Emergency preparedness efforts, strong participation in the Webster Parish Libraries’ summer reading program, and upcoming historical programming at the Dorcheat Museum highlighted reports during the Webster Parish Police Jury’s regular meeting Tuesday, June 2, at the Webster Parish Courthouse Annex.
Jurors Beverly Kennon and Daniel Thomas were absent. All agenda items were approved unanimously.
Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Director Brian Williams provided jurors with an update on several ongoing projects, including a fiber upgrade for the courthouse, FEMA grant applications, and a comprehensive rewrite of the parish’s emergency operations plan.
Williams said emergency operations plans are typically updated every five years, but this year the document is being rewritten from the ground up to reflect changes in parish agencies and responsibilities. The approximately $10,000 cost will be covered through FEMA and state funding.
The process is expected to take about six months and will involve emergency response agencies throughout the parish.
“The plan is to get all the emergency services together to make sure every branch knows its role in an emergency,” Williams said, noting that responsibilities have shifted over the years, including hazardous materials response and the administration of 911 services.
Williams also voiced concerns about obtaining information from the parish’s approximately 31 water systems, saying many have not responded to previous requests for emergency plans and contact information.
“When I sent out a letter two years ago to ask for information, I heard from four,” he said.
The information is needed to ensure appropriate resources can be matched to specific systems during emergencies. Williams cited emergency generator requests as an example, noting that technical information must be gathered before a disaster occurs.
“If we already have that on file, then we know what to get you,” he said.
Williams urged water systems and board members to assist with planning efforts.
“If you’re going to ask me for help, help me during the blue-sky days when I’m trying to plan ahead,” he said.
He added that his office can connect water systems with grant opportunities to replace aging generators and improve preparedness.
“If you need help, let me know, and I’ll get you in contact with the right people,” Williams said.
Webster Parish Libraries Director Savannah Jones reported that the Discovery Camp summer reading program is off to a strong start, with 424 children registered.
“113 of those kids have logged 963 reads in five days,” Jones said.
She credited Webster Parish Schools for helping distribute information directly to parents, which she said contributed to increased participation.
“We were able to deliver information directly to the parents with the help of our school system, so I want to give a special shout-out to them,” Jones said.
Jones also highlighted partnerships with the LSU AgCenter, including recent Germ Cave programs and the Seed Library in Springhill.
“It’s just further proof of how partnerships impact Webster Parish and our community as a whole,” she said.
Dorcheat Museum Director Jessica Gorman reported on current and upcoming history programs, including a special exhibit connected to educator and school reform advocate E.S. Richardson.
“In conjunction with the E.S. Richardson event, we have on display, for the first time in close to 100 years, a large portion of the exhibit that E.S. Richardson traveled the country with, going around talking to different school districts about the consolidation, restructuring, and the progress of the schools in Webster Parish,” Gorman said.
The exhibit will remain on display through the end of the summer.
Gorman also announced that historian Kevin Flowers of the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center will present a program October 12 on the construction of Shed Road and its connections to Minden through Judge John Watkins.
In other business, the jury approved payment of invoices pending review by Juror Randy Thomas and adopted minutes from the May 5 Road Committee, Finance Committee, General Government Committee, and regular meeting.
Jurors approved the designation of the Minden Press-Herald as the police jury’s official journal from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Because the Springhill News Journal has ceased publication, the police jury’s website will serve as the parish’s publication journal in accordance with state requirements.
The jury also approved a resolution calling a Nov. 3, 2026, election for the renewal of a special tax supporting Webster Parish Fire Protection District No. 3 in the Doyline area and adopted the parish’s 2026 millage rates.
Two ordinances authorizing the sale of adjudicated properties by public auction were also approved. The properties include 305 E. Walnut St. in Minden, 201 Gum St. in Minden, and an additional lot in Minden.
“That’s three off the books. That’s a good month,” Police Jury President Jim Bonsall said.
The next regular meeting of the Webster Parish Police Jury will be held Tuesday, July 7. Meetings are livestreamed at www.websterparishla.org.