Winn’s OEP director Cindy Tilton, together with local police jurors will soon be traveling to rural communities across the parish to meet with leaders to discuss planning in the event of future disaster.
Jury President Frank McLaren informed the lawmakers of Tilton’s plans at the jury’s June meeting this week. The intent is to make preparations in case of disaster. “Certainly you can never be fully ready for whatever comes up but at least you can have something in place.”
No schedule was announced at this point. McLaren said the director desires jurors representing each outlying community she visits to accompany her. Any other juror would also be welcome to attend, he said.
The jury heard a preliminary presentation about a public transportation service that could be available for Winn through the Rapides Area Planning Commission. Rural transit program manager Gracie Skinner who said the program is federally funded, requiring a local match.
“We have been operating in Natchitoches Parish for two years,” she explained. “We want to discuss the possibility of expanding into Winn Parish.” Skinner described her presentation as the “start of a conversation. We want to get feedback to assess your interest.”
Although the lawmakers received some paperwork about the program included in their monthly packet, one observed that they didn’t really know what her presentation would be about. In response to questions, they heard that the parish financial match would be around $50,000. If launched, there would be a local office with local drivers.
McLaren said that while there may be parish interest, the jury would need to know more about the transit program. Skinner repeated that Monday was just the start of a conversation.
Incoming sheriff Josh McAllister made a brief presentation to the jurors on relationship. “We’ve been moving forward in our preparations and look forward to the Sheriff’s Office and the Police Jury working together. We want to be an asset to you to see Winn Parish be successful.” The former jury president added that he is interested in what the parish is going to do with the 911 Communications District and expressed his desire to be involved. Don Garrett was on the agenda to give a 911 district update but was unable to attend.
Road Supt. Perry Holmes reported that despite the many recent rains, the days of good weather between have allowed crews to get in some work. Two recent hires have manned two bushhogs which are doing “a bang-up job” of getting some roadsides cleaned up. His report on FEMA projects indicated completions of the Manuel Long Road, Mitchell Road and Mars Hill Road.
Additionally, progress towards a five-span concrete bridge on the Harrisonburg Road is moving along. Holmes said the 100% federally-funded project through the “Build It Back Better” program should see a letting date by the end of the year. A Shreveport firm is coordinating the work. Initially, Winn was slated for three “Build It Back Better” bridges but rising material costs knocked that back to one, Holmes said.
“The Harrisonburg bridge is currently open but it’s a concrete deck with wood piles on the bottom. Some are spliced together and the bridge sees a lot of heavy traffic. It will be good to have this replacement,” the superintendent observed.