Letter to the Editor from Sheila Bordelon

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Celebrity Drive/N. Service Rd Connector Construction to Begin

Construction of a connector road between Celebrity Drive and the I-20 North Service Road is set to begin, after the Ruston City Council approved last night a resolution authorizing the bid award.

Amethyst Construction was the only bidder for the project, with a price of $2.98 million.

A traffic light will be installed at the intersection of Celebrity Drive and Hwy 33 (Farmerville Hwy). The new connector will run eastward between the old Community Trust Bank building and Raceway. Turning southward, it will connect with the service road between Northside Furniture and Quality Inn.

The existing intersection next to the Circle K Shell station will be blocked, alleviating the chronic congestion in that area.

Said Assistant Public Works Director John Freeman that there are “285 calendar days in the project.”

The revised Airport Advisory Board Ordinance was unanimously adopted, and City Attorney Bill Carter explained the rationale behind the changes.

Said Carter, “At the request of certain of our board members, because the way the ordinance provides, they are termed to be an airport authority, as defined under state law. An airport authority has the authority to expend funds, whether local, state or federal. That results in the requirement for anyone, the member of a board who has the authority to expend local, state, or federal funds to file a tier 2.1 financial disclosure statement.”

He explained that there was a reluctance to serve on the board by some because of the reporting requirements. In the past, the authority had never on their own actually expended funds, because the mayor and council authorized any expenditures, Carter said.

The only practical effect of the ordinance would be to eliminate the reporting requirement for advisory board members.

Another ordinance enacted concerned massage therapists and establishments, and a requirement for those establishments to be registered.

Ruston Police Department Chief Steve Rogers said that while it hasn’t been an problem in Ruston, some area communities have reported issues with human trafficking.

Notable at the meeting was incumbent District 35 Senator Jim Fannin, who spent several minutes recounting events at last spring’s legislative session.

Fannin also showed up at a Lincoln Parish Police Jury meeting last week to campaign.

Ruston City Council Monday

Ruston’s Board of Aldermen will meet Monday, July 1, 2019, 5:30 PM, Ruston City Hall, 410 North Trenton.

Here’s the agenda.

Notable is a resolution authorizing work on the Celebrity Drive/North Service Road Connector on Hwy 33, near the Raceway Service Station.

Mays Sentenced to Two More Life w/o Parole Terms

Cameron Mays, convicted last May of the murder of Dr. Susan Hashway, was this morning sentenced to two life without parole terms, plus an additional 30 years for ancillary crimes.

Hashway, a retired Grambling professor, was found slain in June of 2012 in her Paynter Drive home in Ruston.

The sentence was handed down by Division B Judge Tommy Rogers at Third Judicial District Court in Ruston.

The two life sentences are for Aggravated Kidnapping and Second Degree Murder. The additional sentences were for Aggravated Burglary, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, and Unauthorized Use of an Access Card.

Rogers noted that there “were no mitigating factors” in the crimes, and that these were “brutal and callous offenses” that resulted in Hashway’s death. Mays had “no remorse, and openly bragged to his friends” about the crime.

Appearing for the state was Assistant Attorney General Michelle Thompson. Also on hand was Assistant AG Madeline Slaughter-Young.

Representing Mays was Public Defender Kia Richardson.

With this sentencing, Cameron Mays’ role in the 2012 crime spree is concluded.

Left to adjudicate are the roles for three of Mays’ accomplices, Brandon Bonton, Markeva Daye, and Robert Demps.

Also unresolved is the role of one Kevin Owens in the crime spree.

At the recent murder trial, it was claimed by defense attorney Dwayne Burrell that Owens committed the murder and also committed an earlier rape and kidnapping that Mays was convicted of in April, 2016.

Mays is currently serving two life terms for that crime event.

Burrell also claimed that Owen was an informant for the Ruston Police Department.

We recently reviewed the case files at the Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court and can confirm that Owens was indeed an RPD informant.

At the earlier trial, the victim testified that there were two perpetrators and that both participated in the kidnapping. Only one assaulted her, she testified.

Mays said on the stand that Owens was his accomplice for that crime, and that he was the one who assaulted the victim.

