In order to avoid having to replace entire boards and commissions at one time the Jackson Parish Police Jury (JPPJ) staggered appointments from one to four years to the Tourism Board and Watershed Commission. The action took place at the regularly scheduled February meeting that took place this past Monday evening at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center.
Yearly appointments for District 1-7 were done by random drawing by Jury President Amy Magee (District 3) following approval by attending members Todd Culpepper (District 1), John McCarty (District 4, Tarneshala “Niki” Cowans (District 5), and Lynn Treadway (District 7). Lewis Chatham (District 2) and Regina Rowe (District 6) was absent.
“This needed to be done so that we won’t have all new appointees coming it at the same time or in the same year,” said JPPJ President Amy Magee. “We felt it was important to have staggered terms so that there will always be experienced people serving that can help new members with a possible learning curve.”
Each of the new yearly appointment terms will to go into effect on the date a current board or commission member stated obligation expires. Schedule of yearly appointments per district are shown below.
Jackson Parish Tourism Board
District 1 – 2 years
District 2 – 3 years
District 3 – 1 year
District 4 – 1 year
District 5 – 3 years
District 6 – 3 years
District 7 – 2 years
Jackson Parish Watershed Commission
District 1 – 2 years
District 2 – 3 years
District 3 – 1 year
District 4 – 2 year
District 5 – 4 years
District 6 – 3 years
District 7 -1 year
In additional action taken regarding Jackson Parish Boards and Departments the JPPJ agreed to accept the resignation of Phillip Lawrence from the Tourism Board and appoint new Chatham Mayor, Greg Harris, to the Ward 3 Fire District and Curtis Roller to the position of Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) Director on a temporary basis. This became necessary when former Director Mark Treadway resigned to take full time duties with the Louisiana State Fire Marshall’s office at the end of December.
After the meeting was called to order by President Magee the minutes of the January 19th and 26th Jury meeting were approved as well as agreement to pay all required bills. Recommendations from previous meetings of the Finance and Operations committee were then heard with corresponding action shown below.
Finance Committee:
1. Adopt minutes of the January 21st meeting. – Approved
2. Act on the recommendation regarding mandated parish prisoner fees – Tabled until more information could be learned.
Operations Committee:
1. Adopt minutes of the January 29th meeting – Approved
2. Act on recommendation to adopt the 2021 Road Program – Approved
3. Act on recommendation to adopt the 2021-2023 (three year) Road Program – Approved
4. Act on recommendation to adopt the 2021-2022 Road Maintenance Schedule – Approved
Management reports of the Road, Solid Waste and Finance departments were then approved. Comments from the Superintendent of each department were:
Jody Stuckey – Road Department: $19,062.52 was spent for emergency call outs. Work on replacing culverts as needed and doing asphalt overlays have begun. Request was made to have the January 2021 Emergency/Off-Schedule Report accepted which was approved.
Robin Sessions – Solid Waste Department: Land fill is operating at capacity. Comparison of volume is 68 tons more from same month last year.
Gina Thomas – Finance Department: Report reviewed that compared budget numbers to actual figures for all funds.
Mr. Paul Riley of Riley and Company of Ruston, then presented his January 2021 Engineering Report where he stated that they have begun working on the road program and are still waiting on a response from FEMA in regard to the Jackson Parish Hospital Drainage Project.
In final action it was agreed to authorize President Magee to sign a letter of assurance for the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Act to the Louisian Department of Transportation and Development
and authorize Secretary/Treasurer Gina Thomas to complete and submit the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the 2020 audit.