Winn Parish apparently won’t get much help from the state for its Off-System Bridge Program for some years to come, according to a report from road superintendent Perry Holmes at the Police Jury’s November meeting.

Holmes said a letter from the state indicated that the parish balance for the program stands around a negative $918,000.  But he indicated that the problem tracks back to an accounting issue in 1999 rather than a construction issue.  At the time, the state was estimating bridge repair and replacement costs at about half of what they actually were.

The state soon revised those figures upwards but the problem resulted because bids on six bridges had already been let and had to be built at the old prices.  This resulted in the large cost overrun.  Now when state monies are appropriated for the bridge program, anything that might have come to Winn is instead paid against the debt.

He guessed the parish won’t see any new bridge monies for the next 30 years.

In other road-related action, the lawmakers accepted contract bids on various road materials and supplies for 2024. They also agreed to assist the Village of Sikes by repairing potholes on First, Second and Fifth streets, as well as repairs to the turn-in on Second & McMurray and at the end of Caney Street where the school bus turns around (this pending school board approval).

The body agreed to engage the same firm of Kolder, Slaven and Company, LLC. to perform the Police Jury audit for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. President Josh McAllister said secretary Karen Tyler and the staff were pleased with the firm which they described as thorough. “There were no findings in our most recent audit which was one of our best.”

Also agreed by the lawmakers was the engagement of Mrs. Shanna Jones, CPA, to review the draft report of the Winn Parish Police Jury for calendar year 2023.