to attend.
President Harris called the meeting to order, followed by roll call.
Vice President Norman led the assembly in prayer and the pledge of allegiance.
The motion to approve the agenda was offered by Campbell, seconded by Peters and was passed.
President Harris asked for a motion to open the public hearing regarding the 2022 budget amendments.
Peters offered the motion to open the public hearing, followed by a second from Campbell.
There were no public comments received either in writing or via voice.
Campbell offered the motion to close the public hearing, followed by a second from Peters. The public hearing was closed. Peters offered the motion to approve the 2022 budget amendments as presented. Campbell seconded with all voting in agreement.
President Harris asked for a motion and second to open the public hearing regarding the proposed 2023 budgets. Campbell offered the motion to open the public hearing; DeBlieux seconded, the public hearing was opened.
There were no public comments received either in writing or via voice.
Campbell offered the motion to close the public hearing. Peters seconded; the public hearing was closed. Campbell offered the motion to approve the 2023 budgets as presented. Peters seconded with all voting in agreement.
President Harris asked for a motion to open the public hearing for the consideration of removing Cotton Field Rd. from the parish road system.
The jury was read a letter received by Connie Hales requesting that prior to the jury voting to take Cotton Field Rd. out of the system to have the culvert that was damaged by the road grader be repaired. Juror Campbell advised the jury that he has spoken with Mr. Larry Roberts, who has property located at the end of this road, and his concern is if the jury takes the road out of the system, he will be cut off from having access to his property. Mrs. Anna Tibbit spoke up, on behalf of Thomas King Jr., in favor of removing Cotton Field Rd. from the parish road system. She told the jury that she believes that there should be a right of way for the property that Mr. Roberts owns on record somewhere because the pasture at the end of the road has been divided for a long time before the road was ever part of the parish road system. Per Mrs. Tibbit the road is virtually just a turn row. She expressed as a landowner she appreciates the occasional gravel and grading but as a tax payer, she feels it is a waste of tax payer monies. Juror Campbell stated that Cotton Field Rd. was adopted into the road system about 22 years ago. There was a trailer at the end of the road back then but it has since been moved and the lot has remained vacant for many years. Juror Campbell asked that it be verified that Mr. Roberts has a servitude on record prior to the jury voting to remove the road from the parish road system. Mr. Michael Tibbit told the jury that he believes that there was a servitude given by Mr. King to Mr. Roberts in order for him to continually access his property through the King property. Mr. Tibbit thinks that the easement is included withing the deed. ADA Kramer offered to check the Clerks Office for the deed if the Tibbits will get him the details of the names and timeframe the deed was filed. The Tibbits agreed that if there is not an easement already filed, they would be willing to file one for Mr. Roberts to have perpetual access to the property.
Campbell offered the motion to close the public hearing, Peters seconded. The hearing was closed.
Campbell offered the motion to table a decision at this time. Peters seconded with all voting in agreement.
President Harris called for a motion to open the public hearing for the consideration of removing 277 ft. from the end of DeBlieux Rd. out of the parish road system. Peters offered the motion to open the public hearing. DeBlieux seconded with all voting in agreement. There were no public comments either via voice or written. DeBlieux offered the motion to close the public hearing. Campbell seconded with all voting in agreement. Peters offered the motion to approve the removal of 277 ft. from the end of DeBlieux Rd. from the parish road system. Campbell seconded; the motion passed.
The following verbal announcement was made: Notice is hereby given that at its meeting to be held on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at its regular meeting place, the Police Jury Meeting Room of the Courthouse, 6558 Main Street, Winnsboro, Louisiana, the Police Jury of the Parish of Franklin, State of Louisiana, plans to consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held within the Parish of Franklin, State of Louisiana to authorize the renewal of a sales and use tax therein.
President Harris asked to skip down the agenda to item 19. The motion to approve the allocation of ARPA funds to offset the short fall of available funds to complete Phase II of the Rawhide Robinson Activity Center was offered by Robinson, seconded by DeBlieux and was unanimously passed. President Harris then went to agenda item 20. The motion to approve awarding the construction bid for Phase II of the Rawhide Robinson Activity Center to Grindstone Construction, LLC in the amount of $1,375,000.00 was offered by Campbell, second by Peters and was unanimously passed.
The motion to approve the November 10, 2022 regular meeting was offered by Peters, seconded by DeBlieux and was passed.
Mrs. Carol Pinnel Allison provided the jury with the monthly LSU Ag Center Update. Mr. Joshua Jackson was present to speak to the jury about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which has allotted federal funding to the state of Louisiana for infrastructure improvement(s). The funds are being distributed through DOTD. There is 6.5 million that has been allotted to District 58 (this includes Franklin, LaSalle and Concordia) monies will not be divided equally between the parishes, distribution will be based on need. The two bridges DOTD is looking at for Franklin are the Bobby Woods Rd. Bridge and Big Creek Bridge. However, DOTD is still calculating how much funds will be awarded to each of the parishes in District 58.
Robert Hall asked the jury for approval of a 30 ft. culvert for access to his home and some dirt to give him back his yard. Then open up the ditch going down using the laser. DeBlieux offered the motion to approve the recommendation of Mr. Hall and Superintendent Smith. Campbell seconded with all voting in agreement.
