The wives of two LaSalle Parish Police Jurors who recently passed away were administered their oaths of office Monday night, December 11, to fill the unexpired terms of their late husbands.
In recent meetings the Jury voted to appoint Johonna Fowler, widow of the late District 5 Juror June Fowler and Reacey Farley, widow of the late District 9 Juror Brent Farley, to serve in their late husbands’ place for an interim period of time.
Farley will serve until the Jury’s January 11 meeting at which time Curt Ainsworth will be sworn in to assume the District 9 Juror position. Brent Farley and Curt Ainsworth were in a runoff election for the seat when Farley passed away on election day, November 18. Louisiana election laws had the election stopped and Ainsworth was declared the winner.
Johonna Fowler will serve until a special election is held March 23, 2024, to determine who will fill her husband’s unexpired term which ends in 2027. June Fowler passed away November 4 after easily winning reelection to his District 5 position October 14.
During the December 11 meeting, the Jury officially adopted their 2024 budget following a public hearing.
The budget totals over $12-million including $2-million in JTPA funds, which are used for health and welfare programs and administered through the Police Jury.
The budget contains the following accounts for the various funds including beginning balances in each fund and anticipated receipts expected in 2022: General Fund, $2,950,681.00; Road and Bridge Fund, $965,771.00; Courthouse Maintenance Fund, $1,436,732.00; Garbage Fund, $1,713,969.00; Health Unit Fund, $115,681.00; Criminal Court Fund, $612,000.00; Parish Transportation Fund, $309,550.00; and ARPA Fund, $1,208,037.00.
Individual road district funds, including beginning balances and expected revenue for each fund, follows: District One, $107,596.00; District Two, $100,216.00; District Three, $425,457.00; District Four, $80,621.00; District Five, $87,072.00; District Six, $150,602.00; District Seven, $158,117.00; District Eight, $130,370.00; District Nine, $42,513.00; and District Ten, $39,609.00. Voters in each of the districts approve separate tax millages for road and bridge work and monies collected from these tax measures must be spent within that district. In other action, the Jury voted to: Approve the agenda, minutes, bills and monthly budget-to-actual comparisons for the General Fund for the month of November. Approve the Superintendent’s November deletions and December additions to the schedule of work. Approve transferring $43,500.00 from the General Fund to the Criminal Court Fund. Approve ratifying awarding of bids for 2024 supplies and materials. Approve 2022 dues as follows: Police Jury Association, $4,800; OPAO, $150; Registrar of Voters, $250; National Association Counties, $450; La. Public Risk Management, $40; La. Floodplain Management, $50; La. Parish Engineer, $100; and Kisatchie-Delta, $3,270.
Approve the 2024 budget for the LaSalle Parish Library. Approve the following 2024 beer permits: Nebo Quik Stop, Whitehall Mall, LaSalle Golf & Country Club and Searcy Y Stop.
Adopt Ordinance #892 which is the 50-year Entergy Franchise Renewal. And to call a public hearing for the next meeting concerning setting the speed limit on the Blade Loop in District 9 at 35 MPH.
