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)

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)