MINUTES OF THE ROAD COMMITTEE

WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

May 6, 2025

MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Ramsey, Chairman; Jim Bonsall, Mike Griffith, Randy Thomas, Nancy Hines, Steve Lemmons, Allen Gilbert, Bruce Blanton, Beverly Kennon, Daniel Thomas, Adam Lee and LaTanya Grigsby

Mr. Steve Ramsey called the meeting to order (9:00A.M) and asked Mr. Steve Lemmons to open the meeting with prayer. Mr. Steve Ramsey asked for additions to the agenda.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Ms. Nancy Hines to add No Thru Trucks on Bistineau Line Road, Ted Riser Road and add Claiborne Electric to the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Chris Bagwell, Permit Officer gave a report on the permits issued in April 2025. Discussion followed.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Mike Griffith to approve for Mr. Bobby Moreland to take leave without pay from our Road Department for medical leave. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Mike Griffith to overlay Mason Phelps Road using Road District A, Municipality Funding and Fund #8 interest funding. Motion carried unanimously.

Brad Graff, Parish Engineer updated the jury about Pilgrim Rest Road repairs. The cost may be most of the road budget for the 2025 budget year. This will be revisited at a later date.

Mr. Allen Gilbert moved, seconded by Ms. Beverly Kennon to approve Permission to Go on Land on private property on Millar Briarwood for drainage issues for the parish road. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Adam Lee moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to approve the Resolution from the Village of Doyline to grade Agape Road using Municipality Funding. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Lemmons moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve the Resolution from the Village of Dubberly to replace a culvert on Garrett Loop using Municipality Funding. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall told the jury about a $500,000 bond payment in 2024 from Petrochem. It was deposited and returned after inspection of Pilgrim’s Rest Road. There was no damage to the road from the company after inspection by the permitting officer.

Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve to assign 2 jurors to serve as board members to the Office of Community Services Board for a one -year term starting Jan 1, 2026. Mrs. Beverly Kennon and Ms. LaTanya Grigsby volunteered to serve for the 2026 term. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Mr. Adam Lee to approve to install NO THRU TRUCKS signs on Bistineau Line Road and Ted Riser Road in Webster Parish. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall gave an update on Claiborne Electric internet in our parish. The representatives with Conexon will be here in June with an update as well.

There being no further business to bring before the committee, the meeting adjourned.

            /s/                                                                               /s/                                          

Lisa C. Balkom                                                                      Steve Ramsey

Secretary-Treasurer                                                               Chairman

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                                                       MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

                                                             WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

                                                                             May 6, 2025

Members Present: Jim Bonsall, Vice Chairman, Steve Ramsey, Steve Lemmons, Nancy Hines, Randy Thomas, Mike Griffith, LaTanya Grigsby, Allen Gilbert, Bruce Blanton, Beverly Kennon, Adam Lee and Daniel Thomas

Ms. Beverly Kennon called the meeting to order at (10:15A.M.) and asked for additions to the agenda. 

Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Ms. LaTanya Grigsby to approve the March 2025 Financial Statement, Check Register and Bank Reconciliation. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Beverly Kennon presented the Financial Reports for the month of April 2025 to be approved at the June 2025 Meeting. Ms. Lisa C. Balkom told the jury that we also may need to hire more work release (inmate) employees on the road crew if we are short staffed.

Mr. Randy Thomas moved, seconded by Ms. LaTanya Grigsby to approve the line- item additions to the GL accounts. Two accounts were added in Fund 08 regarding Transfer OUT in an Expense account and one account was added in Fund 01 General Fund Revenue account as Transfer IN. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Bruce Blanton moved, seconded by Mr. Randy Thomas to approve the Capital Area Finance Authority Agreement with the Parish. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Bruce Blanton moved, seconded by Ms. LaTanya Grigsby to approve the ITEP Resolution naming Denise Edwards, Assessor as the Webster Parish Police Jury representative for the parish of Webster. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Mr. Randy Thomas to approve the transfer of a building located at 700 Constable Street, Minden, LA 71055 (the Armory Building) from the City of Minden to the Webster Parish Police Jury to be used as the GOHSEP/OEP Warehouse for Region 7. 

