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Feliciana Explorer • Tuesday, May 27, 2014 • Vol. 4, No. 21 • Published Weekly • Circulation 17,000 • felicianaexplorer.com • © 2014

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See WEST FEL COUNCIL on page 4

See WALKER on page 8

Contentious WFP Council Meeting Frays NervesBy Patricia rachal Stallman

The West Feliciana Parish Gov-ernment Council met Monday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. and adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Present were Council Members Lea Williams, District 1; Mel Percy, District 2; Melvin Young, District 3; Merrick R. “Ricky” Lambert, District 4; John S. Kean, IV, District 5; Heath-er R. Howle, District 6; and Otis Wil-son, District 7. Also present were Par-ish President Kevin Couhig; Director of Public Works, Planning and Zon-ing Jim Ferguson; Walter Oliveaux, Home Rule Charter Commission; and District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla.

In submitting his letter to the edi-tor, West Feliciana Parish President Kevin Couhig said, “I did not take this job to be a politician. I took this job to solve problems. The best way to solve problems is to identify those problems and take corrective action.”

Referencing West Feliciana’s re-cent change to a Home Rule Charter, Couhig said, “The number one prob-lem holding us back is the resistance

West Feliciana Parish President Kevin Couhig at the Parish Courthouse May 19. Photograph by Patricia Stallman.

belief that people make good deci-sions when they have sufficient and complete information. For example, if you look at our budget, it’s very de-tailed, very specific.” Council mem-bers, he said, needed to examine the budget and question him about it be-fore the May 19 meeting. They need-ed, he said, to prepare.

The Home Rule Charter, Couhig said, requires that he submit his pre-liminary budget to the council 75 days before commencement of the 2014—2015 Fiscal Year July 1 and that he had done so. Only one coun-cil member, however, accepted his invitation to meet and discuss the al-most 40-page document covering the Capital Outlay Budget, the Operating Budget, and the five-year Capital Out-lay Plan. Council Member Mel Percy of District 2 met with Couhig and for-mer Council Secretary Sherrel John-son; Merrick R. “Ricky” Lambert of District 4 met with Johnson; John S. Kean, IV, of District 5 submitted sev-eral questions; Otis Wilson of District

7 had “a few specific questions,” and Melvin Young of District 3 had ques-tions about several budget items. An-other council member made several appointments and cancelled them.

Instead of studying the prelimi-nary budget with him before the May 19 council meeting, Couhig said, the council waited until the meeting to challenge the budget and make amendments he considers unwise. Some of those decisions involve mon-ies Couhig had set aside for merit pay raises, employee health coverage, road resurfacing, and the Economic Development Board’s budget. Coun-cil members could have discussed, for example, the resurfacing of Island Road before the meeting. Instead, Couhig experienced unanticipated objections regarding a project two years in the works.

Further, Couhig said that the coun-cil could have avoided much of the unpleasantness of the May 19 meet-to change and the petty politics that

accompanies it.”Couhig continued, “I have a firm

Sydney Picou Walker Announces Candidacy for 20th Judicial District Court

Sydney Picou Walker

St. Francisville attorney Syd-ney Picou Walker has announced her candidacy for the Division “A” seat judgeship for the 20th Judicial District Court. The election will be held on November 4, 2014.

The 20th Judicial District Court serves both East and West Feliciana Parishes. She will be running for the seat which is currently occupied by Judge George H. Ware, Jr., who will retire at the end of his current term. The Division “B” seat is held by Judge William G. Carmichael.

Picou Walker has over 27 years of experience in the legal profes-sion, having been admitted to the practice of law on October 10, 1986. She is a 1973 graduate of St. Fran-cisville High School, a 1983 gradu-ate of Louisiana State University and a 1986 cum laude graduate of Southern University School of Law.

In addition to her private law prac-tice, Picou Walker served six years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Louisiana. In her legal

career she has both civil and crimi-nal experience and has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury and medical mal-practice cases. Picou Walker has represented hundreds of clients in disputes among and between family members. Her philosophy in such cases is to encourage mediation prior to litigation to prevent further dissention and polarization in fami-lies, especially when children are in-volved. She has practiced in courts at both the State and Federal levels. At the State Court level she has both District Court and Appellate Court experience and has represented cli-ents in 28 of the state’s 64 parishes. She has been a trial attorney since her admission to the bar.

“I feel well prepared to be a judge,” Picou Walker asserts. “This district court will have a familiar

docket of family law cases, civil law cases and criminal law cases in East and West Feliciana Parishes. These are the same types of cases I have been trying for the past 27 years as a practicing attorney. Experience is the best teacher.” She adds, “I will judge each case on its own merits. People coming to court want their day in court and the presiding judge to be fair and impartial. I can be that judge.”

