Parish engineer Henry Shuler reported to the Police Jury Monday major financial funding that is coming to Winn Parish, some which have been years in the making, others coming out of this legislative session. He called this “fantastic news. This is not normal funding.”
Shuler stressed that most of the legislative monies which will be directed at this small, rural parish is due to the efforts of Rep. Jack McFarland who chairs the House Appropriations Committee. “This is an enormous amount of money…and it’s your tax money. If it wasn’t coming here, it would be going to New Orleans.”
House Bill 460 has been approved by the House and Senate and awaits the signature of the governor. Included are overlays for Cole Road ($97,000) and Mimosa Drive ($54,000). There is also $1 million for overlay of Mars Hill Church Road, though Shuler pointed out that the road is so long that this large funding would cover just half.
A major, long-discussed project to see action due to HB460 is a pavilion to cover the Winn Parish Fairground rodeo arena ($975,000). The engineer pointed out that while some may consider this fanciful spending, the arena is a major tourist draw, especially with Uncle Earl’s Hog Dog Trials as well as rodeos during Parish Fair and Forest Festival. “The facility needs work to keep it up. If you don’t make improvements, you could lose a lot of what draws visitors to Winn.”
A second aspect to HB460 and the Fairgrounds is a $500,000 grant to provide water, sewer and electrical hookup spaces for about 50 campers to enhance tourism. The bill also includes $200,000 for the parish to use for infrastructure, materials, equipment and acquisition. Discussion indicated that other parish entities would benefit including the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office ($100,000 for equipment), City Marshal’s Office ($25,000 for equipment) and Backwoods Water System ($500,000 for needed improvements). The jurors heard that this funding packing is all-grant with no required parish match.
Other funding sources were also named by the engineer. In the wake of Hurricanes Laura and Delta, the parish sought help for generators in key facilities across the parish. That has finally come through after four years from FEMA through the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security for Hazard Mitigation with a $1 million package. Included are generators for the courthouse, health unit, parish road barn, Winnfield booster station, Tannehill water system, Wheeling (booster and well), Dodson, Calvin, and Sikes (fire station and water treatment).
Shuler reported that three bids came in for this multi-site project and one is within budget. “I think we’re in good shape.” The jury awarded the project to Hendry Electrical Services Inc. in the amount of $941,600. He added that residents can’t get their hopes up for a quick remedy, however. Even though the bids are in-hand, it could take fully another year for delivery and installation. “Another winter. Another hurricane season.”
Another longstanding project is on the cusp. Taylor Spangler reported for Swyft Fiber that the laying of fiber optics across Winn is in the near future. This state-funded project targets small rural area to provide internet coverage where it hasn’t been before. “We’ll be going down dirt roads where maybe there’s only on house at the end.”
He explained that Swyft is going through the permitting process and is open to communication from jurors and individuals as they move forward. “We want to make sure we do things right. This will start soon but AI can’t say exactly when. We’re in the design phase. But soon we’ll have boots on the ground.”
Secretary-treasurer Karen Tyler questioned the location and safety of waterlines during this boring process. Spangler noted that some lines are so old that those who put them down are gone and there are no records. “We’ll be counting on the water systems and individual homeowners to mark their lines. He told the group that Swyft would bore the lines 10 feet.
“I’d like to add that we’re excited to be in Winn,” lawmakers heard. “I want to point out that the ‘Big Boss’ (VP of Construction Jason Williams) is from here so we’ll make sure to do it right.”