11 Yes 1 NO (Daniel Thomas) Motion carried.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Allen Gilbert to approve to advertise to bid 2026 MV 607 16 foot flat bed truck for Region 7 GOHSEP Warehouse. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall moved, seconded by Mr. Allen Gilbert to approve change orders and testing services for the Webster Parish Women’s Jail Project:Change Order 1 in the amount of $33,998.70 and Change Order 2 in the amount of ($17,226.00) and Invoice not to exceed $6,000 in testing of Construction Materials from Ardaman & Associates. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Brad Graff, Parish Engineer updated the jury on the construction project for the Women’s Jail Facility.

There being no further business to bring before the committee, the meeting adjourned.

______________________                                    _________/s/___________

Lisa C. Balkom, Secretary-Treasurer                         Jim Bonsall, Parish President

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                                    MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

                          WEBSTER PARISH POLICE JURY

                             May 6, 2025

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Jim Bonsall, President; Steve Ramsey, Vice President; Mike Griffith, Steve Lemmons, Nancy Hines, Randy Thomas, Bruce Blanton, LaTanya Grigsby, Allen Gilbert, Daniel Thomas, Beverly Kennon and Adam Lee

Mr. Jim Bonsall called the meeting to order at 10:30AM and asked

 Mr. Steve Lemmons to open the meeting with prayer and asked

Mr. Mike Griffith to lead in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Jim Bonsall then asked for additions to the agenda.

There were no comments from the audience concerning the agenda.

Mr. Allen Gilbert moved, seconded by Mr. Adam Lee to approve invoices for payment pending review by juror Allen Gilbert.  Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Nancy Hines moved, seconded by Ms. LaTanya Grigsby to adopt the minutes of the April 1, 2025 Road Committee, Finance Committee, and Regular Meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Beverly Kennon moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Ramsey to approve the Multi-Jurisdictional Consortium Agreement for the Webster Parish Police Jury. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Ms. Beverly Kennon approved to Call for a Public Hearing:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to La. R.S. 40:1248.5(B) that a public hearing of the Webster Parish Police Jury will be held at its regular meeting place in the meeting room the Courthouse Annex, West Entrance, located at 401 Main Street, Minden, LA on _June 3, 2025 at 10:30am to authorize the collection of a local hospital assessment as authorized by Subpart D-1 of Part I of Chapter 5-E of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of La. R.S. 40:1248.1 through 1248.10 and to enact an ordinance to that effect. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Bruce Blanton moved, seconded by Mr. Daniel Thomas to approve Ordinance 1023-002 to authorize an act of sale by the Parish of Webster to sell certain adjudicated properties (parcel 123309) by public auction held on April 14, 2025. Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Nancy Hines moved, seconded by Ms. LaTanya Grigsby to approve Board Appointments for the Webster Parish Library Board of Control: to appoint Ms. Linda Reed to fill the vacant position of Ms. Ethel Smith to expire 12/31/2028. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Daniel Thomas moved, seconded by Mr. Bruce Blanton to approve Board Appointment for North Webster Industrial Board: Appoint Chad Evans to serve on board-term indefinite. Motion carried unanimously.

COMMENTS:

Wanda Finley                                                                                    Head Start

Savannah Jones                                                                                Webster Parish Library

Allen Moseley                                                                                    WP Coroner

Jason Parker                                                                                      WP Sheriff

Tokia Harrison                                                                                  Minden Police Department

COL Carl Thompson                                                                        WP Assessor, Denise Edwards

K’Lanie Gordon                                                                                 LSU Ag/Extension Office

Angie Chapman                                                                                E911 Director

Jessica Gorman                                                                                 Parish Historian/Dorcheat Historical Museum

Mr. Steve Ramsey moved, seconded by Mr. Steve Lemmons to approve the action taken at the Road Committee Meeting held earlier today. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Mike Griffith moved, seconded by Adam Lee to approve the action taken at the Finance Committee Meeting held earlier today. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Bonsall then gave Presidents’ closing remarks. There being no further business to bring before the Jury, the meeting adjourned.

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Lisa C. Balkom Secretary-Treasurer                       Jim Bonsall         President