[0:00] Let me just get a confirmation that we're streaming correctly. Just want to

[0:03] make sure. >> Facilities.

[0:06] » No, I just look for thumbs up. We got it. Thank you. Thank you.

[0:09] » Um, okay. Just wanted to make sure. And, uh, District One, uh, Commissioner Kman

[0:13] » is absent at the moment. Commissioner Greg Young,

[0:16] » present. >> Commissioner Thomas,

[0:17] » present. >> Commissioner John Paul Young

[0:20] » here. >> Commissioner Burrell.

[0:21] » Commissioner Jones is absent at the moment. Uh, Commissioner Gage Watts is

[0:25] absent at the moment. Commissioner Blake >> here.

[0:27] » Commissioner Atkins >> here. Commissioner Catherine

[0:29] » here. >> Commissioner Lazarus absent at the

[0:32] moment and Commissioner Eper >> present.

[0:34] » Okay. You have eight of 12 commissioners present. Uh that does constitute a

[0:39] quorum. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Um at this

[0:42] time, uh we're going to have pledge of allegiance provided for uh by

[0:48] Commissioner Eperson and our invocation provided by Commissioner Thomas.

[0:53] Everyone, please stand. Thank you. If you bow your heads,

[0:57] please. Uh dear heavenly father, thank you for allowing us to gather here as we

[1:00] conduct the business of this cattle parish. As we do so, dear um heavenly

[1:04] father, I pray that you please help us all to be able to see the beauty and the

[1:07] majesty in this land and this community that you've given us. I hope that we can

[1:11] all share in that and share in the works in order to make it even greater and it

[1:14] can and it can be what you would have it be until your will in your son Jesus

[1:18] name I pray. Amen. >> Amen.

[1:21] » All face the flag. I would like to ask that all veterans and military render

[1:25] the standard hand to brow salute. All others right hand across your hearts.

[1:30] Let's remember our PS and our MIAs as we recite the pledge of allegiance. And

[1:35] thankfully our USS Abraham has a port call and they getting four days shore

[1:40] leave and having a good time in Thailand.

[1:44] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[1:49] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:55] justice for all.

[2:03] » Okay. And at this point, uh, I'm not aware of any agenda additions unless you

[2:08] had any, Mr. President. >> No, I do not.

[2:11] » Okay. That brings us then to citizens comments where citizens are asked to

[2:15] fill out a comment card and submit them uh in the box to my left here. At this

[2:20] point, we have not received any citizens uh comment requests. So

[2:25] uh if there are none materializing, we uh can move forward to the next section

[2:31] on our agenda. >> Okay. Okay. Okay, that brings us to

[2:34] visitors uh where we do have one scheduled visit today. Uh and that is a

[2:39] visit from our PCC member Jake Brown, Mr. Jake Brown, who I believe is in the

[2:43] office.

[3:41] Okay, my name is uh Jake Brown. I live at 1243 Pine Island Road, Shripport,

[3:46] Louisiana. Um, so I know there's been a lot of talk about possibly doing

[3:54] planning and zoning in the rural area and I know a lot of that has to do with

[3:59] the uh Trojan horse data centers, you know, cuz now people didn't want rules,

[4:06] but now with data centers coming in, it almost seems like we need rules. And so

[4:12] I know some of it's been spoken about that we need to do planning and zoning

[4:16] out there, but the main problem I see with that is the people don't really

[4:21] want that. And I know that they want the protection, but they don't want that.

[4:26] But even if we were to do a master plan and do planning and zoning, we're

[4:32] talking like a year and a half, two years plus to push that through just

[4:36] because of the rules that are set up by the state. You have to have all these

[4:40] meetings. It's a big area. It it it takes time. And then you've the master

[4:45] plan's just an outlook on what the code should do. And then you've got to go and

[4:51] do another code like a rule development code. And it's just not going to be

[4:56] quick. And by the time that happens, it's going to be too late. You know, I

[5:02] mean, the data centers are here right now. I mean, I'm hearing that they're

[5:06] also talking about doing a natural gas plant to help power some of them, and

[5:10] that's new, you know, and it's just not going to be good for those

[5:16] people that live out there. So, today, you know, I kind of wanted to talk about

[5:21] kind of how we got here. You know, in 2020, Catalons for Freedom wasn't happy

[5:27] because they were getting tickets and citations out in the five mile zone. And

[5:33] so they started filling up the chambers and they wanted to, you know, change the

[5:38] codes. Well, we got kicked back to the MPC and it was back and forth and we

[5:43] couldn't get anything done. And then we got Mr. McCormack to to do House Bill

[5:48] 697, which passed. And the main reason it passed wasn't because of the codes,

[5:53] but it was because we weren't represented. You know, if you lived in

[5:56] the city, you got a city councilman to appoint a member and also a

[6:02] commissioner. If you lived out in the five mile zone, you only had a

[6:06] commissioner that had your back. So, you were under reppresented. So, that's why

[6:10] it got passed. And we were hoping when that happened and we got our own board

[6:14] and I got appointed to the board that we were going to be able to fix the root

[6:18] cause of all that and that's the codes. And that just didn't happen. I mean,

[6:23] it's been 6 years and nothing's happened with it. We are still running with the

[6:28] 2030 great expectations master plan and it doesn't represent us. we as a zoning

[6:36] board don't really follow it and we've had to with the help of BPC and they've