Picou Walker is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, the West Feliciana Parish Bar Association, and the Baton Rouge Bar Associa-tion. She is a past member of the American Bar Association, Louisi-ana Trial Lawyers and the Louisiana State Law Institute – Family Law Section.

2 Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Business

Letter to Editor

Auto Loan RequiredTriple 5 Optional

Letters to the Editor are unedited submissions to the Feliciana Explorer. Letters to the Editor may be submitted for publication at info@felicianaexplorer.com. Submissions will be printed in the next issue of the Explorer, space allowing. Deadline for submission is by 5:00 p.m. the Thursday before Tuesday publication.

“We will not fail, nor will we remain silent”In my professional career, I can’t remember being as embarrassed for our Parish as I was at the conclusion of this week’s Council meeting. I urge you to please

go online and watch the Parish Council meeting from Monday, May 19, and make your own judgment.At the end of the meeting, Sherrel Johnson resigned from serving the Council. Her resignation is due to the stress created interacting with the members of the

Council. Certain Council members did not give any feedback on the budget privately but made scurrilous allegations in meetings. Several of them do not appear to have read the budget at all.

During the past few weeks certain Council members have, in my opinion, relentlessly harassed Sherrel. Sherrel Johnson is a first-rate financial manager. She is diligent, honest, and forthright. She is a clear communicator and deserves better than the treatment afforded her by certain Council members. I am thankful that she has agreed to continue to serve as my Finance Director because that will not require her to put up with unprofessional behavior on a daily basis.Her comments were echoed the next day by another employee, who texted me about the meeting: “I had to leave; I’ve never been part of a Mickey Mouse organization before. It’s quite appalling and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced or been trained for. Disheartening to say the least.”

Parish employees and managers are expressing fears that they may have to leave for more stable jobs, as the Council never addressed the increases in insurance costs. Employees unable to shoulder the burden of these increases may lose coverage.

Many of the Council made no attempt to understand the details and ramifications of our budget before casting their votes. There were irresponsible attempts to portray information in a negative light without reliance on real facts.

When you treat great employees this way, they will leave for better jobs and a better atmosphere. Then you are left with employees who cannot compete in excel-lent and demanding environments. Our Parish will suffer for this political foolishness.

Even a tough and demanding boss knows you must treat people equally and fairly. Great employees respond to high expectations. On the other hand, the Council’s using Parish employees as pawns is just wrong. We knew that there would be resistance to change. Some are looking to make our noble experiment fail so that the Home Rule Charter will be seen as failing. These are the same people who tried to keep the HRC from being implemented—using the public’s money to fight the public’s will. We will not fail, nor will we remain silent when people are mistreated or problems swept under the rug as they often have been in the past.

We have, despite this opposition, made substantial progress in a number of areas. We’ve got the Parish’s Planning and Zoning and Public Works headed by a widely respected engineer who is bringing us a much higher level of professionalism.We have put in place a very good team to take the Parish forward.

We have implemented policies and put in place infrastructure to make our Parish Government much more open and accessible and transparent to the public, in-cluding broadcasting all Council meetings online.

We’ve held public meetings to seek input from the public on budget matters and short-term plans.You will also begin to see a variety of projects being implemented this summer to improve roads and the Parish recreation facility to make our Parish more attrac-

tive.We have had a number of businesses looking at the Parish to build housing and operations and to bring jobs. Imagine, if you will, a prospective business owner sitting in the audience for that last Council meeting.

We’ve even cut the cost of our garbage pickup contract and secured cooperation with the Town of St. Francisville in paying for that service.Increasingly, it is becoming apparent that the same Council members who fought against the implementation of the Home Rule Charter are resistant to any change

brought about by the new system of government.Your Parish needs your help. Please contact your Council members and ask them to allow the implementation of the Home Rule Charter. We demand public

employees treat the public it serves with courtesy and respect. While you are speaking to your council members, please also ask them to treat our employees with that same courtesy.

Thank you.

Kevin Couhig, West Feliciana Parish PresidentMay 21, 2014

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 3

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See SLAUGHTER on page 8

Town of Slaughter sets Open Meeting on Master PlanBy Patricia rachal Stallman

Slaughter Mayor Robert Jackson called the May 13 town meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Slaughter Town Hall. Also present were Alder-men Elizabeth Aaron, Nicholas St. Germain, and Ashby Schwartz, Po-lice Chief Walter Smith, Town At-torney Andrew “Andy” D’Aquilla, and Slaughter Clerk Kay Knight, attending in place of Town Clerk Casey Barnett. Also absent were Al-dermen Aimee Bellue and LaTrelle Cart.

In the audience were Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Sam Shields and Commission Member Dana Finney, DVM.

Slaughter Master Plan open meeting set June 10 at 6 p.m.

