The Winn Parish Police Jury met in an early January session this week to see in its new slate of members for the next four year. Normally gathering on the third Monday each month, the lawmakers held this session January 8 when members took their oath of office from District Judge Anastasia Wiley.
District Attorney Chris Nevils presided over the early stages of the meeting, as the jury at that point was without a president or vice president. Newcomers are Darrell Franks (Dist.3), Stanley Garrett (Dist. 4) and Kyle Potts (Dist. 5) but returning members were also sworn in at the outset of this four-year term. After Judge Wiley administered the oath individually to each of the seven jurors, Nevils called the first order of business, election of the president and vice president.
Longtime member Frank McLaren (Dist 7) was nominated with a motion by Author Robinson, second by Deionne Carpenter and with no other nominations, McLaren won the post by acclamation. Another longtime member Deionne Carpenter (Dist. 2) received a nomination for vice president from Phillip Evans with second by Author Robinson. Again there were no other nominations and she won that position.
The members heard words of encouragement from DA Nevils who said he is looking forward to working with the new jury, noting the local judiciary has worked well with past juries. Outgoing president Josh McAllister also attended the meeting and challenged the lawmakers to work for all of Winn Parish, knowing they will face some long days in their jobs as jurors. “Believe in a better Winn.
In business that night, members agreed to a resolution calling for a special election for a Road Tax renewal to be placed on the April 27 ballot. “We really need to promote this,” said McLaren. “Without it, we’d be in terrible shape.”
Members also agreed to reappoint Karen Tyler as jury’s secretary/treasurer for another two-year term. “We can’t go wrong with her,” quipped McLaren.
Efforts are being made to breathe life into a project that’s been discussed for decades. “They’ve been talking about the Port de Luce water project since I was a boy,” claimed Author Robinson. “Folks don’t know how big an area that drainage covers or the impact this project could have.”
Approved was a motion to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement between the Office of Community Development and the Winn Parish Police Jury for a watershed grant. McLaren said this could be a reservoir for flood control and perhaps a lake. Discussion indicated that $7.5 million could be “conditionally awarded.”
