Leadership of the Webster Parish Police Jury will remain the same for one more year following a unanimous vote at Tuesday’s public body meeting.

Jim Bonsall, who represents District 6 on the jury, was named president while District 10 representative Vera Davison was unanimously elected vice president.

“I’m glad to have been allowed the honor to nominate both Jim and Vera in my last year on the police jury,” said District 12 juror Charlie Walker, who has represented the Doyline area for the past two-plus decades.

Walker, who also served 10 years as the panel’s president, has announced he will not seek reelection when his term ends this year.

In other business at the jury’s first meeting of the new year, members voted unanimously to adopt the 2015 operating budget which came in at just under $24 million. The total of $23,994,278 carries an increase of roughly $3 million over last year’s, with most of that increase coming from library tax revenue.

Members also approved engaging Allen, Green and Williamson for the 2014 audit of financials, and chose Jamieson, Wise and Martin for preparation of trial balance and other CPA duties.

Beer and video poker permit renewals for 2015 were OKed for nine Webster Parish businesses. Receiving video poker renewals were Two Jacks Casino, Pot O’ Gold and Minden Truckstop & Casino, all in Minden, and Timberland Truckstop in Sarepta.

Beer permits were renewed for E-Z Mart, Sawmill Lounge and Timberland Truckstop, LLC, all in Sarepta, and Shongaloo Crossroad Lounge and Shongaloo Crossroad Deli.

Heath Sexton was unanimously approved to serve as constable in Shongaloo until jurors can call a special election at the next available election date. Jury members had to make the special appointment when no one filed to run for the constable’s job in last year’s elections.

Jurors also:

  • unanimously reappointed Mary Whitaker as Executive Director for the Webster Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services for 2015.
  • approved Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP) applications for six-inch waterlines for the Sarepta Water Works District ($25,000) and a new water tower for the Blocker Water System ($35,000).
  • set the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. as police jury meeting dates for 2015.