MINUTES
Of the Regular Meeting of
The Claiborne Parish Police Jury
February 4, 2009
Homer, LA 71040
The Claiborne Parish Police Jury met in regular session in the office of the Police Jury, located at 507 West Main Street in Homer, LA at 9:00 a.m. on the fourth day of February 2009. On being called to order by the standing President Scott Davidson, the following jurors were present:
Scott Davidson, Roy Mardis, Lavelle Penix, Danny “Roy” Lewis, Brian “Butch” Bays, Rev. Willie Young, Robert “Bob” McDaniel, Jerry Adkins, Joe Sturges and Mark Furlow.
No one was absent.
There were 21 others in attendance, which included Mr. Chic Hines with the Claiborne Parish Watershed District, Ms. Teresa Price & Mr. Robin Bridges of Claiborne Parish 4-H, Dr. Alice Stewart & Mr. Gene Coleman with the Sparta Groundwater Commission, Mrs. Camara Njere with the Alliance for Education, Mrs. Janelle Brown of the Claiborne Parish School Board, Mr. Scott Greeson of Claiborne Parish E-911, CPPJ Road Superintendent Tommy Durrett, Mrs. Cathy Greeson with Claiborne Parish O.E.P., Mrs. Jean Reynolds the OCS Executive Director, Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, Mrs. Michelle Bates of the Guardian Journal, and Mr. Raymond Sanders.
The meeting was opened with a word of Prayer led by Rev. Willie Young and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Roy Lewis.
Upon motion by Jerry Adkins, duly seconded by Mark Furlow, the Jury unanimously adopted the agenda as presented.
Upon motion by Jerry Adkins, duly seconded by Joe Sturges the Jury unanimously approved to amend the agenda and to add the request from Ronnie McKenzie with the Claiborne Parish School Board, in a letter dated February 3, 2009, requesting that the Jury repair a bus turnaround at the end of Rodgers Road and to help repair the playgrounds at Haynesville Junior High School – all work to be done on a reimbursement basis. This item will be added to the agenda following Item #15 on the originally adopted agenda.
Mr. J.T. Taylor, Claiborne Chamber of Commerce, gave a brief update on the status of certain on going and upcoming State Road (DOTD) projects that are or will be happening within the parish.
Upon motion by Lavelle Penix, duly seconded by Bob McDaniel, the Jury unanimously approved the committees as recommended by the President for the 2009 year.
Upon motion by Joe Sturges, duly seconded by Jerry Adkins, the Jury unanimously approved the minutes for the January 14, 2009 regular meeting.
Upon motion by Jerry Adkins, duly seconded by Joe Sturges, the Jury approved payment of the January 2009 bills, pending approval from the Claims Committee.
Upon motion by Mark Furlow, duly seconded by Joe Sturges, the Jury unanimously approved the recommendation from the Personnel Committee to appoint Mrs. Shelia Washington as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, effective immediately, with a pay increase from $13.00 per hour to $13.50 per hour. As Asst. Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs. Washington will be added as a signatory on certain bank accounts administered by the Police Jury – Criminal Court Fund and Section 8 Voucher.
Upon motion By Roy Mardis, duly seconded by Roy Lewis, the Jury unanimously approved the recommendation from the Personnel Committee to appoint Secretary-Treasurer Woodard as the administrator of the Criminal Court Fund. The Secretary-Treasurer will be compensated an additional $150 per month ($1,800 per annum) for the administration of said fund. The administration fee is reimbursed to the Police Jury by the Criminal Court Fund.
Mr. Robin Bridges gave a brief synopsis on the request for funding the Outdoor Shooting Sports Program on behalf of Mr. Jeffery Sanders and Mrs. Shanna Strozier, who were both unable to attend the meeting. After much discussion and upon motion by Lavelle Penix, duly seconded by Roy Mardis, the Jury voted unanimously to deny the request for funding from the Claiborne Parish 4-H Outdoor Skills Program.
