Town of Jena

Regular Meeting

January 6, 2025

The Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Jena, Louisiana, met in regular session on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at their regular meeting place, the Town Hall.

Mayor LaDawn Edwards called the meeting to order; Councilman Tommy Sandifer opened the meeting with prayer and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: Council members David Paul Jones, Tommy Sandifer, Donny Richardson, Wayne Chapman, Lester Francis, and Attorney Evans Dorroh.

The reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed on a motion by Mr. Chapman and seconded by Mr. Francis. Motion unanimously approved.

Mr. Richardson made a motion seconded by Mr. Jones to approve the financial reports for November 2024. Motion unanimously approved.

Mr. Francis made a motion seconded by Mr. Chapman to approve the street name of Finch Ln as a new street off Pigeon Branch Rd. Motion unanimously approved.

Mr. Jones made a motion seconded by Mr. Francis to approve appointments for 2025. Motion unanimously approved. The appointments are as follows:

Town Attorney Dorroh & Kendrick

Town Magistrate Mark Talley

Alternate Town Magistrate Don Wilson

Town Clerk & Tax Collector Cory Floyd

Auditor Silas M. Simmons & Company, LLP

Town Engineer Bryant Hammett & Associates

Banks Southern Heritage Bank, CLB The Community Bank, Homeland Federal Savings Bank and Sabine State Bank

Official Journal The Jena Times

Mr. Sandifer made a motion seconded by Mr. Chapman to approve committee assignments for 2025. Motion unanimously approved. The committees are as follows:

Senior Citizens Lester Francis Tommy Sandifer

Recreation Lester Francis David Paul Jones

Insurance David Paul Jones Wayne Chapman

Police Wayne Chapman Lester Francis

Fire Lester Francis Donny Richardson

Environment Tommy Sandifer Donny Richardson

Personnel David Paul Jones Tommy Sandifer

Finance Wayne Chapman Donny Richardson

Street Wayne Chapman Tommy Sandifer

Firefighter Jeffery Benson presented the Fire Report.

Police Chief Scott McLendon presented the Police Report

Superintendent Ronny Steele presented the Utility Report.

Mayor Edwards announced that sales tax collections for November 2023 were $125,203.33 compared to 2024 collections of $125,872.20. Thank you to Misty Stringer and Brandi Eubanks for hosting the Christmasville light display located at 3128 Hwy 459. The Jena Sr. CitizenÕs Christmas Dinner was a success, thank you to all who donated and volunteered. The Jena Christmas Parade was also a success, thank you so much to Mickey Cockerham and the parade committee. Thank you to Dale Smith for providing free lunches to the needy. Mr. Smith provided 125 lunches on Thanksgiving Day and 260 on New Year's Day. The Mayor read a letter from Sheriff Lane Windham commending Fire Chief Josh Corley and Firefighter Cadyn Elliott.

As there was no other business to be brought before the Mayor and Town Council, Mr. Richardson made a motion seconded by Mr. Francis to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 a.m.

LaDawn C. Edwards

MAYOR

Cory Floyd

TOWN CLERK

Published:

1-29-25