By T. Scott Boatright
GRAMBLING — Adding needed personnel to the city’s police, fire, and public works departments were key orders of business as Grambling’s Board of Aldermen held its October meeting Thursday night at City Hall.
Hired to the Grambling Police Department were Javier Roper as an uncertified officer and Keith Jackson as a fire and police dispatcher.
“This was very important,” Mayor Alvin Bradley said about the police department hires. “We have three officers that are out. One had a knee replacement, so we need to replace him, and we had another officer that resigned. So, this was timely to get them in place.”
The City Council also approved the hiring to the Grambling Fire Department of Tyerrell Owens, Frederico Davis and Garrett Ford.
Council member Jerry Lewis said the hiring of Owens was particularly good for the GFD.
“Ruston’s loss was Grambling’s gain,” Lewis said. “He retired from the Ruston Fire Department, and the Ruston Fire Department has some slightly different hiring requirements than we do. For our department, Tyrrell fit perfectly.
“He has all his firefighter, HazMat awareness and HazMat (operation) certifications. He has all those things. And we got all of that (training) for no cost because Ruston paid for it. And I say that as someone who retired from the Ruston Fire Department. We got a good hire with him.”
Lewis said hires like Owens are something the city of Grambling needs.
“These kinds of hires with trained personnel are what the city needs to bring our fire rating down,” Lewis said. “We need to get these hires to hopefully help with insurance costs and we’re glad to have him on board.”
Grambling’s City Council also approved the addition of Michael Holland to the city’s Public Works Department.
“He’s going to be a big help, especially for the sanitation department,” said Councilman John Brown. “He lived and worked here before, moved, and then came back. He is said he is amazed with the changes we have made around here and the emphasis on safety.
“His coworkers have already made comments on what an outstanding addition he is for the city workforce.”
All the new hires are pending results of drug and psychological testing.
During the meeting, Marjorie Prudhomme with the Grambling Water Department urged officials and media to let city residents know they need to let the city know before the cut-off time has been reached that they cannot pay the bill.
“I need to let our city residents know that during the cut-off time is not the time to let us know that you can’t pay your bill,” Prudhomme said. “If they can call us two or three days before we can try to work out an arrangement to pay their bill.”
“Once the process gets going to cut off water, it is hard to stop them and turn back around and turn it back on. It is too much of a confusion doing it that way.
Prudhomme said that residents should know that any changes to homes in Grambling should be permitted to be made by city officials.
“Permits are a way to help homeowners because a lot of insurers will not refund you if the contractor messes up and no permit has been applied for. A permit is needed for any changes to the structure of the home or if any addition is being made changing the appearance of the home.”
Prudhomme said contractors usually connect with the city to get the permits.
“Homeowners can do that as well, but we have some that do not get licensed contractors. If we see work being done without a permit, it will be stopped.”
Prudhomme added that Entergy will not restore electric service to a home without a permit from the city.
“Electrical, HVAC or gas, they all need permits,” Prudhomme said. “They will not come out and do that work without permits from the city.”
During the announcements part at the end of the meeting, Councilwoman Cathy Holmes Giles said she wanted to get the word out that the Grambling Juneteenth Committee will host a Fall Festival, including lining the streets of the village with lawn chairs and candy from 5 – 7 p.m. on Oct. 31. That will be followed by various activities, food, and games at Lincoln Preparatory School from 7 – 9 p.m. that evening at Lincoln Preparatory School.
Grambling Police Chief Tommy Clark also said that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has added a new stock of catfish and that the LDWF plans to restock it in November with trout as temperatures begin to drop.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
