A redistricting proposal in Allen Parish was the main topic of conversation at the October Police Jury meeting. According to the 2020 census Allen Parish has decreased in population. After looking at the seven districts and noticing a plus or minus five deviation, the law requires redistricting in order to grow or shrink to match the ideal population in that district. Currently there are two proposals on the table. One is $18,000 while the second is $25,900. The proposals will be studied in more depth over the next month with the recommendation coming at the next board meeting. Allen Parish School Board will be splitting the cost with the police jury and adopting the same redistricting across the parish. Both the police jury and school board’s redistricting will have to change.
H. Creig Vizena stated, “This is a way to keep it simple for the public” if the redistricting matches across the board. More information will be given on this at the school board meeting next week.
Another important issue was the Request for Qualification for the Drainage Improvement Project. This one million dollar project will provide the funds to fix the drainage issues in the parish. While it was approved, there was concern over where this would specifically be done. The proposal was received from Elos Environmental and is geared highly towards flow restricted areas due to the concerns in hurricane specific nature. Again Vizena spoke up on this issue as well stating the entire parish should be weighed in instead of just areas with specific flow restricted issues. Jacob Dillehay assured a proposal was coming that covered the entirety of Allen Parish.
The finance committee made the following requests, all of which were approved:
•Approved to pay Terminix $1,904 to kill termites at the Airport House.
•Approved to pay Covington Sales and Service $2,272.53 to repair the boom axe for RD2 (Road District Two).
•Approved to pay Doggett Machinery $1,728.10 to repair a dozer for RD1.
•Approved to pay H&E Equipment $2,356.17 to repair a track hoe for RD3.
•Approved to pay Harmon’s $3,200 to install a 80 gallon commercial hot water heater at the Civic Center.
The road committee also made a few requests, which were approved:
•Approved a JSA (Joint Service Agreement) with the City of Oakdale for grass cutting, pothole patching and trash pick-up for the month of October 2021.
•Approved a JSA with the Town of Oberlin for manpower and equipment to repair a water main.
•Approved a JSA with FD6 (Fire District Six) for manpower and equipment to assist in removing debris from a burning dumpster.
The inmate report was read and the budget for the month was $17,300. The expenses for the month were $11,229.60. This brought them $6,070.40 under budget for the month and $74,707.89 under budget for the year. There were 68 inmates, 12 in the department of corrections and 109 federal inmates as of Tuesday, October 4.
Also at the meeting, the jury:
•Approved to adopt a resolution to confirm an election date change per the Governor’s Proclamation. This will move election dates back one month because of the hurricanes.
•Approved a CEA (Cooperative Endeavor Agreement) with the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs in the amount of $6,972.99.
•Approved to adopt a resolution for the Off System Bridge Replacement program.
•Approved the Capital Improvement Projects’ list. These include four requests, all of which were approved: (1) bucket truck to safely remove limbs, (2) $7,500 for materials for the civic center, (3) grapple truck to specifically pick up limbs in ditches, and (4) a card reader upgrade at the airport to replace the current one that is 23 years old.
•Approved to hire Elmer Chapman Jr. for the Solid Waste/Road Crew at $13.76 per hour part-time, parishwide, contingent upon meeting hiring requirements.
•Approved to accept the resignation of Glen Bledsoe from the Allen Parish Tourism Board and appointed Angela Hayward to complete his term.
•Approved to accept the resignation of Dale McGee from the FD4 Board and appointed Bobby Kibodeaux to complete term.
•Approved to enter into contract with LGAP (Local Government Assistance Program) for the amount of $24,337 for the N.W. Allen Water District Service Truck.
