Jacob Dillehay, the parish’s administrator and engineer, presented an end of the year report at the meeting of the Allen Parish Police Jury held Monday, December 4.
As Dillehay reported, the parish resurfaced 34.5 miles of roads in the parish over 2023. That figure was down from the 68.5 miles of roads completed in 2022 but up from the 23.9 miles of roads that were done in 2021. Even though the number of miles of roads went down from last year, the average system road age increased from nine years to 17 years over the past 12 months.
Part of the reason for the drop-off in the number of miles is the rising costs of materials. The average chip sealing price was $4.73 per square yard and $50,000 per mile in 2023. That figure is up from last year’s $3.32 per square yard and $35,000 per square mile.
Asphalt costs also escalated. In 2023, the jury paid $138.50 per ton; $31.86 per foot of road; and $168,194.40 per mile of road. Those figures represented a 19.40 percent increase from the previous year.
Work orders also increased in the police jury office. The following is a breakdown, according to Dillehay, in 2023:
• Ward 1- 85
• Ward 2- 223
• Ward 3- 35
• Ward 4- 81
• Ward 5- 74
• Parishwide- 498
• Work orders per day- 2.5
Purchase orders also were up in the office. In 2023, there were 2,232 total purchase orders processed at a rate of nine per day; 4,362 checks processed (30 per day); and 16,616 transactions processed (77 per day). As Dillehay noted, all these were completed with no audit findings.
Dillehay went on to report there were few building projects completed over the past year because of lack of funding from the courthouse and jail tax. He does, however, see that number increasing in 2024.
Some of the building projects included the demolition of an abandoned sheriff shed and sidewalk for new sidewalk construction and the Oakdale ramp project, which is in progress.
As for building permits, according to Dillehay’s report, 258 new building permits were issued in 2023. There were also 402 electrical connection permits, 72 heavy hauler permits, and 64 culvert permits.
Earlier in the meeting, the police jury heard from Kimberly Caldarera, on behalf of the hospital. “We are continuing to work on community involvement to bring in the community and all of Allen Parish,” she said, “not just Kinder. We are doing that by trying to have the notion and belief that we want people to come to us for preventative and wellness care, not just for when they are sick.”
According to Caldarera, the hospital is doing that through things like hosting yoga, the Garden Club, a farmer’s market, lunch and learns and the Kinder Rotary Club.
“We’re just trying to get in the community,” said Caldarera, “and do more than just say, ‘Hey, we’re here when you’re sick.’”
In other business, the jury:
•Approved to pay Structure X $2,157.99 for a computer for audio upgrades for the meeting room.
•Approved to pay Lafayette Music Company $4,249.98 for audio upgrades to the meeting room.
•Approved to pay O’Reilly Auto Parts $5,064.40 for an engine for a flat bed in RD1.
•Approved to pay Louisiana Hydrostatics $2,749.82 for repairs to the dump truck in RD3.
•Approved a joint service agreement with the City of Oakdale for grass cutting, pothole patching and trash pickup for the month of December 2023.
•Approved a JSA with the Allen Parish School Board for material, labor and equipment to repair the bus turnaround at 933 Garcille Road in Oberlin.
•Adopted the 2024 budget.
•Adopted an ordinance to abandon a portion of Shorty Odom Road and George Turner Road.
•Approved 2024 liquor license renewals for Lynwood Hebert d/b/a The Corner Store of Elizabeth, LLC; Tammy Kay Thompson d/b/a One Stop Wonder Shop, LLC; Ummiid, LLC d/b/a Indian Village Quick Stop; Kinder Ventures, LLC d/b/a Chadeaux’s 3; and Warren Harmon d/b/a Moma D’s Kitchen, LLC.
•Adopted a resolution approving the issuance of $2,313,000 of water revenue bonds for Northwest Allen Parish Water District.
•Adopted a resolution for the perimeter fence project at the airport.
•Approved to accept Reed’s Bridge Relief Bridge in the parish bridge system.
•Authorized Allen Parish to participate in the Enterprise Zone Program.
•Approved the resignation of Clarice Papillion from the Allen Parish Ambulance Board and reappointed Don Dowies to the Northwest Allen Water Board for a one-year term.
•Amended the 2023 budget, 2023 capital outlay, and the 2023 equipment outlay and adopted the 2024 capital outlay and the 2024 equipment outlay.
The next police jury will be on Monday, January 9.
