Washington Parish President Richard Thomas gave an update on the Poole’s Bluff Recreation Area during Monday’s Washington Parish Council meeting.
“Washington-St. Tammany Electric is putting up lighting for the boat ramp. I think that is a very good thing,” Thomas said. “We’re also putting in dumpsters around the boat landing. Garbage cans were moved by the fishing pier for everybody’s trash. There is a little more work to be done on the fishing pier. Topsoil will be spread out at the site. We’re trying to help the appearance of the site.”
Thomas said a new wooden sign will be placed at the entrance of the fishing pier in approximately two weeks. Rayburn Correctional Center inmates made the sign. He said when additional funds become available, additional lighting is targeted for the boat ramp.
Parish Council Chairman Michael Fussell noted the amount of trash at the site during a recent visit.
“The fishing pier turned out real nice. I went down there the other day and noticed a large amount of trash piled up. We do need trash cans there,” he said.
Washington Parish Department of Public Works Director Leo Lucchesi said dumpsters will be placed at the top of the ramp.
Washington Parish was awarded an $81,000 state grant by the Louisiana Department of Tourism and Parks in June of 2014.
“We’re hoping if we have any money left over to put in bike racks and put in an environmental restroom,” Thomas said.
The Parish Council also accepted a resolution calculating the formula for annual costs of cell closure/post closure care of the Choctaw Road Landfill. A cell is certain part of a landfill used for dumping.
“The resolution set aside funding for the cost that will occur when the cell of landfill closes,” Parish Finance Director Donna Alonzo said. “We still have to maintain the property and set aside funds.”
Council members accepted a resolution to accept participation in the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Road Transfer Program.
Farm Bureau Agency Manager Reid Riley introduced Louisiana State Farm Bureau Queen Bailey Fournier. She is a 2015 Franklinton High School graduate and will soon be attending Louisiana Tech University where she will study agriculture. She is the daughter of Sheryl and Dennis Sicard. Fournier won the title in June in New Orleans.
Lastly, two proposed ordinances were introduced and will be voted on at the next meeting on Aug. 24.
The first proposed ordinance would authorize Thomas to sign and execute any and all contracts and paperwork necessary for the closeout of fiscal year 2016-2017 Louisiana Development Block Grant Public Facilities Application for the Bogue Lusa Water Works District on behalf of the parish.
The second proposed ordinance would allow Thomas to allocate funding for the procurement of professional services for the 2016-2017 fiscal year Louisiana Community Development Block Grant street improvement project.