Mayor Robert Jackson an-nounced an open meeting on the Slaughter Master Plan June 10 at 6 p.m., 30 minutes before the regu-larly scheduled town meeting, to in-troduce the plan and hear citizen in-put. Slaughter Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Sam Shields, in an interview after the May 13 meet-ing, reported that the Commission wrote the plan and submitted it to the Town Council at the April town meeting. Planning and Zoning Com-mission members are: Phillip ”Flip” Bourgeois; Dana Finney, DVM; Terry Gomez; Janis Landry; Jim LaCour, DVM; and Suzanne Rader, Assistant to the Chair.

Gathering at the end of Slaughter’s May 13 Town Meeting are, from left: Mayor Robert Jackson, Aldermen Ashby Schwartz and Elizabeth Aaron, Police Chief Walter Smith, Town Attorney Andrew “Andy” D’Aquilla, Alderman Phillip Bourgeois, and Planning and Zoning Chair Sam Shields.

Shields noted that after Hurri-cane Gustav, federal laws changed regarding Federal Emergency Man-agement Act monies. Now, to be eligible for FEMA funds, munici-palities must have a Master Plan in effect, as well as Planning and Zon-ing benchmarks for flood areas.

The Slaughter Town Council will hear the public’s concerns June 10 and vote on accepting the Master Plan as law.

Planning and Zoning Commis-sion conducts research on subdivi-

sion ordinancesWhen Alderman Elizabeth Aar-

on asked whether the town has a “strong, solid ordinance in place with guidelines for subdivisions,” Shields noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission plans to adopt, within 90 days, a subdivision section for addition to existing legal materials. Shields said he will acquire a copy of Zachary’s subdivision ordinance and those of other similar towns and would meet with the Zachary Cham-

4 Tuesday, May 27, 2014

WEST FEL COUNCIL continued from page 1

EMT Basic Certification Course to be Offered by West Feliciana Parish Hospital

Classes begin July 28, 2014. Deadline for registration is July 1, 2014

Classes will be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays one week and Tuesdays and Thursdays the next week. The pro-gram will be 160 hours and span the course of 14 to 15 weeks. The final class schedule will be posted and emailed to all students the week after the registration deadline.

Prerequisite Policy:1. Must be 18 years old.2. Must have high school diplo-

ma or GED.3. Must have a composite mini-

mum score of 8th grade math / 10th grade reading. Test can be taken at any Vo-Tech school. ACT scores can also be submitted.

4. Must not be convicted of a felony.

5. Must have current health care provider CPR card.

6. Must have a valid driver’s license.

7. Must have a medical release from a physician.

Students must show proof of prrequisites prior to regisstaration.

If student minimum of 10 enroll-ments is not met, the program will be cancelled.

There will be a $150 deposit at time of enrollment.

The total cost for the class is $650.00 which includes the text-book.

Visit http://wfph.org/ClassRegis-tration/ClassRegistration.asp to re-serve your spot and then mail or fax your document package: fax to 225-784-3496, or mail with $150 check to WFPH, Attn: EMT-BASIC PRO-GRAM, P.O. Box 368, St. Francis-ville, LA 70775

For questions, call Kevin Griffin, I.C., at 225-721-1511 or email Chris Fitzgerald at fitzgeraldc@wfph.org.

ing if its members had “followed their own rules, Robert’s Rules of Order.” In the middle of a vote, for example, the council members allowed a per-son from the audience to address the members and then, instead of restart-ing the vote, resumed where they had abruptly stopped. Another inadvis-able and time-consuming allowance, Couhig noted, was discussion from the audience about the Lambert Law-suit. Finally, Couhig stepped to the podium and advised the council not to try the case at a public meeting. Per-haps the biggest consumer of time—and a procedure that added to the dif-ficulty the audience had in following the council’s actions—was the recon-vening of the public hearing from the prior week’s open meeting and then, after the address of Nuclear Regula-tory Commission representatives and the recognition of Boy Scouts who had attained Eagle Scout rank, recon-vening the May 19 public meeting with: “Any further amendments to the budgets?”

At least four or five times dur-ing the three-hour meeting, the audi-ence erupted in applause on behalf of Couhig.

For example, after Council Mem-ber Lea Williams of District 1 repeat-ed that the Economic Development Board was comprised of “intelligent people” who should have control of their entire budget, she made a mo-tion to set that budget at zero and then re-set the entire EDB amount. Dur-ing the discussion about the need for the motion, another council member worked on the wording until the coun-cil passed the motion. Again, Couhig said, council members can prepare the wording of a motion before meetings.

At that point, Len Kilgore ad-dressed the council: “The new Home Rule Charter creates a form of gov-ernment in which the president should be allowed to manage his budget and his staff. I just heard you say that the Economic Development Board is made up of very intelligent people. Well, you’ve got a very intelligent parish president who, if you let him run his parish and do not dictate to him, will deliver a form of govern-ment better than all these long meet-ings! You gave the Economic Devel-opment Board full budget authority, but not your parish president!”

