Wednesday, April 3, was the regular meeting of the Police Jury. President Tray Murray recognized the visitors in the audience after the committee meeting was called to order. In attendance was Laura Seabaugh, the North Louisiana Outreach manager under the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. Mrs. Seabaugh thanked the Police Jury for recognizing her and offered her assistance along with the entire Outreach staff. She discussed her role as a liaison for the Department of Justice and a community liaison.

Next on the agenda was a discussion of the oil and gas activity in the parish. Several sites are in various stages of drilling, fracing, or production. All of this activity means truck traffic for area roads. Permits for this activity have generated several thousands of dollars.

Murray reminded each police jury member to get their list of roads that need attention into the office. Road repairs and new roads will be completed in the spring and summer.

In the finance discussion, attention was directed to the cost of Juvenile offenders housed at Ware Youth Center. Jessie Davis, Parish Administrator, informed the board that each juvenile costs $310 per day. The number of youth incarcerated at Ware is unknown until the invoice is sent to the parish office. Murray asked that the finance committee look into this and meet with authorities to see if prior notice could be given.

Larry Hughes informed the board that a new excavator is needed. The cost would be $85,000. Davis affirmed the need.

Other police jurors discussed the possibility of summer help or an opportunity for inmates to help with road clean-up. Murray said they would look into it.

Murray also discussed the reality that the severence for oil and gas in Red River Parish only benefits other parishes. He reminded the jurors that the amount of money collected for Red River was $59,001,566.00 in 2023; however, the money received in the parish is capped. “We get only a portion,” said Murray. The rest of the money goes elsewhere. We need this to change.”

The rest of the meeting focused on the repairs and upgrades for the courthouse and parish offices. A breakdown of the repairs and upgrades will be highlighted in Monday’s edition of the Journal.