The newly-formed Washington Parish Safety Council is a group of concerned citizens whose goal is to wipe out blight and beautify Bogalusa and Washington Parish.

The council has its first meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 21 in the Bogalusa City Hall courtroom.

“What concerns most of the members of our group are blighted property, litter abatement, beautification of common areas and overall public safety,” Safety Council President Scott Ard said. “Those are the four committees we want to form.”

Ard said the council plans to meet once each month and rotate the venue between Bogalusa and Franklinton.

“We’ve got city, parish and state officials on board,” Ard said. “We’re working with LSU Co-operative Extension Service and the USDA. “

Ard said he realized city and parish budgets are tight, but funding to meet the council’s goals should not be problematic.

“There are programs available at both the federal and state level,” Ard said. “We just want to tap into that and get a volunteer movement going and get some committees organized. Bogalusa used to have flowerbeds in places. We want to bring that back.”

Ard said the group wants to be a helping hand.

Public service and public safety are concerns,” Ard said. “We want to try and revitalize that. “

The group has a Facebook page at Washington Parish Safety Council.

To contact Ard about the group, call 985-750-1123 or email Ard at captscottard@gmail.com.