Council Member Williams asked, “If watching what is being spent is not our function, what is our function?”

Walter Oliveaux, a citizen who served on the Home Rule Charter

Commission, responded, “Your func-tion is keeper of the purse. You should handle these questions before you get here. You can take money from the president, and you can give money to him. You no longer have hiring and firing authority, and you no longer set salaries.”

At the end of three hours, Presi-dent Couhig waived his time to de-liver his report.

“I want you to understand what you have done,” he said. “Insurance will not be renewed and our employ-ees may not have health insurance to-morrow morning. It’s irresponsible of you to vote on something you do not understand.”

When a council member asked, “Couldn’t you have told us this be-fore we took our vote?” Couhig an-swered, “I am not here to teach you how to do your job, sir.” Applause.

Lost in the three hours was the council’s introduction of the four Eagle Scouts—Aaron Vance Day, Holden Kyle Lanoue, Michael Don-nie Lord, and Whittington Vidrine—and their parents; Melvin Harvey’s explanation, as a West Feliciana Hospital board member, of the new hospital road right-of-way needs; and an upbeat report on a St. Francisville treasure, the new library, delivered by President of the Friends of the Li-brary Clara Ruth Saint and Librarian Glenna Fallin. Even the discussion of the mandatory $2,400 Independence sewer system connection fee was a bright moment, as council members spoke with knowledge and asked to-the-point questions.

On several occasions Council Member Percy pleaded with oth-ers to let the parish president do his job. When Council Member Lambert proposed an amendment to lower the 4% merit raise to zero “until we get a study” of St. Francisville’s salary lev-els in comparison to similar towns, Percy said, “You’re taking away the one management tool he has.” Percy then explained, “It’s not a 4% raise across the board. Mr. Couhig intends that supervisors rank employees; some will get a 4% raise, some more than 4%, some less,” and some no raise at all.

During the discussion of resurfac-ing Island Road, a project that a prior council had approved and funded, Howle supported Couhig’s desire to honor the former council’s promise to residents. “Those residents of Island Road,” Howle said, “were promised this two years ago with GAP funding and this jury approved it. Residents have been doing their own work, at their own cost, in anticipation” of the

resurfacing. The town, in prepara-tion, has relocated a water line and removed trees.

The response of a member of the public was, “You have a 2,400-foot section and $145,000 for one resident and one gravel pit. It’s functionally a dead-end road. Everybody travels around it through Lake Rosemound.”

Audience members had difficulty understanding whether the council came to any resolution.

The council’s need to re-educate its members regarding Robert’s Rules, Couhig said, some members’

lack of preparation for the meetings, and the entire council’s inexperience with a Home Rule Charter account for much of the difficulty it is expe-riencing. Lack of response to his re-quest to work together on the parish budget in preparation for the May 19 meeting, he said, did not help.

In his letter to the editor, President Couhig pleads with the council mem-bers to come together in the effort to bring people and businesses to St. Francisville through the Home Rule Charter, which was, after all, he says, the will of the people.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 5

Town of Clinton Announces Online Property Tax SalesBy Patricia rachal Stallman

Clinton Mayor Lori Ann Bell and the Clinton Town Aldermen met at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Clin-ton Town Hall on Bank Street. Present were Aldermen Johnny Beauchamp, George Kilbourne, Clovis Matthews, Lisa Davis Washington, and Kim Young, as well as Town Clerk Anja-netha Shropshire, Police Chief Fred-erick Dunn, Town Accountant Jackie Morgan, Maintenance Department Representative Darryl Harrell, and Town Attorney Charles E. Griffin, II.

Mayor Lori Ann Bell announced at the meeting that the Town of Clinton would be conducting online tax sale auctions of properties with delinquent taxes.

The online auction will take the place of the traditional tax sale held at the Courthouse. Traditional sales require anyone desiring to participate in the process to be present when the auction is being conducted. Online auctions will allow access to a greater number of citizens who will now be able to bid on properties from their homes or places of business. Anyone interested in participating in the tax sale may register online prior to the sale at www.Civicsource.com. Online information will include a list of prop-erties, a plotted map, satellite images of the properties, amount of delinquent taxes owed, and answers to general questions about the tax sale process, including an instructional video.

In light of new state legislation, La. R.S. 33:2841,1, the mayor’s office has contracted with Louisiana Municipal Advisory and Technical Services Bu-reau Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Louisiana Municipal

Association, in order to help secure payment of delinquent property taxes and to conduct the sale. In addition to conducting the online tax sale, the com-pany is contracted to locate delinquent taxpayers, generate and mail all tax sale related events, process payments, and provide taxpayer customer service through its Louisiana-based call center. To date, the use of this new technol-ogy has been beneficial in recovering property tax liabilities in over 25 other Louisiana parishes and cities.

