Tensions over missed trash pickups spewed over into the Allen Parish Police Jury meeting, on Tuesday, September 5, as Jury President Tony Hebert and Jurors Creig Vizena and Chad Sanders got in a heated back-and-forth with Patrick Smith, who is regional manager for Waste Connections.
The cause of the discussion was $18,402.50 in liquidated damages assessed to Waste Connections. The amount of the damages, according to Maintenance Supervisor Angie Plante, is based on a total of 121 missed stops that were reported for an entire week.
According to Smith, the governor’s order issuing a state of emergency because of the heat overrides the trash pickup.
“It’s not too hot to empty half a trash can, but it’s too hot to empty the sh–– at the bottom of it,” replied Vizena. “Is that what you’re telling us?”
As the discussion continued, Sanders said, “We just had enough of it.”
Vizena then said, “I do realize we do have the cheapest trash pickup in the state. I don’t care if it goes 10 times what it is right now if it gets picked up.”
Later, Sanders told Smith, “I just want you to understand if it overflows then the dogs get to it. Then it goes by for three or four days and becomes a mess.”
The issue reached its climax when Vizena told Smith, “Kiss our as–, too.”
The jury voted to approve Vizena’s motion to invite Smith back for next month’s meeting.
Hebert, after tempers calmed, told those in the audience that the jury will look into exploring other trash pickup options. District Attorney Joe Green then told the jurors he will review the contract for the trash pickup and will review the governor’s order.
Plante told jurors the public can report missed trash pickups via email at publicworks@appj.us.
Earlier in the meeting, the jury held a public hearing to abandon the south end of Paul Brown Road. After hearing members of the public speak against the issue, the police jury voted not to abandon the section of the road because there are too many landowners around it.
Later, the police jury, as a board of review, heard from Allen Parish Assessor Richard Earl regarding total assessed value for the parish. According to Earl, the total assessed value excluding adjudicated and exempt property is $173,115,496 for 2023. That is an increase from the 2022 value of $160,772,080. Taxable value increased from $130,656,191 in 2022 to $142,527,173 in 2023; homestead value increased from $30,115,889 in 2022 to $30,588,323 in 2023; real estate total increased from $77,811,550 in 2022 to $80,144,436 in 2023; personal property total increased from $49,083,220 in 2022 to $57,256,190 in 2023; and public service total increased from $33,877,310 in 2022 to $35,714,870 in 2023.
All five road districts, according to Earl, also saw increases in taxable value. The largest increase was in Road District #5 where the values increased from $61,437,113 in 2022 to $70,240,511 in 2023, which equaled a 14.3% increase.
Earl then said the tax rolls will be held this year until after the election. He said everything will be pre-approved while waiting on the results of the courthouse and jail tax election.
Earl also introduced Lewis Williams as assessor-elect, who ran unopposed for the October election.
“I look forward to serving you guys,” Williams said.
In other business, the jury:
•Approved to pay Louisiana Hyrdostatics Inc. $4,972.23 for repairs to a dump truck for RD4.
•Approved to pay Doggett Machinery $1,670.92 for parts to repair a backhoe for RD5.
•Approved to pay Smitty’s Supply $1,939.47 for two barrels of oil and a case of grease for RD2.
•Approved to pay Covington Sales and Service $1,804.64 for parts to repair the pothole patcher for RD2.
•Approved to pay Kenjabruch Ag $4,560.35 for five foam filled brush hog wheels for RD3.
•Approved a joint service agreement with the City of Oakdale for grass cutting, pothole patching, and trash pickup for the month of September 2023.
•Approved JSA with the Town of Oberlin to pothole patch Ninth Avenue.
•Approved a JSA with the Allen Parish School Board for material, labor and equipment to repair buds turnarounds at 2010 Norris Road in Oakdale, 410 N. Blacktop Ext in Oakdale, and 728 Park Road in Kinder.
•Heard a presentation from Jordan Lemoine with Edko for proposed roadside vegetation management.
•Nominated Kimberly Caldarera to the SWLA Chamber Board of Directors.
•Opened bids for hay and timber at the airport.
•Adopted a resolution for grants with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for the Council on Aging.
•Called for public hearings for the Fiscal Year 2020 LCDBG (Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program) Closeout and to abandon James Goode Road off of Gabe Briscoe Road.
•Hired Scotty Baker part-time in Solid Waste contingent upon meeting hiring requirements.
•Heard from members of the public concerning drainage issues in Indian Village and road conditions on Indian Church Road.
