Library Tax Election seen for Saturday, October 9

Yesterday’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control saw discussion about how best to ask Lincoln Parish voters to approve a tax millage that would fund operations of the agency. Also discussed was a “reduction in staff,” to make the library more economical.

Saturday, October 9 was the target date of the election.

Last December, voters defeated 57% to 43% a 5.85 mil, 10 year property tax, leaving the library facing a complete shutdown if the re-vote fails again. The budget has just about enough money to last through year-end.

Board Chair Augusta Clark said, “We’re going start looking at how we can do with less and combine some things.” Asked if that could mean layoffs, she added, “I don’t know how soon, but yes.”

The term “reduction in force” was suggested as a substitute for layoffs.

Clark said the proposed budget is being formulated, and will be submitted to the police jury for approval. The jury will then make the election call for a millage that will support that budget.

Budget meetings among the library staff, the jury administrator, and the contract accountant are already underway, with the goal of approving at the April 13 jury meeting an election call for that 10/9 election.

In other business, the board heard from member Amy Miller about the search for a new director. As was mentioned last month, the hiring process won’t begin in earnest until the fate of the tax election is known.

Miller presented a written report with some background about comparable salaries, job description, and advertising for the position. See here the report.

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Library Board Meets Today

The Lincoln Parish Library Board of Control will meet today (Wednesday, February 24) at 4:00 PM, Library Events Center, 910 North Trenton.

Here is the agenda.

Parish Mowing Crew Changes Upcoming

Plans to split the Lincoln Parish Police Jury’s road mowing crew into two independent 6-man crews were detailed at last night’s meeting of the jury’s Public Works Committee. The move will allow operation in different areas of the parish simultaneously. Now, the mowing operation consists an eleven-man crew that yearly makes two complete circuits of the 400+ miles of parish roads during the April to November mowing season.

While the new plan will add but one new employee and no new equipment, it is expected that the smaller crews will be more efficient, and will allow more area to be covered at the same time.

To accomplish the change, the two crew-cab pickups will be replaced by two large vans capable of transporting the crews, and the necessary tools and spare parts.

It was noted that delivery of the vans may be as long as six months, so the new plan may not be completely implemented this mowing season.

Road Superintendent Jerry Doss said the new plan came at the behest of several jurors who said during the 2019 election, overgrown roadsides were a significant issue with voters.

Said Doss, “Some of y’all wanted to do something different as part your campaign promises. It was asked of me what can we do, and I said the only thing to do was to split the crews up.” He added, “When the guys are over here in Choudrant mowing, we get people in Simsboro calling and complaining about the grass being high.”

Doss said the crews would start at opposite sides of the parish and work toward each other, then repeat the process.

The Public Property & Buildings Committee meeting saw approval for the renewal of several leases for tenants of the old County Market building that is owned by the parish.

The full jury meeting was mostly routine, with appointments to the boards of three parish agencies, the sale of an adjudicated property, and the relocation of a polling place to I. A. Lewis school.

Police Jury Meets Tuesday

The Lincoln Parish Police Jury will hold its regular and legal monthly meeting Tuesday, February 9, Lincoln Parish Library Events Center, 910 North Trenton Street.

Here are the agendas and times:

Public Works Committee – 6:00 PM

Public Property & Buildings Committee – 6:30 PM

Police Jury – 7:00 PM

CARES Money to Fund Summer School

Money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will be used to fund two 2-week summer school sessions, Lincoln School District Superintendent Ricky Durrett told last night’s meeting of the school board. He said that the classes will help students that may have fallen behind during the irregular school sessions over the past few months.

“In June – June 7 through the 18th we plan to have two weeks. It will be all in person. I do understand that we’re not going to make up a whole year’s time in two weeks, but we do have some kids who are slightly behind… some intense work will help out,” he said.

“We will come back July 12 and do two more weeks. By the first of May, principals will give us a list of everybody who qualifies to attend,” he added.

Durrett also said that Juniors and Seniors will be offered a week during the summer to help them prepare for the American College Test (ACT).

About 92% of the students are now meeting classes in person, with 8% meeting virtually, Durrett said.

During the business part of the meeting, several reports were delivered, including personnel and financial.

See here the documents.

State Of LA to Help Fund Building Demo

There was a full agenda of code enforcement items at last night’s meeting of the Ruston City Council, and that likely will be the case for the next several months, Code Enforcement Officer Bill Sanderson said.

Said Sanderson, “We have a project with the state that we’re working with… most of which are covered under a funded project from the state. It allows for the demolition of buildings that property owners are having difficulty finding funding to demolish.”

Mayor Ronnie Walker added that it was a federal project funded through the state.

Said Walker, “In the past, what happened, we (the city) would pay it (the demolition), we would lien the property, and then they never get anything out of it. They asked from the very first, we don’t want you to even lien the property, we (the state) want to just pay.”

About half the condemned structures were located in a trailer park at 1609 West California. That address is several hundred yards west of Tech Farm. Sanderson said the property owner is Jest Holdings, LLC.

The council heard the monthly treasurer’s report from Treasurer Julie Speir. Ward 4 Alderman Jim Pierce thanked Speir for putting the report in a written format, along with graphs.

See here the report.

School Board Meets Tomorrow

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet Tuesday, February 2, 6:00 PM, STEM Center, 525 Tarbutton Road.

Here is the agenda.