The Lincoln Parish Police Jury’s (LPPJ) Finance Committee last night voted – along with the full jury – to distribute about $2 million from the solid waste equipment reserve fund to area municipalities, sources told Lincoln Parish News Online (LPNO). The reserve had built up over the years after the Lincoln Parish Landfill discontinued accepting household garbage. The original 1/2 cent sales tax proposition that was passed to fund parish solid waste operations specified that excess funds are to be rebated back to parish municipalities for their waste collection operations.
Last month, the committee had a tie vote on the issue, so no action was taken then.
Last night, the vote was 5-1. Committee chair Jody Backus voted yea, along with Hazel Hunter, Theresa Wyatt, Sharyon Mayfield, and Ronny Walker. Voting no was Walter Pullen.
Also discussed last night, sources said, was the issue of board and commission appointments. The two vacancies on the board of Fire District #1 will likely be new appointments, rather than reappointment of the present members, the sources said.
During the public works committee meeting, Village of Tremont resident Willie Allen spoke on behalf of several petitioners who oppose a mobile home park in the area.
Jury Administrator Courtney Hall noted that the proposal was deficient in several areas, and would have to meet those requirements before the jury could grant approval. Among the deficiencies noted was sewage disposal, refuse container site, utility easement, and road construction.
Committee Chair Randy Roberson told Allen that the jury would have to grant the developer’s request if he meet specifications, but that the jury would insure that the ordinances would be followed.
Said Roberson, “We will be diligent – he will meet the requirements of the law before he can operate, we can promise you that.”