Although these new services cost neither the Town of Clinton nor the timely taxpayers anything, on the date of sale, delinquent taxpayers will be as-sessed a 10% tax sale cost, pursuant to state statute. By using this approach for delinquent collections and tax sales, the Town of Clinton no longer has to budget and expend timely-paid tax rev-enues to collect delinquent taxes, and instead the delinquent taxpayers are es-sentially paying for delinquent tax col-lections. …

Town Accountant Morgan re-ports on income and expenses

Accountant Jackie Morgan reported that town income is exceeding projec-tions. The town, for example, budgeted $160,000 from property taxes and has already received $181,000, with “more revenue coming in.”

The budget anticipated $1,650 as income from the cable television fran-chise tax but the town has already re-ceived that amount and expects more.

Morgan reported that “prior-year payroll taxes are still coming in, includ-ing one for the third quarter of 2012.”

Expenses include salaries and pay-roll taxes, with a three percent increase for full-time town employees, and a capital outlay increase of $3,000 for

office furniture. The mayor has added $5,000 to the office supplies figure, as the town has spent half of the $9,000 originally budgeted.

“It’s looking good,” Morgan said. “Well keep the spending down to ne-cessities.”

Mayor expresses concern about town maintenance trucks

Mayor Bell informed the aldermen that of its four maintenance department trucks, the town is “down to two, and we cannot efficiently serve the citizens of this town with only two trucks.” Several aldermen suggested that Clin-ton “surplus one truck and repair the other.”

Police Chief Dunn delivers up-date on vehicles

Police Chief Frederick Dunn re-ported his department’s plan to give its 2007 Chevy Impala to the Clinton Maintenance Department for meter reading. In addition, the Chief reported that Baker Mayor Harold Rideau and Police Chief Mike Knaps have a 2010 Crown Victoria for which Clinton may write an official letter requesting its do-nation.

The Chief also mentioned an ongo-ing investigation of “some paperwork possibly done fraudulently” after the death of a local property owner.

Dunn reported 52 calls for the month of April, 25 incidents, and five warrants.

Darryl Harrell reported that the Bank Street Bridge must be repaired. The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury has materials--fiberglass culverts--but will first get an estimate and then offer the supplies to Clinton for half of that amount.

Mayor Bell encouraged quick ac-tion, saying, “Even to walk on that bridge is scary.”

Reminding the aldermen that the Louisiana Municipal Association Con-ference will take place July 31 through August 2 in Baton Rouge, Mayor Bell said, “I can’t stress enough the im-portance of attending if not the entire conference, then at least one day. Net-working is what makes the ship sail; it helps us serve our residents. You’ll learn the mayor’s role, the aldermen’s role. When you know what you can do, that helps push you to do it.”

Pictured above are, from left, Town Clerk Anjanetha Shropshire, Mayor Lori Ann Bell, and Alderman Clovis Matthews. Standing behind the mayor are Maintenance Department Repre-sentative Darryl Harrell, Town Attorney Charles E. Griffin, II, Aldermen Johnny Beauchamp and George Kilbourne, Town Accountant Jackie Morgan, Alderman Kim Young, Police Chief Frederick Dunn, and Alderman Lisa Davis Washington.

6 Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Mayor Rebecca G. “Becky” Bel-lue opened the Village of Norwood monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. In attendance at Nor-wood’s Town Hall were: Aldermen Willie R. Duncan, Anthony C. Jelks, and James M. “Jimmy” Reynolds. Also present were Norwood Police Chief James Nevels and Town Clerk Jennie Jelks. Joining the group later was Norwood Police Officer Tony Holden.

Attending First Responder train-ing in Clinton was Fire Chief Jimmy Garig.

Bellue, Reynolds, and Garig con-tinue their long service to Norwood

Norwood first elected Becky Bel-lue mayor in 2008 and re-elected her in 2012 for a second four-year term. Prior to her tenure as mayor, Bellue served 12 years as alderman. Jimmy Reynolds has completed over 40 years as alderman. Jimmy Garig has served as fire chief since 1984; in addition, he served a four-year term as mayor prior to Bellue’s 2008 term and, before his stint as mayor, eight years as alderman.

Town Clerk presents financial statement

The May 8 meeting began with the aldermen examining the multi-page April 2014 financial statement that listed all income for and ex-penses from: the General Fund, the Water Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Streets and Sidewalks Fund, the Fire Fund and the Police Fund, as well as the month’s opening and closing amounts in checking and savings accounts. The April income totaled $26,523.82; expenses, $16,827.03. Checking accounts for all funds totaled $76,485.43 April 1 and $85,168.30 at month’s end. Savings accounts—for Meter Deposit, Re-serve Note (Water), Well Note Sav-ings (Water), Reserve Note (Sew-er), Depreciation and Contingency (Sewer), General Fund Savings, and Police Insurance Fund--totaled $146,896.30.

