Washington Parish Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
Washington Parish Courthouse
908 Washington Street
Franklinton, La 70438
Council Chambers
March 25, 2024
Monday – 6:00 PM
Item No. 1. - Call to order – Chairman Culpepper called the meeting to order.
Item No. 2. - Invocation – Councilwoman Wagner gave the invocation.
Item No. 3. - Pledge of Allegiance – Councilman Rice led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item No. 4. - Roll Call – Council Clerk Sarah Cook called the roll. Present were Joe Culpepper, Shawn Rice, Kim Wagner, Clark Harry, Steven Branch, Reginald McMasters, and Carley King.
Item No. 5. – Approval of Minutes – Approval of minutes dated February 26, 2024. Councilman McMasters offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Rice to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 26, 2024.
Roll call of the vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Harry, Branch, McMasters, King, Culpepper, Rice, and Harry
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 6. Adopt Resolution No. 24-1296 – A Resolution granting approval to Washington Parish Fire Protection District No. 7, State of Louisiana (the “District”), to call and hold a special election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, to authorize the renewal of the levy and collection of a five (5) mill tax on assessed valuation of all property subject to taxation in the District, for a period of ten (10) years for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and/or operating fire protection facilities and equipment in and for the District, including the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes and paying charges for fire hydrant rentals and service.
Chairman Culpepper: “Would anyone like to come forward and speak before the council votes?”
Chief Adams resides in Franklinton, LA: expressed how important this renewal needs to be added and passed.
Chairman Culpepper: “Would anyone else like to come forward and speak before the council votes?”
No one came forward.
Councilman King offered a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Wagner to adopt Resolution No. 24-1296.
Roll call of the vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Harry, Branch, McMasters, King, Culpepper, Rice, and Wagner
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 7. – Public Participation –
Chairman Culpepper: “Would anyone from the public like to come forward and speak?
If so, please state your name and address for the record.”
No one came forward.
Councilman Rice offered a motion, seconded by Councilman King to close public participation.
Roll call of the vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Harry, Branch, McMasters, King, Culpepper, Rice, and Wagner
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 8. President Report –
Donna Graham – Finance Director
• A final copy of the 2024 adopted budget has been added to your packet. Please review and let me know if you have any questions. It has been posted on our website.
• Continuing to close out our books for 2023 and prepare for 2024. Auditors will be her first part of May 2024.
Danny Knight - Transportation Supervisor Report for the beginning of March 2024
• Picked up 288 bags of trash on 22 roads.
• Installed 34 road name signs.
• Installed 12 other signs.
• Maintained 4 parish locations.
• Asphalt crews:
o completed the Bogue Chitto State Park Project totaling 1800 tons of asphalt.
o Completed project on Greenlaw for the Town of Franklinton totaling 60
tons of asphalt.
o Currently working on in-house overlay projects for:
• Fernwood Drive
• Sundance Lane
• Arbor Lane
Alex Sumrall:
• Hayes Creek Bridge repairs are complete.
• Thanked everyone for the blood drive. It was a success with over 50 people donating. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.
Ken Wheat – Public Works Director verbally announced his retirement with tonight being his last meeting with the parish.
Donna Graham, Danny Knight, Alex Sumrall, and Parish President Seal gave brief testimonials of working with Ken Wheat and wishing him a happy retirement.
Parish President Seal Report:
• The Capital Region Planning Commission workshop was a success on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
• Northshore Business Council from St. Tammany will be meeting with our office soon to provide ideas to help move our parish forward.
• We have hired several new employees
o Ashley Sumrall at our permit office
o Landon Tims – Grant Manager
o Daniel Folks – Parish President Secretary
Councilman McMasters: “Did we advertise for all these positions?
Parish President Seal: “No”.
Item No. 9. Council Discussion
The council each thanked Ken Wheat for his hard work and dedication to his parish with good wishes for retirement and thanked everyone for attending the council meeting this evening. Wishes to all a Happy and Safe Easter.
Attorney Kuhn wished Ken Wheat a well-deserved retirement.
Item No. 10. – Adjourn –
No further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Councilman Rice seconded by Councilwoman Wagner.
Roll call of the vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Harry, Branch, McMasters, King, Culpepper, Rice, and Wagner
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Joe Culpepper, Chairman
Washington Parish Council
Sarah Cook, Clerk to the Council
Washington Parish
Order of Voting:
Clark Harry Joe Culpepper Steven Branch Shawn Rice Reginald McMasters Kim Wagner Carley King
The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024
In accordance with the Americans Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact Sarah Cook, Clerk to the Council at 985-839-7825 Ext. 313 describing the assistance that is necessary.
(All Ordinances, Resolutions, and Attachments in its entirety are available at the office of Clerk of the Council at 909 Pearl Street, Franklinton, Louisiana, or at (985)839-7825 or wpgov.org.)
“This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
Adv. April 17, 2024.