Dr. Don Nesom, the Allen Parish Coroner, reported to the Allen Parish Police Jury on the fentanyl crisis, which is something he described as “a far worse threat to our parish than COVID-19.”
During the police jury’s meeting held Monday, February 6, Dr. Nesom said the drug trade is changing rapidly and the cartels have extravagant laboratories and unlimited resources. “That is something we don’t have control over,” he stated. “None of us are immune from what it can do to us.”
Dr. Nesom said he and the other coroners in the state are in a better position to help combat the crisis because they “see all the deaths associated with it.” He added, “We don’t intend to stand still. We want to have an antidote available in every school, just as you see AEDs (automated external defibrillators) in certain places. I want to see ready access to Narcan, which is the antidote for respiratory depression.”
According to the coroner, the market value of Narcan is $144, but a local pharmacist may be able to purchase a generic form at $50 a dose.
Dr. Nesom also requested the additional funds from the police jury for his 2022 operating budget. Investigator Jacob LaCour told the police jury the operating budget last year, with its $85 thousand received from the police jury, included revenues in the amount of $174 thousand. Total expenses over the same period were just north of $195 thousand, which left the coroner’s office short by $21 thousand.
“Currently, we have $21 thousand worth of bills outstanding for our 2022 budget,” said LaCour.
LaCour explained to the police jury the overall functions of the coroner’s office. In addition to deaths, the office is involved with mental and drug problems. “We are a lot busier than what a lot of people think.”
LaCour then went on to cite some of the reasons for the increased expenses such as rising costs for autopsies and body transports.
Police Juror Creig Vizena requested to see a detailed breakdown of the expenses associated with the coroner’s office and said he would like to punt the issue over to the finance committee for further review.
After more discussion on the issue, Vizena suggested approving to pay the outstanding bills of the coroner’s office contingent upon the finance committee. The motion passed unanimously.
The police jury then heard from Jacob Dillehay about increases in the auto and building insurance.
Dillehay explained the auto premium last year was $90,210.91. The renewal this year for the same coverage was $101,909.78. As for the building insurance, last year’s premium was $69,328.00. This year, that amount for the same coverage went up to $161,515.00. After discussing all the options, the police jury voted to remove uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and full coverage on vehicles 10 years or older. This would bring the premium down to $91,600.78. The police jury also voted to maintain full coverage on the 14 buildings in the parish.
The police jury also heard from Kimberly Caldarera, on behalf of the Allen Parish Hospital, who gave a construction update on the new hospital. She reported the building should be complete by April or May of 2024.
Caldarera also updated the police jury on job openings such as nurse practitioner, pharmacy technician, clinic coding specialist, auditor, certified nurse assistant, clinic medical assistant, cook, LPN, registered nurses and radiology technician. She reminded the jurors a QR code is available which will direct interested applicants to the job openings.
She further reported the hospital was recognized nationally for receiving the 2022 Press Ganey Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award. The award is part of the annual ranking of the top hospitals and health systems in the country, according to performance in patient experience.
Earlier in the meeting, the police jury approved the actions from the finance and road committees. Approved were the following:
•Pay Red River Specialties $1,690 for herbicide, which will be divided by the five road districts for $338 each.
•Pay Marathon Equipment $2,786.75 for a pump for liquid asphalt distributor for Road District 4.
•Pay Ed Fruge $5,500 to remove two trees due to storm damage.
•Reimburse the American Legion $5,541 to replace the existing 30” door with a handicap compliant 36” door at Voter Precinct 2-04-C/2-04-0 in Kinder.
•Pay JJ Rebuilders $9,908.28 for a motor for Mack dump truck for Road District 1.
•Pay McGee Equipment $2,274.75 for 6” water pump rental for Road District 3.
•Pay Coastal Truck Driving School $3,300 for CDL training.
•A joint service agreement with the City of Oakdale for grass cutting, pothole patching, and trash pickup for the month of February 2023.
•A joint service agreement with the Allen Parish School Board for material, labor, and equipment to repair bus turnarounds at 1347 Bowie Road in Reeves, Faith Loop in Elizabeth, 140 Tyson Road in Reeves, 291 Rodriguez in Elizabeth, and 356 Shorty Odom Road in Elizabeth.
In other business, the police jury:
•Approved to advertise to buy a backhoe for Road District 1.
•Approved to advertise for the 2023 Capital Outlay Asphalt and Microsurface contracts.
•Amend the 2023 Equipment Capital Outlay.
•Discussed training classes to be conducted by Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office on open meetings and public bid law.
•Heard a report on inmate housing that the parish is over budget $27,625.29 for the month of January.
