The Vernon Parish Police Jury heard committee meeting reports and made several large equipment purchase agreements at their 5 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.
Jurors Cody Hostetler and Scottie Benjamin missed the meeting. They were representing the Vernon Parish Police Jury at a Louisiana CO2 Alliance meeting. Vernon Parish Jurors are discussing adopting a resolution in objection to Carbon Sequestration, until there is better understanding of the negative and positive impact to Vernon Parish communities. Hostetler and Benjamin will report back to fellow Jurors on that meeting.
Jury President, Jim Tuck, welcomed Jody and Andy Williams with Crossties Addiction Counseling. The organization has helped 130 addicted persons into recovery programs locally. This year they graduated their first 11 persons from a four-month long faith-based program that offers support following recovery.
The Equipment Committee of the Jury had a request from the Vernon Parish Library to sell miscellaneous electronic equipment (surplus) at the November 23 Pederson Auction in Lake Charles.
Finance Committee Chairman, Curtis Clay, relayed three quotes to jurors. The first was for an upgrade kit for the generator at the Sheriff’s Office. The quote from Precision Mechanical was for $5,083.40. That same firm quoted a price of $1,915 for generator maintenance at the Sheriff’s Office. The third quote was $1,776 from Start Service Inc. to replace the VAV controller in the judges’ office in the Judicial Building.
The Personnel Committee made two hires. James Nolen was hired as a part-time Grader/Operator for District 5, with a six-month probationary period that began October 28. Johnny Hall was hired as a full-time Grader/Operator for District 2, with a six-month probationary period effective November 4. A request to increase the salary of the Ward 1 Marshall by $250 a month will be considered. The office has not received an increase since 2006. The committee also requested the following holiday schedule: THANKSGIVING – OFF Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29; CHRISTMAS – OFF Tuesday, December 24 through Thursday, December 26; NEW YEAR’S – OFF Tuesday, December 31 through Thursday, January 2.
The Road Maintenance and Construction Committee received requests from the Vernon Parish Health Unit to dispose of a dead horse in Dist.3/Ward 3 and a dead donkey in Dist. 12/Ward 2. A hardship request was received from Betty Swinnea at 740 Highway 113 in District 5/Ward 5. She is seeking work done that totals $983.40. The committee requested authorization to solicit bids for 2025 materials and Supplies and 2025 overlays.
The Ways and Means Committee received a request from the West Louisiana Forestry Festival Board to re-appoint: Jessica Shell/District 6, Tonya Tilley/District 5, and Jamie Busby, District 6 to the Board of Directors for 2025.
During the last portion of the meeting, Jurors adopted four Equipment Lease-Purchase Agreements between the Jury and Cadence Bank for new heavy equipment. Jury President, Jim Tuck, will execute the agreements on behalf of the Vernon Parish Police Jury. The equipment includes:
1. 2025 HV607 SBA International Dump Truck for Dist. 3 $181,374.62;
2. John Deere 6105 E Cab Tractor for Districts 1-4-8-9 $79,783.78 AND Diamond DBM-C-N Boom Mower from Goldman Equipment $74,449;
3. New 2023 HV607 SBA International Dump Truck for District 6 $134,400.16; and
4. New 2023 HV607 SBA International Dump Truck for District 7 $134,400.16.
Finally, Jurors will adopt an ordinance to abandon Lynn Nash Road in District 3/Ward 3 in its entirety. The road no longer serves a public purpose. A public hearing on the matter was held in September of this year.
The next meeting of the Vernon Parish Police Jury is scheduled for Monday, November 18, at 10 a.m.