Rapides Parish Police Jury

INVOCATION

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM

1. To discuss and possibly taken action to the damage at the Rapides Parish Highway Department and other Departments. (Mr. Fountaine)

(UNANIMOUS VOTE REQUIRED TO ADD ITEM AFTER CALL)

ADJOURNMENT

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December 16, 2019

1. To discuss and possibly taken action to the damage at the Rapides Parish Highway Department and other Departments.

Laurel Smith, Secretary

There were present: Theodore Fountaine, Jr., President, Oliver “Ollie” Overton, Vice President, and Police Jurors; Davron “Bubba” Moreau, Craig Smith, Joe Bishop, Richard Vanderlick Jr., Sean McGlothlin, Richard Billings and Scott: Perry, Jr.

Also present were Mr. Bruce Kelly, Treasurer; Chief Joesph Glorioso, Fire District No. 2; Ms. Sonya Wiley-Gremillion, OHSEP Director; Shane Trapp, Courthouse and Building Superintendent; Elaine Morace, OEWD Director; Donna Andries, Sales & Use Tax; Dennis Woodward, Public Works Director; Linda Sanders, Civil Service Director; Greg Jones, Legal Counsel and Ms. Laurel Smith, Secretary.

The invocation was given by Mr. Richard Billings.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Joe Bishop.

The Police Jury of the Parish of Rapides, State of Louisiana, was duly convened as the governing authority of said Parish by Hon. Theodore Fountaine, Jr., President, who welcomed all present and then stated that the Police Jury was ready for the transaction of business.

The President asked if there was any public comment on any agenda item, to which there was no response.

On motion by Mr. Richard Billings, seconded by Mr. Bubba Moreau, to discuss and possibly take action on the damage at the Rapides Parish Highway REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 18, 2019

Department and other Departments.

Mr. Dennis Woodward, Public Works Director, stated the widespread damage that the tornado did at the Highway Department barn and all of the damages to the structures and the equipment and vehicles. They do have a generator running at the sign shop.

Mr. Greg Jones, Legal Counsel, stated that they did a walk through the building. He checked with the National Weather Service and the tornado was classified as an E3, which is means it sustained winds of 140 to 180 miles per hour. There were three categories of damages. Wind damage, pressure damage and water damage. The insurance adjustors will start doing an assessment on the property damage and the contents damage. It was a miracle that no one was seriously injured.

Mr. Bruce Kelly stated England Authority was contacted and they have a building comparable to ours that they would rent to us for $1250 a month. It has offices in the front, shop in the back and can go month to month on the rent. The England Authority has a meeting tomorrow at 4:30 pm and will have an item on their agenda.

Mr. Jones recommend that an item be added for an Emergency Declaration due to the condition of the Highway Department barn. It should be covered under the Governor’s Declaration, but he would like for the Jury to do a separate one. Also, if you do have a facility in mind and you want to give a preliminary approval for it, subject to Legal Counsel’s review and the approval of the Parish Engineer that would be appropriate under the emergency declaration if we adopt that first. He further stated they were going to meet tomorrow with the insurance company and probably with in fifteen days, will have a compilation of the damage items list and have the clerk email it to all of you, so you can see what we are looking at damage wise on structure and on the vehicles.

Mr. Bruce Kelly stated they had talked to the Sheriff’s Office and there are men out there from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. He also stated the Parish has Business Interruption Rider coverage, so there is money to pay for the rental of the building and it won’t be out of pocket, plus the security is covered under this.

Mr. Ollie Overton requested Ms. Sonya Wiley, OHSEP Director, to give a briefing of the Governor’s visit.

Ms. Sonya Wiley stated that the Governor wanted to get an aerial view and eyes on the ground of the degree and magnitude of damage. The Governor stated that the biggest thing right now is life, safety and getting us back as whole as we can, to provide the services to the public. Ms. Wiley gave a brief description of the damages and what assistance the Parish will get and the purpose of the Governor’s visit. She stated it is extremely that each and every expense be captured, such as overtime, use of the equipment, clean up, anything that it takes to put us back in operation for day to day business.

Discussion ensued.

REGULAR MEETING

DECEMBER 18, 2019

On motion by Mr. Scott Perry, seconded by Mr. Bubba Moreau, to add to the agenda an Emergency Declaration and a lease proposal at England Airpark. On roll call vote the motion carried unanimously.

On motion by Mr. Scott Perry, seconded by Mr. Bubba Moreau, to ratify the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency and declare our own Parish Emergency Declaration in reference to Parish damaged property and authorize the President to sign the necessary documents.

Ms. Sonya Wiley stated that the Parish has already submitted a Parish Declaration, we will just need to ratify the Parishes Declaration.

Mr. Jones stated we just needed to ratify the Parishes declaration.

On motion by Mr. Joe Bishop, seconded by Mr. Craig Smith, to ratify authorization for the President to sign the State of Emergency Proclamation for Rapides Parish issued by the President for the Severe Weather/Storms and Multiple Tornados for December 16, 2019. On roll call vote the motion carried unanimously.

On motion by Mr. Ollie Overton, seconded by Mr. Scott Perry to add to the agenda to authorize a lease proposal with England Authority for a temporary Parish Highway barn facility to be on a month to month lease basis at $1,250.00, subject to approval by Legal Counsel and Parish Engineer and authorize the President to sign same. On roll call vote the motion carried unanimously.

On motion by Mr. Joe Bishop, seconded by Mr. Craig Smith, to authorize a lease proposal with England Authority for a temporary Parish Highway barn facility to be on a month to month lease basis at $1,250.00, subject to approval by Legal Counsel and Parish Engineer and authorize the President to sign same. On roll call vote the motion carried unanimously.

On motion by Mr. Ollie Ov erton, seconded by Mr. Craig Smith, there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m. On vote the motion carried.