When interviewed, Owens denied any involvement, according to the case files.

No second suspect in the first crime has ever been named.

That crime took place in the early hours of Monday, June 4, 2012. The murder occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, June 6, 2012.

LPPJ/Ruston Agreement to Cover Work Already Done

The cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of Ruston and the Lincoln Parish Police Jury pertaining to tornado debris cleanup is for work that has already been done, and not for any new work, it was said at last night’s meeting of the jury’s Public Works Committee.

Jury Administrator Courtney Hall said that in the immediate aftermath of last April’s tornado, the jury dispatched several crews with boom trucks to help open streets and roads within the city limits.

Said Hall, “This agreement that you have here is really a post-event agreement. We actually were in the City of Ruston, on my directive, at their request, like a week or so after the storm.”

He added, “What we need to do in order to be able to capture any costs that we incurred, and that the city incurred – since we’ve gotten the presidential disaster declaration… one thing that they require is a written agreement between any and all entities and private contractors. If you don’t have those, you might be hung out on a limb on trying to get your reimbursements.”

Asked if a retroactive agreement might cause issues with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), Hall said that usually they were amenable to such deals, as it wouldn’t make sense to delay emergency work while waiting on paperwork.

Bobby Bennett (District Three) asked about the procedure for payment.

Said Hall, “This particular agreement will allow the police jury, who sent personnel and equipment in to assist the city, to be able to claim that time, manpower, equipment, fuel as costs for reimbursements.”

The committee voted unanimously to adopt the agreement.

The committee also fielded requests from the Village of Choudrant and the Town of Dubach for street repair and drainage work.

Those were also approved.

Perhaps the most important event of last night was the return of District Seven juror Jody Backus, who has been absent for several months. Last fall, he was diagnosed with cancer, and since that time has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy treatment.

Thanking everyone for their prayers and well-wishes, Backus added, “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior for pulling me through this time. I finished my treatment four weeks ago yesterday – my last chemo – the doctor says I’m clean.”

The Parks, Recreation & Tourism Committee heard from Nadel and Gussman VP Joe Anderson, who was negotiating to buy 600 thousand barrels of surface water from the Lincoln Parish Park lake. That amount of water would lower the lake about four to five feet, if no further rains occur, he said.

The water is for fracking several oil/gas wells the company has drilled.

However, the upside is that the park would receive about $150 thousand, which would be used to make park improvements.

Anderson noted that the company had bought water from the park several times previously, but it had been in the winter and spring, so the lake refilled prior to summer usage.

Even though he had other sources for water, Anderson said he would rather buy from the parish so the money could benefit the public.

The committee unanimously approved the sale.

Lincoln Parish Police Jury to Help City with Tornado Cleanup

A proposed cooperative endeavor agreement between the City of Ruston and the Lincoln Parish Police Jury would call for the parish to furnish trucks and drivers to help with city’s cleanup from tornado damage suffered last April.

The item is on the jury’s Public Works Committee agenda at tomorrow’s (Tuesday, 6/11) regular meeting of the jury and its committees.

Here are the terms:

A. City Obligations:
1. Organize handling efforts (bottom of page cut off).
2. Provide seven (7) trash trucks and up to five (5) dump trucks and loaders.
3. Provide fuel for all City and Parish trucks.

B. Police Jury Obligations:
1. Provide up to four (4) insured trash trucks and drivers for handle debris removal and disposal.
2. Provide all Landfill tickets to City to claim in national disaster declaration with FEMA.
3. Claim all labor for services on the disaster declaration claims with FEMA.
4. Burn or otherwise dispose of all Debris at the Landfill at no cost to the City.

See here the complete document.

Tomorrow’s meeting will be at the Lincoln Parish Court House, third floor.

Here are the meeting times and agendas:

Public Property and Buildings Committee – 6:00 PM
agenda

Parks, Recreation & Tourism Committee – 6:15 PM
agenda

Public Works Committee – 6:30 PM
agenda

Police Jury – 7:00 PM
agenda

Ruston Housing Authority Assistant Director Charged

A former Assistant Director of the Ruston Housing Authority (RHA) has been charged with misappropriation of monies to which she was not entitled, according to documents from the Louisiana Board of Ethics.

