The December 5 meeting of the Webster Parish Police Jury (WPPJ) was relatively routine with committee reports containing fewer announcements than usual.
The board of jurors approved some invoices for payment, the minutes of the November 7 road committee, finance committee, building and grounds, as well as last month’s regular meeting.
They also approved the adoption of Webster Parish Ordinance 1020 with its mergers and redefining of the territorial limits of precincts and polling places in Webster Parish. While a number of precincts were combined, the mergers should create little change for voters in the upcoming spring elections.
“None of the locations will be changed,” said Webster Parish Police Jury President Jim Bonsall. “It’s not going to be a hardship on anybody to get to their voting place if they haven’t had a hardship before now.”
The board approved recreation funding in the following amounts: District 10 received $500 for the Webster Parish Council on Aging-Meals on Wheels program supplies; District 11 received $600 for the Village of Heflin Police Department to purchase vests, radios, and utility pouches; District 6 received $500 for the Dorcheat Museum; and District 1 received $1,000 for the Council on Aging in Springhill.
Ethel Smith was reappointed to a five-year term on the Webster Parish Library Board of Control. Melinda Davidson’s appointment as director of the Office of Community Services was approved for 2024, and she was given authority to sign documents on behalf of that organization.
The final agenda item was the approval of the update to the use agreement for ABC & 123 HeadStart in Claiborne Parish.
Next the committee reports were given.
Melinda Davidson with the Office of Community Services announced that the Section 8 Housing waiting list is open.
Wanda Finley with HeadStart noted that enrollment in their program is climbing in Claiborne Parish. Funding limits enrollment to 232 children.
Savannah Jones of Webster Parish Libraries noted that the summer reading program training for the state will be held in Minden, possibly for the first time ever.
Serena Gray of Webster Parish Tourism listed the large number of activities that will be taking place December 8-9 for Christmas in Minden. With rain and thunderstorms predicted for Saturday, the outdoor activities, such as the parade and fireworks display, may be pushed to Sunday though they intend for indoor activities to stay on schedule. Gray also noted that the Sibley kayak launch is planned to be installed in March, 2024, once the water level rises sufficiently.
The coroner’s office reported 40 deaths in November, which is about average.
Col. Thompson of the Webster Parish Assessor’s office reminded the board that property taxes are due at the end of this month, and he announced that Assessor Edwards will be holding a public meeting at the assessor’s office on December 7 at 10:30 to hear comments from the public regarding the assessor’s 2024 budget. If there are no adverse comments, she will seek to have the budget approved that day as well.
Shakira Williams from the LSU Ag Center spoke next, reporting that they have an opening for a 4H agent. The position closes December 15, and the position can be applied for at www.lsuagcenter.com. Job Opportunities can be found under the Services tab. The center is also investigating way to improve the 4H livestock program, and it is holding a food safety class at the Council on Aging.
Brian Williams from the Office of Emergency Preparedness reported that they have received the Starlink equipment which will be used by emergency personnel in case of an internet outage, they have received the Claiborne Electric grant to purchase portable radios which can be used during major incidents and loaned to agencies without this equipment, and they have recently completed a cyber security workshop. During this workshop they have discovered that many of the smaller municipalities are unable to afford on-call IT staff, so his department is investigating using a collaborative effort to help them protect and maintain their systems.
Jessica Gorman of the Dorcheat Museum presented the final committee report. It has been a fairly quiet month at the museum with a few out of town visitors and some small items donated to the museum. They now have a scanner and laptop which will be available, starting in January, for the public to use.
The meeting ended with well wishes and thanks to Vera Davison and Cayla Cox who will be leaving the police jury at the end of this month. Davison is retiring after many years serving on the jury and will be replaced by Tan Grigsby. Cox, who took over for Nick Cox when he was elected mayor, will be replaced by Nancy Hines.
President Bonsall presented Davison, Cayla Cox, and Nick Cox each with a plaque to commemorate their service on the Webster Parish Police Jury. He wished Mayor Cox the best of luck in his endeavors as a mayor and told Cayla Cox, who was battling cancer through most of her term, that she did a great job and was always there when he needed her. To Vera Davison he said, “Vera is working on finishing up her 20th year. There’s not enough time to talk about everything she’s done. She’s represented her district well; she represented Webster Parish better. We’re going to miss her.”
The WPPJ’s next meeting will be January 2, 2024, 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.