The Allen Parish Police Jury, at its meeting on Monday, October 2, called for a public hearing to discuss consolidation of voting precincts that would go into effect in 2024. The public hearing is set for Monday, November, 6.
As Parish Administrator Jacob Dillehay explained, the parish currently has 34 precincts, and 18 of those have under 300 voters.
“The state is pushing down requirements that say for every precinct under 300 voters, that could be merged or consolidated, the parish would be required to carry the costs of those elections,” Dillehay said.
According to Dillehay, the current number of precincts would cost the parish $3,100 per election per precinct. That would total $55,000 per election if the current number of precincts remain the same.
Dillehay went on to explain one of the proposals that is on the table and would mainly impact urban areas, such as Oakdale, Kinder, and Oberlin. Four voting locations would be at the Mowad Civic Center in Oakdale, three voting locations would be at the Allen Parish Community Center in Oberlin, and four voting locations would be at the Kinder Community Center.
Earlier in the meeting, the jury heard from Bruce Emley, the Waste Connections regional vice president for the state. “Clearly,” he said, “there’s been a lack of communication on our part in terms of letting you know what’s going on.”
Emley apologized for the problems the parish has been experiencing regarding its trash pickup and offered ways to improve communication with residents. “This is fixable,” he expressed. “I would like to, best we can, start anew.”
Emley introduced Jamie Gilbert, who is the municipal marketing manager. Gilbert said Waste Connections is currently recruiting drivers from Allen Parish because the company is looking to move its operations from Alexandria to be closer to its landfill.
“The drive time from Alexandria to here and everything else creates lost productivity,” said Gilbert. “That’s going to help a lot when you’re working right here in the market and picking up in your neighborhoods. It gets more personal for the employees.”
Gilbert also said residents could download an app on their computer or phone as a tool for better communication. The app is already available and working well in St. Martin Parish, he explained.
“We can communicate down to the street that we will be a day late of what have you,” Gilbert said about the app.
Emley said the company will send out a letter to notify residents the app is available. Residents who do not download the app can still report issues by using the email address, by using the call center number or by calling Gilbert directly.
As a result of the conversations, the police jury tabled $14,315.99 in liquidated damages until next month’s meeting.
In other business, the jury:
•Approved to pay Doggett Machinery $4,742.96 for parts to repair a backhoe for Road District 5.
•Approved to pay Doggett Machinery $13,736 for a thumb for the backhoe at Oberlin Solid Waste.
•Approved to pay Scott Equipment $5,106.82 to replace the undercarriage on a track hoe for RD2.
•Approved to pay Southern Tire Mart $1,790 for dump truck tires for RD3.
•Approved to pay H&E Equipment $2,490.82 for a thumb and pin for a track hoe for Solid Waste.
• Approved to pay River Runs Dirt Service $67,748.38 to build a concrete ramp for Solid Waste at Oakdale.
•Approved a joint service agreement with the City of Oakdale for grass cutting, pothole patching, and trash pick up for the month of October.
•Adopted an ordinance to abandon a portion of James Goode Road off of Gabe Briscoe Road.
•Awarded the vegetation management contract to EDKO.
•Heard an update on the burn ban from Fire Chief Ryan Daigle.
•Approved resolutions to adopt a comprehensive master plan for Allen Parish and to prepare and submit an application to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for a boat ramp on Hwy 190.
•Approved Matt Fontenot to be moved from contract to part-time employee with no change in pay or benefits.
