The most time consuming topic at the meeting Monday night of the Red River Parish Police Jury was parish roads. Many are in need of repair and many have been damaged by gas exploration activity.

During the committee meeting before the regular session, jurors discussed funding for road repairs. Jurors are working toward a system combining permitting overweight trucks with bonding companies that will put heavy stress on parish roads.

Late last month members of the gas exploration business, logging and other firms operating heavy loads on parish roads met with jurors. Monday night’s discussion continued the conversation of concerns put forth at that meeting.

The Police Jury is working to develop a system of permits and security bonds to assure that companies whose operations cause damage to parish roads fund the repairs once their work is done. Jury President Shawn Beard summed the task up saying, “Across the board it has to be fair. Everyone would follow the same rules. We have to define who would be required to get a bond or permit.”

Road Supervisor Larry Hughes said they have obtained signs stating restrictions on roads by big trucks. The signs will be posted beginning this week.

Jury Supervisor Jessie Davis said these companies have never been asked for a bond. He added that timber companies don’t want to be required to get bonds. The jury asked Davis to draw up rules and guidelines based upon DeSoto and other parishes impacted by gas exploration and other heavy road use activities.