Town Clerk Jennie Jelks noted that June 30 will mark the budgetary year’s end and that she will present all figures in final form at that time. As always, however, citizens may view budgetary details at the Nor-wood Town Hall.

Village Council scrutinizes ev-ery penny

The April meeting demonstrated Norwood’s control of every penny, as it meets both its residents’ needs and budget constraints. As is the group’s custom, Mayor Bellue and

Village of Norwood: Doing More with Less, and Making it WorkAldermen Willie Duncan, Antho-ny Jelks, and James Reynolds paid close attention to amounts both large and small.

$900,000 grant application for new water tower

Town Clerk Jelks noted after the meeting that the village, to meet the State requirement of a second-ary source of water, has applied for a $900,000 Community Develop-ment Block Grant through the State of Louisiana for a new water tower. Jelks cautioned that the village will learn the results of the application December 1.

At the meeting, Town Clerk Jelks informed the aldermen that CITAP, a program of the Louisiana Munici-pal Association, has approved Nor-wood’s request for a new computer to replace her outdated equipment.

Purchase of camera for police carPolice Chief Nevels addressed

Norwood’s decision to purchase a new camera for Officer Tony Hold-en’s police car, as officers have been using, in three official cars, small unmounted cameras to record their encounters with drivers and other members of the public.

Long-time relationships with service providers bolster the bot-tom line

Meantime, squeezing every bit of use out of all equipment, the alder-men asked that the patrol car cam-era installer first evaluate the cur-rently installed camera for possible repair and use in a different village vehicle. When one of the aldermen raised the possibility of a charge for such an evaluation, Bellue cautioned that the council continue its practice of using “good common sense” and not anticipate a fee the installer may not charge. That relationship of trust on the part of both service providers and the village was obvious through-out the meeting. Norwood’s long-term business relationships help the village meet its bottom line. One example is the work of Spinks Con-struction, which recently, according to Bellue, “put in a motor for the water pump and did some work on the sewer” and will fix water leaks on Oak Street, as Spinks handled the original installation of the pipes, a project the village funded through a Water Enrichment Grant.

Sixteen village firefighters com-plete First Responder training

Alderman Duncan, who serves the village also as a volunteer fire-fighter, reported on the First Re-sponder parish training and testing in Clinton that he and his wife, Fire-

fighter Tonia Duncan, had completed immediately before their arrival for the council meeting. Alderman Dun-can relayed Fire Chief Garig’s mes-sage that he was unable to attend the Norwood meeting, as he remained in Clinton with the 13 village firefight-ers wrapping up the written test.

In a telephone interview after the village meeting, Chief Garig noted Clinton Fire Chief Douglas Beau-champ’s comment that of the 46 East Feliciana Parish volunteers who at-tended the 16-hour training sessions, 40, the largest LSU class to date, took the LSU certification test. Fire-fighter David Hughes, the LSU in-structor, is a full-time fire and arson investigator with the Zachary Fire Department. For the past three years he has taught fire-related topics to volunteer fire departments through the LSU Fire and Emergency Train-ing Institute. Hughes, who earned a bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University of Orange Beach, Alabama, said, “I am honored by and proud of the ef-fort and attendance from the various fire departments; they deserve all the credit.”

The training included two days of classroom instruction on April 22 and 24, followed by one day of practical skill demonstration Satur-day, May 3, and the final evening of written examination May 8. The field testing involved tanker driver and water transportation exercises, during which volunteers fill their tanker truck with water from sources such as a local pond or hydrant and transport the water, along with por-

table ponds, to the scene of a mock fire, in this case East Feliciana Mid-dle School in Clinton. While some firefighters unload the water into the portable ponds, others return to the water source to refill the tanker, thus insuring a continuous flow of water.

Norwood volunteers completing the written examination May 8, in addition to Chief Garig, were: Na-than Brecheen, Rodney Brown, Jesse Burks, Kelly Davis, Tonia Duncan, Willie Duncan, Donald Fleming, Jr., Donald Fleming, Sr., Florance Garig, John Garig-Dupree, David Guillory, John Horne, Jewel Earl Ravencraft, Jr., Leroy Garig, Rukins Garig, and Ralph Seagrave,

Other East Feliciana fire depart-ments that participated in the First Responder training were: Bluff Creek Fire Department, Clinton Fire Department, Jackson Fire Depart-ment, Slaughter Fire Department, and Wilson Fire Department.

The points the fire departments earn for training help keep the vil-lage and town fire ratings high, which in turn helps keep residents’ insurance costs low.