Mr. Ken McManus spoke to the jury regarding several options/funding source possibilities for the Ash Slough Project. Campbell offered the motion to approve the Ash Slough Drainage Improvements Engineering proposal as needed by the LA Watershed Initiative. Peters seconded with all voting in agreement.
The motion to take Mr. McManus’ suggestion to calculate the FEMA requested information and proceed with trying to meet all requirements needed to received reimbursement funds for the freeze damage, was offered by Campbell, seconded by Norman and was unanimously passed.
The motion to approve turning over the repair requests for damage to a sewer main for the Abe Lincoln Sewer System to ADA Mike Kramer was offered by DeBlieux, seconded by Campbell and was passed.
The motion to approve Resolution 785, Canvass Proceedings of the 11/8/2022 election results was offered by Peters, seconded by Campbell and was passed.
Peters offered the motion to approve signing the CEA between the FPPJ and Dept. of Veterans Affairs for the Parish’s continued support. Campbell seconded with all voting in agreement.
The motion to approve going with Traveler’s for the Parish Worker’s Comp coverage was offered by Campbell, seconded by DeBlieux and was passed.
The motion to approve Resolution 784 in support of the sovereignty of a 10-parish region under the NELA Alliance was offered by Campbell, seconded by Peters and was passed.
The motion to approve the following beer permit renewals and one new permit was offered by Campbell, seconded by DeBlieux and was passed.
Jonsey’s Trak – renewal, Circle M Sales – renewal, LDV Country Store – renewal, K&L Store – renewal, Twin Oakes Country Club – renewal, and Fuel Trac – new permit
The motion to approve the re-appointments of all Fire District Board Members set to expire the end of December and the appointment of Mr. Jeremy Ledet to the vacant seat on the Fire District 1 Board was offered by Peters, seconded by Campbell and was passed.
The motion to table a decision on drafting an ordinance proposal regulating the leveling of land was offered by Peters, seconded by Campbell and was passed.
By a motion from Peters and second by DeBlieux, the jury unanimously approved the following culvert policies.
Culvert Installation Request From An Individual For A Location The Public Works Department Is NOT Currently Performing Work. The parish no longer sells culverts or will install them in this situation. The individual will need to contact the Public Works Facility and complete a Culvert Installation Permit. The drainage foreman or his designee will need to follow the instructions for the Culvert Installation Permit.
Culvert Installations When Working At A Location And A Resident Has A Circle Drive Or Two Or More Access Culverts To Their Residence. When the public works department is doing work in a location and a resident asks for more than one of the access culverts to their residence be replaced, the policy is to only replace one of the residential access culverts. However, the second or additional culverts may be replaced if the resident/property owner pays for the culvert and it is available to be installed within the time that the public work facility is working in the area. Public works employees are not expected to go back after completing the project just for the installation of the resident’s additional culverts.
Culvert Installations When Work Performed By Public Works Takes Away An Individuals Existing Access Point. In the event that public works operations take away an individual’s access to their property, by the creation of a road or ditch, the policy is for the FPPJ to provide an access.
Field Culverts. Field culverts needed in private drainage ways (drainage way only drains the private property) is the responsibility of the individual (culvert cost and installation). Individual will have to obtain the Parish Culvert Permit. Field culverts installed by the parish impeding public drainage (drainage way that drains multiple properties) the parish can replace. If a property owner is needing a new culvert installed for access it is the responsibility of the individual to purchase the culvert and install. Individual will have to obtain a Parish Culvert Permit.
The motion to award material bids to the lowest responsible bidders as presented with the exception of garbage containers, which are all to be rejected, was offered by Campbell, seconded by Peters and was passed.
Peters offered the motion to rescind the previous motion of the November meeting to auction the roto grader as surplus equipment. Norman seconded with all voting in agreement.
The motion to approve the creation of a school bus turnaround at the end of Dawson Farm Rd. was offered by Campbell, seconded by Peters and was unanimously passed.
The motion to turn over the non-responsive nuisance ordinance violators over to ADA Kramer for the implementation of penalty fees was offered by Campbell, seconded by Norman and was passed.
The motion to approve the repair request of James Hodge for windshield damage in the amount of the lowest quote received, Ezell’s Body Shop for $325.00, was offered by Campbell seconded by DeBlieux and was unanimously passed.
Campbell offered the motion to approve Phillip Ferrington successfully completing his 6-month probationary period and increasing his rate of pay $1. Peters seconded with all voting in agreement.
The motion to update the current FPPJ Cyber Security Policy as presented was offered by Peters, seconded by Campbell and was passed.
President Harris asked the jury’s permission not to go into executive session to discuss the rate of pay for the Secretary/Treasurer and to approve the recommendation of the Personnel Committee. The jurors agreed.
Peters offered the motion to increase the rate of pay of the Secretary/Treasurer as recommended by the Personnel Committee in executive session.
Superintendent Smith provided the jury with his monthly Superintendent’s Report. Campbell offered the motion to approve the report as presented. Peters seconded with all voting in agreement.
Letters of Interest included information about the OPIOID Settlement Distribution of Funds and a letter from Julia Letlow’s Office.
With there being no further business to discuss, Campbell offered the motion to adjourn. DeBlieux seconded. The meeting was adjourned.
Karah Lochbrunner – Asst. Secretary/Treasurer
James H. Harris – President
1/11
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