Kimberly King was RHA assistant director from 2015 to 2017, and was in charge of payroll, accounts payable, and all bookkeeping for the agency.

She was cited for unauthorized overtime of $6,190, non-payment of insurance premiums of $3,927, and unauthorized borrowing of $9,426 from the agency’s retirement fund.

A hearing by the Ethics Adjudicatory Board has been requested.

See here the document.

Ruston Airport Board Changes Contemplated

One of Lincoln Parish News Online’s sharp-eyed readers asked about an agenda item from Monday night’s meeting, specifically the Ruston Airport Authority Advisory Board. An ordinance was introduced that at first glance seemed routine.

See here the proposed ordinance.

We compared the proposed with the existing ordinance, and it appears a significant change in airport governance would result if the new ordinance is adopted.

From the proposed ordinance:

Sec. 4-18. Powers and duties; compensation; records.

(a) The board shall operate in an advisory capacity to the mayor and board of aldermen and shall advise and provide recommendations to the mayor and board of aldermen regarding the Ruston Regional Airport and matters related thereto. The board shall have no other powers or duties.

The existing ordinance reads as follows:

Sec. 4-18. – Powers and duties; incurring debt; compensation; records.

(a) The airport authority shall have such powers and perform such duties as prescribed in R.S. 2:601 et seq., except as provided in this section.

Here is a link to LA RS 2:601, Airport Authorities Law. Among the duties and powers vested to an airport authority are:

An authority may employ an executive director, airport manager, secretary, technical experts, and such other officers, agents, and employees, permanent and temporary, as it may require, and shall determine their qualifications, duties, and compensation.

To plan, acquire, construct, improve, maintain, equip, operate, regulate and protect airports and air navigation facilities, including the acquisition, maintenance and operation at such airports of buildings and other facilities for the servicing of aircraft or for the comfort and accommodation of air travelers, and the purchase of and sale of supplies, goods, and commodities as an incident to the operation of its airport properties.

An authority is authorized to accept, receive, receipt for, disburse, and expend federal and state moneys and other moneys, public or private, made available by grant or loan or both, to accomplish, in whole or in part, any of the purposes of this Chapter.

The new ordinance apparently would strip the airport authority of all duties and powers, and place those responsibilities with the mayor and council.

Ward Three Alderman Jedd Lewis introduced the proposed ordinance. There was no discussion.

Prior to a final vote, a public hearing for citizen input must be held.

Presumably, the item will be on next month’s agenda.

Federal Assistance Approved for April Tornado

President Trump has approved a Federal Disaster Declaration for damage received in the April 25 tornado that struck Ruston, Mayor Ronny Walker told last night’s meeting of the Ruston City Council.

“At 3:30 today, I received a call from the Governor, and the President has signed the national letter – disaster letter – so that means we will be eligible for FEMA reimbursement on FEMA qualified expenses to the tune of 75%,” Walker said.

Walker thanked the staff who prepared the required paperwork, which was voluminous, he noted.

He also said that a contractor had been retained to clean up storm debris.

According to a press release from the Governor’s Office:

The approval covers Public Assistance (PA) costs in the impacted areas. The purpose of the PA Grant Program is to support communities’ recovery from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure. Local governments, states, tribes, territories, and certain private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

The request for Individual Assistance for homeowners is still under review.

See here the declaration DR-4439 at the FEMA website.

During the business part of the meeting, several housekeeping resolutions and ordinances were addressed, including the revocation of the dedication of Ball Park Road between South Farmerville and US 167.

A new access is being constructed in connection with the sports complex, and the old road right-of-way will become part of the complex.

Also, a resolution was approved to work with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development regarding I-20 lighting improvements at the Cooktown Road exit.

It is hoped that project will come to fruition within the next 2 to 3 years.

Ruston City Council Monday

Ruston’s Board of Aldermen will meet Monday, June 3, 5:30 PM, Ruston City Hall, 401 North Trenton.

Here’s the agenda.