Upon motion by Mark Furlow, duly seconded by Robert McDaniel, the Jury unanimously approved to accept and awarded the low bid received to Coburn’s Supply out of Ruston, LA for the purchase plastic type culverts for the maintenance of Claiborne Parish Roads for the year 2009. The following is the awarded bid price per linear foot – 12” @ $6.11, 15” @ $8.23, 18” @ $11.58, 24” @ $18.13, 36” @ $35.71, 42” @ $49.74, 48” @ $59.64, 54” @ $95.00 and 60” @ $106.38.
Since no bids were received for galvanized type culverts, the decision was made to re-bid said culverts for the March 4, 2009 meeting.
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Bids Invited (Re-bid)
Sealed bids are hereby invited by the Claiborne Parish Police Jury for the purchase of galvanized metal culverts for a period of (1) year. Specifications will be furnished on the bid form and the furnished bid form must be used. Bids quoted shall be for linear foot. Bid forms are available at the Claiborne Parish Police Jury Office, 507 West Main Street, Homer, Louisiana 71040. The sealed bids will be received until 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at which time the said bids will be opened and read. The said bids will be acted on at the regular meeting of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury to be held on March4, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. The Claiborne Parish Police Jury reserves the right to reject any and all bids for just cause. The Claiborne Parish Police Jury is a tax exempt governmental body.
Dwayne R. Woodard
Secretary-Treasurer
Claiborne Parish Police Jury
P.O. Box 270
Homer, LA 71040-0270
For Publication in the official journal of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury - The Haynesville News – February 12, 19 & 26, 2009.
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Upon motion by Mark Furlow, duly seconded by Joe Sturges, the Jury unanimously approved to award the qualified lowest bid for the Claiborne Parish Emergency Standby Generators Project to TGS Contractors, Inc. out of Minden, LA for the price of $125,408. Emergency standby generators will be installed at the following locations under this project – CPPJ Administrative Office Complex, Mayfield Water Well (Town of Homer) and Pine Hill Water System.
Upon motion of Jerry Adkins, duly seconded by Lavelle Penix, the Jury voted unanimously to reject any and all bids for the purchase of a trailer mounted generator under the Claiborne Parish Emergency Generator Project upon the advice of the parish’s engineer’s Cothern, Graff, Smoak Engineering, Inc. per a letter dated January 29, 2009. Upon their advice, the Jury will purchase a generator under state contract and have it locally mounted on a trailer for an estimated cost of $28,000. This generator and trailer will be place on the Middle Fork Water System in time of non-emergencies.
Upon motion by Bob McDaniel, duly seconded by Jerry Adkins, the Jury voted unanimously to table Item #13 – Quotes received for the repair and painting of the exterior of the Office of Community Services building – and to refer it to the Building and Grounds Committee which will make a recommendation at next month’s regularly scheduled meeting. A Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting was set for the afternoon of Tuesday February 24, 2009 at 3:30 pm here in the Jury Room.
Upon motion by Roy Mardis, duly seconded by Rev. Willie Young, the Jury unanimously approved the reappointment of Juror Jerry Adkins and Mr. Gene Coleman to serve on the Coordinating & Development Corporation’s Board of Directors for the 2009 Year as representatives of Claiborne Parish. Juror Joe Sturges will also serve on the Board of Directors for the 2009 year.
Upon motion by Roy Lewis, duly seconded by Brian “Butch” Bays, the Jury unanimously approved the request from Road Superintendent Durrett for permission to obtain quotes for the cutting of over hanging hazardous tree limbs on certain parish roads. The Jury allocated $5,000 to be used for this purpose for the 2009 year.
Upon motion by Joe Sturges, duly seconded by Mark Furlow, the Jury unanimously approved the request from the Claiborne Parish School Board, in a letter dated February 3, 2009, for help in repairing a bus turnaround at the end of Rodgers Road and for help in repairing the play ground at Haynesville Jr. High School. The work will be performed on a reimbursement basis.
President Davidson reminded the Jurors that there will be a Personnel Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon February 24, 2009, at 4:30 pm here in the Jury Room.
