The September 5 meeting of the Webster Parish Police Jury was a fairly busy one with routine business, updates from community leaders, information about funding from the Legislature from Senator Mills, a request for consideration of a new juvenile facility from Judge Sentell, and introductions from candidates in the upcoming election. All agenda items were passed unanimously, with three members not present for the meeting: Allen Gilbert, Randy Thomas, and Beverly Kennon.
Agenda items included approving the 2022 Audit of Financials, reappointing Denise G Miller to a 2-year term on the board of the Evergreen Fire Protection District, appointing Dr. Shannon Spigener to the Webster Parish Communications District Board of Commissions (Dr. Spigener will be replacing Dr. Ray Brown for the last 2 years of his 4-year term), approving recreation funding in the amount of $1,000 each for the Town of Sarepta and the Village of Dubberly, and approving the adoption of the millage rates for Webster Parish for 2023.
The board also approved the holding of an election in Cullen Fire Protection District 6 on November 18 to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds as well as another election in Shongaloo Fire Protection District 9 on the same day to authorize the continuation of a special tax. When queried about whether any of the lines had changed in that taxation district, Assessor Denise Edwards responded, “They have not.”
Melinda Davison of Community Services reported that ridership was up for the transportation service with fares having increased by $1,000 in one month, fewer people are applying for help with shutoff notices, and Section 8 numbers are down for Webster Parish. “We have trouble finding landlords so, within your districts, if you have people who would come on our program that would be great. We have 177 vouchers, and we only have 127 out because we cannot find landlords.”
Wanda Finley of Head Start reported that the Head Start program is up and running and they currently have funded enrollment for 176 children ages 3 to 5 and 56 for children 18 months to 3 years.
Serena Gray of Webster Parish Tourism spoke next, saying “We are gearing up for fall events, and we are very close to having at least one event every weekend through the middle of November.” Check out their app (Visit Webster Parish!) or website (www.visitwebster.net) for more information on those events. They have also installed two billboards along I-20 in Shreveport to advertise events in Minden: a static board at the I-20/I-49 interchange and a digital board at the Market Street exit.
John Monzingo of the LSU AgCenter reported that the Flavors of Health program is going well, and they have been providing nutrition lessons at the Council on Aging. The office has also received an educational grant to create a community garden at Cullen Square Apartments in Springhill. 4-H enrollment is going on now; the deadline is October 6.
At the Red River Research Station there will be a wildlife day on October 30, where they will discuss planting food crops for deer and eliminating pressure from wild hogs. There will also be a homesteading seminar on October 7, where they will discuss backyard gardening, orchards, and backyard flock, meat production, and dairy production.
Representing the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security, Brian Williams wanted to remind everyone in the parish that a state-wide burn ban is still in effect.
Christie Cox of the Webster Parish Coroner’s Office reported 38 deaths in the month of August, 36 Orders of Protective Custody, and 12 Coroner’s Emergency Certificates.
Angie Chapman, director of 911, reported that there were 3,434 calls to 911 in August. She also noted that they have filled their last two open positions, so they will be fully staffed as soon as the hirees complete training.
Senator Robert Mills of Senate District 36 spoke about funding in the legislature. “It’s a years-long process to get a properly drawn and applied for project into the view of the legislators. So plan way ahead if you have major projects. Get them done right, get them done early, and stay with your legislators, reminding them every year during those last critical days of the legislature when we are fighting to place those dollars,” said Senator Mills. Senator Mills shared some projects he was able to get funding for in Webster Parish including $900,000 for a road project in Sibley, $75,000 for a new roof for the animal shelter in 2021, $100,000 for improvements in Victory Park in 2022, $183,000 for plumbing repairs and improvements for the courthouse in 2023, and $100,000 for street improvements, Christmas decor, and improvements to animal control facility in Minden in 2023. Also in 2023, Project Reclaim received $25,000 for program costs and building improvements, Springhill got $100,000 for dirt work, construction, and improvements to the recreation complex, and the towns of Shongaloo, Sibley, Dixie Inn, Sarepta, and Cotton Valley each received $25,000 for street, water, and sewer repairs.
“The reason I bring that up is that some of these towns may not even know that yet,” said Mills. “We [Legislative Assistant Brenda Autry and Senator Mills] filled out a contact sheet of who the Treasury should talk to about the forms that are required and where to send the money. There is a bit of a process to get this money and, of course, you’ve got to spend it as it was awarded.” Mills and Autry are planning to meet with leaders of these communities over the next few weeks to explain what they need to do to actually receive these funds.
Judge Sherb Sentell addressed the board with a request to consider building a juvenile facility in Minden. “Last year we handled 502 juvenile matters, and yet we only have two bed spaces for the entire parish for pre-adjudication detention,” stated Judge Sentell. “We need eight. Judge [Stuart] McMahen and I think that, for the foreseeable future, would take care of us.”
This problem has been exacerbated by a change in the law that requires 17-year-olds be treated as juveniles. They make up about 25% of the juvenile cases.
“If a kid were to punch someone at school, with only two beds for the entire parish, it is difficult to find a detention bed,” said Sentell. “And kids need to have immediate consequences for their actions or they don’t tend to learn.” Sentell stated that, when consequences are delivered in a timely manner, he doesn’t see as many repeat offenders.
Judge Sentell proposes building a facility and having trained administrators from Ware Youth Center run the facility. He requested the police jury form a sub-committee to meet with other members of law enforcement, administration from Ware Youth Center, and building engineers to discuss the best way to approach the problem. “The cost to operate would be a lot less if we just built it smart,” Sentell said.
The final person to speak to the board was resident Dorothy Henderson, who brought photographs of some vandalism that has occurred in her neighborhood. The board took the photographs very seriously, and her representative said he would check it out personally that same day and get something done about it.
Finally, a few candidates in the upcoming election came to the meeting and were introduced including Latanya “Tan” Grigsby for police jury District 10, Nancy Hines for police jury District 8, and Adam Bass for Senate District 36.
The Webster Parish Police Jury will next meet at 10:30 AM on October 3 at the Webster Parish Courthouse Annex, 401 Main Street. The public is welcome to attend.