Regular Meeting

May 28, 2024

Harrisonburg, Louisiana

The Police Jury of the Parish of Catahoula, State of Louisiana, met in Regular Session at the Catahoula Parish Police Jury Meeting Room located in the Catahoula Parish Courthouse on Monday, May 28, 2024 at 6:00p.m.

Present: President Rodney Sones, Vice President Micah Hughes and Jurors Buster Ford, Bobby Wilson, Wayne Meyers, Rickie Crumpton and Johnnie Adams; Treasurer Stacey S. LeFebvre, Secretary & Sanitation Department Manager Tammie Edwards and Road Supervisor Charles Atkins

Absent: Juror Johnie Estes and Juror Debra Lewis

A quorum being present, the Police Jury of the Parish of Catahoula, State of Louisiana, was duly convened as the governing authority of said parish by President Rodney Sones, who called upon Juror Buster Ford for Prayer, and requested that the Jurors and the public remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance after which the following business was transacted.

Roll Call of Jurors was done by Secretary/Treasurer, Stacey LeFebvre.

On a motion by Buster Ford, seconded by Micah Hughes, the Jury voted to adopt the meeting agenda as presented.

On a motion by Wayne Meyers, seconded by Rickie Crumpton, the Jury voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the last meeting and adopt same as published in the Official Journal

On a motion by Buster Ford, seconded by Micah Hughes, the Jury unanimously voted to approve payment of invoices submitted by the Finance Committee.

On a motion by Bobby Wilson, seconded by Rickie Crumpton, the Jury unanimously voted to appoint the Catahoula News Booster as the official parish journal for the period of July 1, 2024 until June 30, 2025.

President Rodney Sones presented information of roads the La DOTD would like the Jury to consider being transferred back to the parish once the road work is completed on said roads. He will follow-up after further information is available.

Road Superintendent, Charles Atkins discussed appropriation of Meyers Bend Road and Moody Road that are in need of major repairs and advised that land owners will need to be contacted. He also stated that with the excessive rain the parish has experienced during the past month, it has delayed doing a test run using the new road chemical. Residents voiced complaints of traffic causing excessive dust on unpaved roads. President Sones stated that they are hopeful that the new chemical will make a difference as well as reducing the posted speed limit.

Mayor Loria Hollins of Jonesville addressed the Jury with her concerns of how Jonesville will be affected by the appropriation of the restructured sales tax on the November ballot. She stated that she was not aware that restructuring the sanitation sales tax to provide for an Ambulance service meant that Jonesville would no longer receive their monthly portion, 16.5% and therefore was not in support of restructuring the sales tax. President Sones stated that Juror Johnie Estes advised the jury in a public meeting that she had personally spoken to area Mayors and other officials about the situation with the ambulance service and was told that they couldn't help with an ambulance service. Juror Micah Hughes stated that an ambulance service is expected to range from $400,000.00 - $600,000.00 a year and restructuring the 1% Sanitation Sales Tax has been the only option we have.

On a motion by Bobby Wilson, seconded by Wayne Meyers, the Jury unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting.

Rodney Sones, President

Stacey LeFebvre , Secretary/Treasurer