Council defines police responsi-bilities

Mayor Bellue informed the al-dermen that Norwood continues to work on its “police policy state-ment,” a personnel policy statement to define officers’ responsibilities, and will complete the statement af-ter a final examination of the state-ments of similar-size towns whose police chiefs, like Norwood’s, are appointed.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 7

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ClassifiedsNOW HIRING @ AMERICANA YMCA! CERTIFIED LIFEGUARDS & SWIM INSTRUCTORS. Minimum Age 16+. Flex schedules. We can train you! Great op-portunity! Americana YMCA 4200 Liberty Way Zachary, LA. (225) 654-YMCA. Ask for Jonathan Lee. AQUATICS SUPERVISORS needed for other Y locations across Baton Rouge area. Apply today! www.ymcabr.orgDrivers: Company. Home Every Week.Excel-lent Pay & Benefits. Pd Empty & Loaded.No Touch, 50% D&H. CDL-A, 3 yrs exp.800-588-7911 x225RN POSITION AVAILABLE. Pointe Coupee Homebound Health, New Roads. Prior home health experience preferred. Full-time position/benefits available. Email resume to: homebound@eatel.net. Country living in the City of Zachary! 1.61 Acre homesite is ready to build upon. Site prep already prepared, and you can enjoy fishing off the sandy beaches of Redwood Creek located on the rear of the property. Brokered by Monte Real Estate 225-658-1515. Listed at $74,900 and will entertain all offers.Drivers: Chemical & LP Regional/OTR Out & Back Openings!GreatPay, Bonuses & Benefits incl. 100% PAID Health Ins! CDL-A, 1yr OTR T/T Exp., TWIC & X End. Req.MARTIN TRANSPORT: 1-225-355-1342Now taking deposits on Cockatiel parrots. Hand-fed, tamed babies. $75-$100. Also have cages and toys. Call 225-270-0405.Beautifully timbered 3.88 acre property on lake just North of Zachary! Call Marie Kennedy, Keller Williams Realty Red Stick Plus (225) 454-8289 or 570-2900 “Each office independently owned and operated.”Drivers: Min. $1200/wk Guaranteed & Benefits. Company Tank Drivers in Port Al-len, LA. 2yrs CDL-A exp w/Hazmat/Tanker. Good MVR. Apply: www.transwood.com 877-711-4027HOUSE FOR SALE. 4BR/3BA, 4 Acres, 3,198 sq.ft.,new window,lots of recent up-dates. Call Lynda Fontaine, RE/MAX First, 225-328-2642 or 225-291-1234. “Each office independently owned and operated.”PARALEGAL POSITION AVAILABLE in Zachary for mature, reliable person experienced in personal injury and family law. Submit resumes to hiring manager at resume.submissions47@gmail.comLots for sale. Each lot is .89 acres. Quiet Neighborhood. Excellent opportunity to build small homes in Zachary. Only 800 sq. ft building requiremnt. $39500 each, or $75,000 for both.Call Gregory at 225-921-2185.Houses for sale. Owner financing possible. Excellent investment opportunity. 2 houses next to each other in Jackson Historic Dis-trict. Both are fixer-uppers, but are livable. $85,000 for both. Call Gregory at 225-921-2185.HOUSE FOR RENT. Zachary, 1065 Meadow Glen, 3 BR/2BA, See Craigslist for details or call 225-933-8411.Immediate opening for experienced Office Manager 20 minutes North of Zachary. Various Business management experiences required. Resumes to careers@gulfcoasttmc.com.For Sale: 2 BR 1 Bath home (Schroring Pl) 1.13 ac Jackson , plus 14x53 mobile home (rental income ) $80,000. Call Steve Diloren-zo 225-683-5454 or 225-719-1810.For Sale: 3 BR 2 bath Jackson home , vinyl siding on 1.11 AC , Villareal S.D. State land borders the rear . $65,000. Call Steve Dilorenzo 225-683-5454 or 225-719-1810.For Sale: 1.4 AC Clinton, commercial, C-2, on Plank Road cleared, has a home at the rear of the site can produce rental income . $170,000. Call Steve Dilorenzo 225-683-5454 or 225-719-1810.Immediate opening for IT Administrator 20 minutes North of Zachary. Exchange Server and Desktop support experience required. Resumes to careers@gulfcoasttmc.com.FOR RENT Mobile Home Lots. $250 per month. Nice, quiet area in Northeast EBR Parish. Call (225) 778-1672.Room for Rent in Clinton, LA. $125/per week, utilities included, furnished. Washer and dryer available. Shared kitchen/TV. Call or text (225) 317-7891.Specialty Maintenance Contractors LLC. Additions, Contstruction, Remodeling & Repairs. Whatever your needs may be, we do it. 225-572-3673.

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8 Tuesday, May 27, 2014

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Picou Walker was first elected to public office in 1987 and served from 1988 to 1992 as President of the West Feliciana Parish Police Jury and as Police Juror for District One. She has served on the West Feliciana Parish Hospital Board of Commissioners for the last six years.

Sydney and her husband Lee be-tween them have eight children and five grandchildren. Two of her chil-dren are also practicing attorneys.

