The LaSalle Parish Police Jury has many new faces as recently elected Jurors received their oaths of office during the first meeting of 2024 Monday night, January 8.
LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court Steve Andrews was present to administer the oaths prior to the start of the meeting with many family members present to witness the inauguration.
Although six members of the Jury are new, all received their oaths prior to the start of a new term, as mandated by state law.
The new Jury consists of: District 1 – Al Cassels; District 2 – Rod Douglas; District 3 – Tim Lasiter; District 4 – Tim Kirl; District 5 – Johonna Fowler (until the Special Election to fill the term of her late husband June Fowler is held on March 23); District 6 – Jack Zeagler; District 7 – Brandon Streetman; District 8 – Wacker Pritchard; District 9 – Curt Ainsworth; and District 10 – Casey Jones.
Following the oath administration, the Jury conducted a public hearing on the Jury’s intent to change the speed limit on Blade Loop to 35 MPH. The only question received was if the speed limit was for the entire road or only a portion of it. It was noted that the new speed limit would be for the entire road, from US 84 to LA 8.
Once the public hearing was closed, the Jury went straight into their regular meeting where the first order of business was to elect a new President and Vice-President.
District 6 Juror Jack Zeagler was elected as the new Jury President and District 3 Juror Tim Lasiter was elected as the new Jury Vice-President.
Zeagler and Lasiter have served on the Jury for many years, Zeagler for 16 years – first elected in 2007, and Lasiter first elected in 2020 during a special election after being appointed to fill the un- expired term of Jerry Harris. Both men said they are honored to be elected to lead the Jury in the new year.
“We have an important job and while we must look out for the best interest of our individual wards, we need to remember that our main job is to work together for all of LaSalle Parish,” Lasiter said during the meeting. “What we do and how we do it should all be done for the betterment of LaSalle Parish.”
President Zeagler also acknowledged his appreciation to the members for their confidence in him by electing him to the important position and vowed to help the members promote unity for the best of the parish.
“I think we have a great group here and we’ll work together to get much accomplished for the parish,” he said after the meeting.
Two jurors were absent during the January meeting. Johonna Fowler was sick and unable to attend and newly elected District 9 Juror Curt Ainsworth was out of town working. Fowler has already received her oath of office and Ainsworth will receive his when he returns.
In other business, the Jury voted to approve the following agenda items: -set the regular monthly meeting date and time as the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m.; -approved the Superintendent’s December deletions and January additions schedule of work; -transfer $43,500.00 from the General Fund to the Criminal Court Fund; -approved the contract renewal of Jury Secretary/ Treasurer Abby Whittington; -reappointed Donald Simmons, Etage Manuel and Allen Jones to the Eden-Fellowship Fire District for two-year terms, expiring in 2026; -reappointed Amos Coley and Christopher Cruse to the Rogers-Nebo Fire District for twoyear terms, expiring in 2026; -set the speed limit for the Blade Loop in District 9 at 35 MPH; -approved the amended 2023 budget and proposed 2024 budget for operation of the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission; and -hired Mark McPhearson as a full-time truck driver.
