The Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) held its monthly meeting on August 1 with routine business and announcements from members of the community.
After approving invoice payments and last month’s meeting minutes, Ms. Jennie Henry, CPA with Allen, Green & Williamson, presented the 2022 audit of financials for the WPPJ. In summary, the audit went well, and the WPPJ showed some increase in income. For example, sales tax increased by $190,000. The largest increase in expenses was in public works, mostly road projects. There were a few minor issues with policies that need to be corrected such as a policy for handling what to do about uncashed checks of members of the board and another one regarding how to notify employees about changes to policies. Those issues can be easily corrected.
Jim Bonsall, president of the jury, stated, “I don’t know if everybody really realizes how good this is, that we don’t have to worry about the way our business is handled. I, for one, really appreciate all the work they do. Every government entity will not have this result, I can tell you. I’m very proud of this. We’ve got a good staff.”
Next, representatives of various organizations gave brief reports on their status.
Wanda Finley, representing WPPJ Head Start, stated, “Summer is coming to end, and we are still serving 232 children in Webster and Claiborne Parishes.” Staff will be reporting for the new school year on August 14, and children will begin on August 28.
Webster Parish Libraries has recently received a grant. Savannah Jones said, “What we will be doing is starting some basic computer classes with those grant funds.” These classes will be geared toward older citizens and those with little to no computer experience.
The library is also getting ready to launch a program called 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. “It incentivizes parents to read young children before they start kindergarten,” said Jones. “We have also partnered with the Webster Ready Start network to implement something called We Read Bags. New moms in Minden Medical Center will get a bag with information about newborns and the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. I’m really excited about that.”
The Summer Reading Program has ended, and they received good feedback on that.
The Doyline library’s air conditioner has been fixed. The topographical survey has been completed for the new library building in Doyline, so work on it is progressing. The Sarepta library’s air conditioning has been repaired as well as its internet issues, and that branch has now reopened to the public.
Wireless printing at all branches is working. Planning has begun for the 2023 Trunk or Treat event.
Serena Gray of Webster Parish Tourism shared some statistics from the 2022 annual report: “We’ve seen an 11% increase in visitor spending. Unfortunately, a 12% decrease in employment in hospitality and tourism. That’s a statistic that we’re seeing across the industry. A 24% increase in employment earnings though, so that means that people working in the hospitality and tourism industry are making more money than they did last year, probably because the ones that are going to work are working longer hours. We’re seeing an 11% increase in state sales tax revenues in comparison to 2021, and a 10% increase in local sales tax revenues. Because of all the visitor spending that is happening in Webster Parish, our visitors contributing at that capacity is saving our local residents an additional $211 annually on other taxes that they would be paying. In 2022, visitor spending generated nearly $30 million.”
Speaking for the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security, Brian Williams reported that the camera upgrade project in the courthouse is progressing well. He is also working on some projects using the hazard mitigation funding that is coming as a result of Hurricane Ida. While we are not yet under a burn ban, he expects that may change in the not-too-distant future due to the lack of rain and high temperatures. A burn ban affecting the lakebed as the drawdown on Lake Bistineau continues will be going into effect before any other burn bans.
Jessica Gorman, representing the Dorcheat Museum, reminded the board that their annual fundraiser will be held on September 11. She has been working on research requests, and the museum has had a number of visitors, both local and out of state. The guest speakers for the October 9 speaker event will be Mark Chreene and Jake Chapman. In November they will be hosting the North Louisiana Historical Association.
Adam Bass, who is running for the District 36 senatorial seat in the election this fall, took a few minutes to introduce himself and speak to the board about why he has chosen to run.
A couple of parish residents came to report problems they are having at their residences.
And the final speaker, Mica Hanson, described progress on the new housing project called Millwood Landing that is being built off of Hwy 532. The road has been completed, the certificate of completion and the bond have been filed, and they have some builders lined up to start building some houses. There are 52 lots available.
The WPPJ’s next meeting will be September 5 at 10:30 AM. It is held in the WPPJ meeting room which is accessible through the west entrance of the Webster Parish Courthouse Annex, located at 401 Main Street. The public is welcome to attend.