By T. Scott Boatright
The Lincoln Parish Police Jury honored recently deceased former parish Administrator Regan Sutton while also making an appointment to the Ruston Lincoln Convention and Visitors Center board and issuing a proclamation declaring 2023 the 150th anniversary of Lincoln Parish’s founding as orders of business during Tuesday’s monthly meeting at the Lincoln Parish Courthouse.
Parish Administrator Courtney Hall read the resolution expressing condolences over Sutton’s death to three of his family members in attendance – Sutton’s son Joey and daughter Karen Sanders and Jennifer Farrar.
Jurors also approved the appointment of Tim Padgett to the Ruston Lincoln CVB board for a three-year term as Louisiana Tech University’s representative as well as approving Dennis Simonton to the Mt. Olive Waterworks District board for a five-year term.
A big topic of discussion during the meeting was centered around a littering problem that jurors believe continues to worsen around the parish.
Solid Waste and Recycling committee chair TJ Cranford said Love the Boot (a part of Keep Louisiana Beautiful) week, which will be held April 17-23, could be used to spur a community event to help with the cleanup efforts and spur awareness about the ongoing and growing problem.
Jurors were also told the CVB is interested in partnering in such an event.
“We communicate to the community that we have supplies that we can give them and then they can kind of do their own thing,” Cranford said. “We need to make arrangements for drop-off points where we can go pick up bags.
“It’s not going to be a real controlled event but more of a themed gathering. We’re just putting this out there. It will spread by word, and I think that if anybody’s interested and wants to engage in this then we can do what we can to get some of the supplies that are needed for it.
“And it would really help if jurors coordinated things within their own districts. I’ll work with you to make this event successful.
In other business, the Jury moved to:
- Authorized advertisement of bids for Love Louisiana Outdoor Grants for bike trails at Lincoln Parish Park and a water/sewer project
- Authorized the parish administrator to enter into contract with the Riley Co. of Louisiana, Inc., for a Bike Trails Hub Project and to authorize advertisement of bids for that project contingent on available funding
- Increased line item 43340 (tank cars) in the Bridge Replacement Fund in the amount of $98,000
- Approved a budget adjustment for purchase of a 6/8-yard dump truck
- Authorized the parish administrator to enter into contract with the Riley Co. of Louisiana, Inc., for a Bike Trails Hub Project and to authorize advertisement of bids for that project
- Authorized advertisement of bids for a new cab and chassis tractor truck, a new front-loading refuse compactor truck, and the hiring of an additional three-person little crew
- Adopted an ordinance prohibiting the use of “jake braking” on all Lincoln Parish roadways within the unincorporated areas of the parish
- Authorized advertisement for bids on one telehandler, one lowboy trailer and one 6/8-yard dump truck
- Authorized the purchase of one John Deere 61110M utility tractor and one Tiger Boom mower attachment
- Authorized the declaration of a 2017 Ford Explorer as well as various scap sign materials to be sold as a lot
- Amended the Industrial Driveway policy regarding maintenance
- Agreed to provide assistance to the Lincoln Parish School Board contingent on the Highway Department work schedule in regards to a fence-line cleanup at Simsboro High School
