The topic of discussion at the April meeting of the Allen Parish Police Jury was discussing roads. The meeting was opened with a public hearing to abandon Miller Road. There was no one from the public to speak, the jury adopted an ordinance in favor of abandoning the road from the parish road system. The jury then approved an ordinance to adopt a portion of Earl Miller Road 720 feet up to the first curve from Topsy Bel Road into the parish road system. Juror Creig Vizena said the road met all parish road qualifications and moved for the road to be adopted. The jury was all in favor.
Angie Plante, Solid Waste and Building Maintenance Supervisor, gave the jury and public an update on the inmate road cleanup process. She said they have gathered over 1,200 bags of trash, 100 tires, a lawnmower and 20 couches.
APPJ President Tony Hebert said, “If only we could get people to stop putting trash out that would help a bunch.”
The finance committee made several requests, all of which were approved:
•Approved to pay $11,200 to Warren Inc to purchase a dump body for unit 7-15 for road district two.
•Approved to pay $2,630 to C.F. Welding Service for a trailer for road district five.
•Approved to pay Oberlin Building Supply $6,159 for an Exmark 48” mower for the courthouse.
•Approved to pay Southern Tire Mart $1,691.34 for tires for the tractor in road district two.
•Approved to pay Doggett Machinery $1,523.41 to replace a turbo on the tractor for road district five.
•Approved to pay Covington Sales and Service $1,851.20 to repair safety shield on boom axe tractor for road district four.
•Approved to pay Covington Sales and Service $3,088.76 to repair a boom axe for road district four.
The road committee made several requests, all of which were approved.
•Approved a joint service agreement (JSA) with the City of Oakdale for grass cutting, pothole patching and trash pick-up for the month of April 2021.
•Approved a JSA with the Village of Reeves for manpower, equipment and material to install a culvert at 106 Lyles Street.
•Approved a JSA with the Village of Elizabeth for manpower, equipment and material to pothole patch the north end of Horseshoe Drive.
•Approved a JSA with the Allen Parish School Board for manpower, equipment and material for the following turnarounds:
**501 Thom St. in Oakdale
**Bus entrance at Oakdale High
**591 KC Smith Road in Fairview
**1268 Simmons Road in Fairview
**5067 Highway 383 in Kinder
•Approved a JSA with the Town of Kinder for manpower, equipment and material for grading the shoulders of the following areas:
**Second Ave. between Sixth St. and Seventh St.
**Second Ave. between 10th St. and 11th St.
**Second Ave. between 11th St. and 12th St.
**Third Ave. between Sixth St. and Seventh St.
**Fourth Ave. between US 165 and 12th St.
**Fifth Ave. between Seventh St and Eighth St.
**14th Street- pull from ditch for shoulder.
The inmate report was read the budget for the month was $17,300. The expenses for the month were $6,680.23. This brought them $10,619.77 under budget for the month and $35,095.20 under budget for the year. There were 67 parish inmates, 10 department of corrections inmates and 35 federal inmates as of Monday, April 5.
Also at the meeting:
•The jury approved hiring Robert Brown full time for road district three at $12 an hour contingent upon meeting hiring requirements.
•A resolution was adopted to call for an election to be held for the renewal of an ad valorem tax for the Allen Parish Library.
•The capital outlay budget was amended to include materials at shop on Rawlins Road.
•R.C. Paving was awarded the 2021 Capital Outlay Asphalt contract.
•Vance Brothers was awarded the 2021 Capital Outlay Microsurface Project.
•The jury agreed to advertise for professional services and grant management service for the Allen Parish Hazard Mitigation Grant projects.
•The sale of adjudication property for two parcels in Oakdale was discussed. The jury decided to move forward with the usual advertising/bidding process they have done in the past.
