Parish gets kudos from audit firm

Donna Alonzo

A healthy audit report on the Choctaw Road Landfill and Washington Parish Government from Wilson LaGraize of Kushner LaGraize, LLC was certainly good news for members of the parish council, but the best was yet to come.

LaGraize, presenting his firm’s audit report to the council, told them that a year ago the parish was cutting it close, with a minimal amount of funds on-hand but, he said, there was a dramatic improvement this year, despite the economy.

LaGraize noted parish government had taken an aggressive approach toward managing expenses during a period when revenues were down.

LaGraize specifically cited auditor Donna Alonzo and pointed out Alonzo renegotiated the parish’s insurance coverage, resulting in a savings of $800,000.

After the meeting, Alonzo said the parish’s new policy is with United Health Care, the carrier for the Louisiana Police Jury Association. She said by making the change, the parish realized savings of 45 percent.

“I don’t know what we would have done (without the savings),” she said. “We couldn’t have balanced the budget otherwise.”

In other action:

   • Council held a public hearing and voted to accept roads in Riverwood Subdivision into the parish road inventory.

   • Introduced a resolution allowing Tommy Thiebaud to enter into a contract with the Louisiana Department of Social Services for the purpose of providing job access and reverse commute transportation services.

   • Introduced a resolution approving the holding of an election in Fire District No. 6 on Saturday, Oct. 22. to authorize the levy of a special tax.

The next council meeting will be Monday July 11.

Council clerk's sharp eye saves thou$ands

FRANKLINTON — Sherry Lyons, who serves as clerk for the Washington Parish Council, has a sharp eye for detail. It was developed after years of service in Tangipahoa Parish before changing jobs.

But Lyons developed more than a sharp eye for detail during her career — she learned the ins-and-outs of state government to such a degree that she's converted that knowledge into money savings.

At Monday's parish council meeting, members adopted a pair of resolutions approving the holding of elections in Fire District No. 5 (Angie) and Fire District No. 7 (south and southwest of Bogalusa) on Saturday, Oct. 22. Their action followed Lyons' recommendation.

While council members would have had to approve the resolution at some point, doing so this early allows the two elections to be held in conjunction with the state's gubernatorial primary. That means Lyon's sharp eye and willingness to speak up saved taxpayers several thousand dollars, because by holding the fire district elections on an "official" date, the state — and not the parish — foots the bill.

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