Parish Council to tackle light agenda Monday

Other than the normal items that appear meeting after meeting, members of the Washington Parish Council will face a one-item agenda when they meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the first floor courtroom at the Washington Parish Courthouse.

That item is Resolution No. 11-526, which will authorize and approve the issuance and delivery of no more than $500,000 of water revenue refunding bonds for the Varnado Waterworks District.

Following that item, the meeting will be opened for public comment, Parish President Richard Thomas will give his report and council members will wrap up the meeting with their comments.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Monday, July 25.

Landworks get landfill OK from parish council

George Nobles accuses the review
panel for the Choctaw Road Landfill
of bias against his company in the
selection process, alleging his company
had been "villified" and its name sullied.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

Landworks, Inc. won unanimous approval from the Washington Parish Council Monday night to operate the Choctaw Road Landfill. The new pact will be for five years — instead of 10 as in the past — at $746,400 annually.

Landworks was the operator preferred by a seven-member review panel that considered the proposals from each of three companies and then scored them. Landworks was ranked first, Nobles Construction was ranked second and Jerry Creel was ranked third. There were two companies submitting proposals that were not considered because they did not include their contractors' license information, as specified.

The vote did not come without some drama, however, as George Nobles of Nobles Construction spoke and accused the council of bias against his company.

"Knowing that the deck was stacked against us, we decided to go ahead and submit a proposal,” Nobles said. "The council was obviously biased against us and the chairman (of the review panel) went so far as to sully the name of Nobles Construction in order to justify a decision."

Nobles continued, saying his firm "...continues to be villified, yet without Nobles to bash, you've got no way to justify another rate increase." He concluded his comments by syaing he would do whatever necessary to protect the good name of his company, built on 35 years' experience.

Upon finishing his statement, Nobles left the room. He was followed to the podium by former Bogalusa City Councilor Danny Stogner, who defended review panel chairman Mike Fussell and the process followed in reaching a decision.

"I know better than to believe Mr. Fussell is a biased person," he said. "I've sat through too many of their meetings and know how they have worked to believe that."

Bogalusa City Councilor Oneita Graham, who was one of the review panel members, told the council that nothing was said about any business good or bad ... "The discussion was strictly business and about the proposal."

After Fussell had opened the initial presentation by giving a full review of the process followed, including a pair of calls to the Attorney General's office for direction, he ended it by recapping the  two top proposals.

"There is a misconception of the two bids," he said. "One was $49,000 (per month) and the other was $69,000 (per month). The negotiated amount was $62,500 per month and we paid $59,000 last year ... and we feel that difference of $3,500 is justified based on the proposals. We think as a whole, we got a fair deal."

While Fussell did not point it out, Councilman Chuck Nassauer noted the parish request for proposal specified the landfill be open 60 hours per week (six 10-hour days) and staffed with eight people — and that the Nobles proposal was for a 48-hour week and staffing of three people.

"This was a very open and transparent process," Parish President Richard Thomas said after the meeting. "When it first started and they told me two (proposals) had already been thrown out, I said, 'Oh, no!'. but they explained they had not met the specified guidelines and the attorney general said they couldn't be considered.

The Bogalusa City Council will vote on the landfill contract when it meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

Parish Council to OK Choctaw Landfill pact

Richard Thomas

Landworks, Inc. will get the go-ahead to continue operation of the Choctaw Road Landfill after members of the Washington Parish Council hold a public hearing on vote on Ordinance No. 11-549.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the first floor courtroom of the Washington Parish Courthouse.

Following the May 23 meeting, Washington Parish President Richard Thomas told wpnewsblog that he was comfortable with the process followed to ensure the best operator was selected.

"We held three public meetings where people could attend and ask questions," he said. These proposals were reviewed and it was a studied decision ... it wasn't done like it was in the past."

On Tuesday, members of the Bogalusa City Council will authorize Mayor Charles Mizell to sign the Landworks contract.

Under the existing contract, which expired June 1, Washington Parish is responsible for 58.1 percent of the landfill's operational costs and the City of Bogalusa is responsible for 41.9 percent.

 Other items on the agenda include:
     • Public hearing on Ordinance No. 11-551, which will allow the entering into a lease with Broadband IP, Inc. for space on a communications tower.
     • Introduce Ordinance No. 11-553, which will accept roads in Riverwood Subdivision.
     • Consider Resolution No. 11-552, allowing the entering into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Washington Parish Communications District concerning the Washington Parish emergency communications tower located on Dollar Road.

Council members will also hear a report from Thomas and other department heads and open the meeting for public participation.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

Fowler: 'Total surprise' at Citizen selection

Dennie Fowler at the
June 24 meeting of the
Parish Council.

"Total surprise. I was totally surprised."


Dennie Fowler, who, until his work as co-chairman of Washington Parish Recreation District 1 was better known as the parish's former superintendent of schools, was chosen Tuesday night as the 19th Citizen of the Year for West Washington Parish. The award is presented annually by the Bogalusa newspaper.


Fowler, who will be honored at a reception from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 12 at Hillcrest Baptist Church, said he had no clue what was happening as he was informed of the selection.

The award is voted on by past recipients and is limited to nominations submitted by the public.


Fowler is serving with Johnnie Daniels as co-chair of the district, which has, as its purpose the development of a multi-purpose recreation facility to serve residents of the district, which includes Franklinton, Mt. Hermon, Hackley, Enon, Isabel, Pine and Thomas.


The complex will consist of fields for boys baseball, girls softball, adult softball and football and soccer fields. Concession stands and restrooms will be near each field. It will also include walking paths, pavilion and picnic areas, a water pad, and plenty of parking for convenient access to all areas. A gymnasium and other features will be constructed in later phases.


Traditionally, the award is limited to recognizing the recipients' work over the past year ... and between his work as a 30-plus year volunteer with the Washington Parish Free Fair and the recreation district, Fowler has been busy.


"I've always worked for the children," he said. "I've tried to stay busy and do things to help others. This was a total and complete surprise."

Parish council deals with busy agenda

Tommy Thiebaud, parish
director of Homeland Security,
explains the need for a burn ban.
(John H. Walker photo)

FRANKLINTON — Members of the Washington Parish Council methodically worked their way through a busy agenda here Monday night.

By the time council members were finished, they had held three public hearings — without any public input — introduced four ordinances and three resolutions.

Most prominent was an emergency, 30-day burn ban (see top right column) implemented parishwide. Council members also held a public hearing and approved Ordinance No. 11-546, which keeps the parish tax levy at 28.42 mills, the same as last year.

Additionally, Resolution No. 11-549, which will allow Parish President Richard Thomas to enter into an agreement with Landworks, Inc. for the operation of the Choctaw Road Landfill.

After the meeting, Thomas told wpnewsblog he was comfortable with the process undertaken to advertise for and review proposals for the operation of the landfill.

"We held three public meetings where people could attend and ask questions,” he explained. "These proposals were reviewed and it was a studied decision ... it wasn't done like it was in the past,” he said.

A public hearing and vote will be held on the resolution when the council next meets on June 6.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogger.com)