A presentation was made by Ms. Njeri Camara with the Alliance for Education concerning the establishment of a Human Services District in Northwest Louisiana as required by new legislation that was adopted by the State of Louisiana. The Jury appointed Rev. Willie Young and Secretary-Treasurer Woodard to work with Ms. Camara on this matter. No formal action was taken by the Jury.
ITEM #18 – FEBRUARY 4, 2009 – AGENDA
SECRETARY-TREASURER – UPDATE ON GRANTS AND OTHER ITEMS
Amount – amended amount $191,000
Due Date – October 1, 2006
Project – Parish wide road sign upgrade & rehab
Status – assigned State Project Number (737-14-0102) and Federal Aid Project Number (HRRR-1407(502)) the LRSP and the DOTD – contract signed and returned to DOTD via letter dated July 23, 2008.
Amount – amended amount $42,500
Due Date – October 1, 2007
Project – Parish road sign inventory
LRSP/LTAP Project Number – 01-CLAa-070037
Accepted and awarded via letter dated March 28, 2008.
Amount - $72,800
Projects – Norton Shop Water System Emergency Generator $35,000 – Pine Hill Water System Emergency Generator $7,800 – CPPJ Office Complex $30,000
Status – Contract between Parish and State has been executed. The contract for the Norton Shop Generator was awarded in the amount of $24,200 to TGS Contactors and the project is now complete. The Jury is presently working with Parish Engineer Brad Graff on the Pine Hill Water System Generator and the improvements at the Police Jury Complex
Net sales tax collections for November 08 – $83,643 – increase $51,379 (61.43%)
Net sales tax collections for December 07 - $87,850 – increase $47,172 (53.70%)
Net cash collections for 2009 - $135,022 as compared to 2008 $87,850 - inc (53.70%)
Net taxable sales for 2009 - $11,343,150 as compared to 2008 $8,445,937 – inc (34.30%)
Cash position at January 31, 2008 - $4,974,113 (increase of $1,211,069)
Cash position at December 31, 2008 - $4,626,304 (increase of $155,878)
Cash on deposit at January 31, 2009 –
First Guaranty - $3,748,620
LAMP - $1,931,863
Citizens Bank - $202,430
Gibsland Bank - $100,823
Capital One - $100,722
Regions Bank - $100,724
None scheduled at this time
PUBLIC COMMENT –
Mr. Robin Bridges gave a brief update on the upcoming activities that will be happening in the month of February with the 4-H Program, especially the Valentine’s Dance for the 4th, 5th and 6th graders and the E-Business Center Bus Program that is coming to the Parish which will be headed by Mrs. Dora Ann Hatch.
Dr. Alice Stewart and Mr. Gene Coleman gave an update on the current work of the Sparta Commission and the Claiborne Parish Watershed District; she also passed out copies of a ground water protection ordinance that was passed by the Webster Parish Police Jury which the Watershed District is currently studying. Dr. Stewart also notified the Jurors that the Louisiana Ground Water Resources Commission will be meeting on March 5 in North LA at the Minden City Hall and she encouraged all to attend that could.
Mr. Scott Greeson with Claiborne Parish E 9-11, gave an update on the status of the Parish’s GIS system and the aerial photographs that are now being taken. Mr. Greeson also requested that the CERT Program be placed on the meeting agenda for the upcoming Buildings and Grounds Committee, for the discussion of the possibility of using the Armory Building for their program’s meetings and training.
Juror Lavelle Penix commended the 4-H Program for the work they do with the youth of the Parish.
Juror Bob McDaniel commented on the fact the Rep. Rick Gallot is currently working on a new amendment for the increase of the severance tax cap base.
Juror Mark Furlow expressed his concern over the loading of water out of Lake Claiborne and area water ways due to the possibility of contamination of the lake or stream due to faulty check valves on the trucks loading the water.
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Upon motion by Mark Furlow, duly seconded by Rev. Willie Young, the meeting was adjourned.
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Dwayne R. Woodard Scott Davidson
Secretary–Treasurer President