She is the daughter of the late Orel Palmer Picou of Jackson, Loui-siana, and the late Leon A. Picou, Jr. of St. Francisville, who served as District Attorney for the 20th Ju-dicial District from 1973 to 1984. Picou Walker said, “I grew up with discussion of legal issues. My fa-ther was a sound legal mentor. He taught me to treat every person with dignity and respect. As a district at-torney he was able to show compas-sion to the accused while still being tough on crime. It was one of the best lessons I learned from him.”

As an active member of the com-munity, Sydney Picou Walker is a member of the West Feliciana Ro-tary Club, West Feliciana Historical Society, the East and West Feliciana Chambers of Commerce, the St. Francisville Area Foundation, the Jackson Assembly and the Friends of both the West Feliciana Library an the Audubon Regional Library.

Additionally, Picou Walker was a founding member, Past Presi-dent, Past Vice-President Theta Phi Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi; Past Member, Past Vice-President, West Feliciana Civic Club; Past Member of the Women’s Service League of West Feliciana; Past Member and Founder, Dem Dames of the Fe-licianas; a Coach to the West Fe-liciana Parish High School Mock Trial Team; and a Jr. Achievement Teacher/Volunteer and a Challenge Course Instructor.

In announcing her candidacy Sydney Picou Walker stated that her diverse practice and life experiences uniquely qualify her for the bench.

“In addition to possessing the le-gal knowledge necessary to become judge, I also believe that I possess the temperament and attributes necessary for this important posi-tion. In my practice as an attorney I strive to be honest, forthright, fair and courteous. I will bring each of these qualities to the bench. All judgments I render will be well rea-soned, impartial, just, and fair to all concerned.”

ber of Commerce Thursday, May 15. Shields noted that Zachary uses “a lot of the plan left over from East Baton Rouge,” and that “the Hori-zon Plan is too broad, just as ours is now.”

A developer, Shields said, called him recently about a plot of over 200 acres just north of town slated for development within the next two years. The subdivision’s architect had requested a copy of Slaughter’s subdivision ordinance.

Shields promised also to gather information on commercial as well as subdivision development.

Dr. Finney asks for noise ordi-nance to silence large trucks

Dr. Dana Finney asked the coun-cil to establish a noise ordinance to address large-truck traffic on High-ways 412 and 19. The noise from 18-wheelers, Finney said, begins very early in the morning “and goes on all day.” Noting that she would prefer banning the trucks from city travel, as the Town of Jackson has, Finney requested the noise ordi-nance as a first step. Where High-way 412 curves onto 19, truckers hit their brakes so hard her entire house rattles. “I have old fireplaces with ancient mortar,” Finney said, “and every day I can sweep up more of that mortar dust.”

At Mayor Jackson’s suggestion, Finney agreed to consult Jackson Mayor Charles Coleman about the steps his town took to divert the18-wheelers.

Police Chief Walter Smith ad-vised, “Let’s start with No Jake Brake signs. That’s easier.”

Council addresses personnel matters

Mayor Jackson reported the con-cerns of Slaughter Maintenance Department Head Tom Schwartz: overtime pay, sick time pay, and em-ployment at will policies.

The change from a four-hour to a two-hour limit for overtime pay affects only two people, Colby Marks and Schwartz, the mayor said. Schwartz’s concern is that neither man can leave Slaughter if the other is out of town, that “you can’t send just anybody for some jobs, such as gas line problems,” and that the compensation for that availability and expertise should be appropriate. Schwartz has therefore requested that the town retain the four-hour overtime limit for call-ins. In an in-terview after the town meeting, the mayor explained that both Marks and Schwartz are full-time certified

SLAUGHTER continued from page 1

gas line employees who sacrifice a lot for the town, as one employee must be on call at all times. The overtime limit is a minimum limit per call, and those calls may require more than the minimum, the mayor explained.

Regarding sick leave, as a depart-ment head, Schwartz is the first to re-ceive an employee’s sick leave call. He has asked for verification that a total of 96 hours of sick leave is put into the employee’s account on the employee’s hiring date anniversary. At the end of 12 months, unused sick leaves does not roll over and, upon an employee’s resignation, the town does not pay it out. Several aldermen verified the policy, noting, “This is sick time, not vacation.”

On the town’s employment at will policy, the aldermen noted that the language may appear “confus-ing and threatening,” as the policy

means that the town can terminate without cause. After Alderman Ash-by Schwartz discussed the policy, the Town Council amended it to read “part-time employment at will policy.”

Alderman Phillip Bourgeois, saying that he thinks Schwartz’s re-quests for clarification reasonable, as he is a department head, suggested that the mayor discuss the issues with Schwartz “within the next 30 days.”

Mayor notes one change in health insurance coverage

The mayor announced a change from United Health Care to Louisi-ana Blue Cross and Blue Shield for major medical coverage. The town will retain United Health Care cov-erage for all rider policies, including dental, vision, and long-term disabil-ity.