[6:42] been a big help now is we've had to do different things like puds and spuds and

[6:47] those are plan unit developments and small plan unit developments and that's

[6:52] where you're doing something that doesn't really fit the plan because the

[6:56] plan sucks and so we're having to work around this plan on a daily basis and

[7:02] we're fixing it case by case. So, every person that comes in, 99% of the time,

[7:09] they get to do what they want to on their property, and it and it usually

[7:12] does not fit within the master plan guidelines or the UDC. So,

[7:18] I hear that y'all want to do the zoning and all of it, but then I've got the

[7:22] question of, well, y'all haven't done anything with the five mile zone. I

[7:28] mean, why haven't we fixed that? And so that's where I'm just really reluctant

[7:33] to turning over that power for the rural area, which they're more crazy than the

[7:39] people in the five mile zone. So I mean, and I can't trust that this board's

[7:45] going to do something to do a good plan for them because the first plan it was

[7:50] not good and y'all paid a lot of money for it. And so

[7:56] I kind of want to talk about data centers now and health issues and stuff

[8:02] that come with them because and that's the packets I gave y'all. Those are all

[8:06] peer-reviewed scientific studies. There's multiple

[8:09] ones of them. And these are done by scientists that know a lot more about it

[8:14] than I do. And there's a lot of misconception with the old data centers.

[8:19] They were a lot smaller. the new ones. These are going to be these huge

[8:24] monolithic mega, you know, something that we've never seen before. And so,

[8:28] I'm kind of going to go kind of outline some of these studies and I've given you

[8:32] guys the studies for you to do your own due diligence, but it's like, let's take

[8:37] a look at what these massive footprints actually do to a rural landscape. We

[8:42] aren't talking about a standard office building. We are talking about colossal

[8:46] concrete mon monoliths that permanently erase wildlife habitats and completely

[8:52] alter the local micro climate. There was a groundbreaking breaking study done in

[8:57] March 2026. The study published by researchers at

[9:02] the University of Cambridge titled the data heat island effect quantifying the

[9:07] impact of AI data centers in a warming world. The researchers tracked the

[9:12] thermal history over 11,000 data centers locations globally and they were using

[9:17] NASA satellite data. What they discovered should terrify everyone in

[9:21] this room. The study mathematically proved that these hypers scale

[9:25] facilities dissipate so much concentrated energy that they create

[9:30] what is now known as a data heat island. According to the Cambridge data, these

[9:36] facilities can increase the ground temp by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. That's

[9:41] that's a big change, especially when we've been at 102 103 for the past month

[9:48] with measurable warming and climate disruptions extending up to 10

[9:52] kilometers more than 6 miles outside the facility's footprint. If you allow the

[9:58] Amazon staff to do these massive data centers in our unincorporated spaces,

[10:02] you are effectively turning rural cattle parish into a dangerous environmental

[10:06] experiment. This lo localized artificial heat stress won't just dredge degrade

[10:12] local agricultural. It will directly threaten the public health of our

[10:17] elderly elderly residents and our children and the livestock our farmers

[10:21] depend on. It doesn't stop with the heat. The continuous noise from these

[10:26] facilities is an invisible assault on human health. Another comprehensive

[10:31] analysis published in the PMC journal of global data center expansion in human

[10:36] health noted that the internal noise levels from data centers HVAC systems

[10:42] reach up to 96A weighted decibb. The study confirms that this persistent

[10:47] unrelenting low-frequency noise leads to severe sleep deprivation, acute

[10:54] cognitive impairment, and heightened cardiovascular stress for surrounding

[10:58] communities. And then, you know, let's talk about the

[11:02] water. Our rural communities survive survive on groundwater. Yet this

[11:08] yet this commission is turning a blind eye to the chemical realities of data

[11:13] center infrastructure to avoid consuming millions of gallons of municipal

[11:17] drinking water daily. Many modern hypers scale facil facilities utilize closed

[11:23] loop or evaporating cooling cooling systems. But these systems come with a

[11:27] dark secret. They have heavy chemical maintenance. According to a June 2026

[11:33] report by the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and

[11:37] Environmental Science on how data centers impact surface and ground

[11:40] waters, these industrial cooling loops require constant treatment with

[11:45] corrosive scaling inhibitors, toxic bioides, chlorine compounds, and glycols

[11:52] to prevent bacterial and allergy outbreaks. Even more alarming, a compreh

[11:58] a comprehensive investigation report by revealed that the next generation of

[12:03] data centers are going to use a liquid emerging cooling that relies heavily on

[12:09] highly highly advanced florin florinated fluids. And these are these are forever

[12:16] chemicals. So that's that's what they're going to use. So, I know that they're

[12:20] saying, you know, you're not going to need that much water cuz it's closed

[12:24] loop. They're going to have forever chemicals in there. And so experts like

[12:30] Laura McKe, a 34-year veteran at the UN univers at the US Environmental

[12:35] Protection Agencies, warned that the primary threats are systematic leaks,

[12:41] accidental spills, and the toxic discharge of mineral heavy blowown waste

[12:46] water into the local water table. If these toxic biocides and glycols or

[12:52] forever chemicals leak from this Amazon stack closed loop system into our

[12:57] unconfined rural aquifers, it will permanently contaminate the drinking

[13:01] water wells of every human being and animal within miles. We are already

[13:06] seing seeing this devastating preliminary signs of this disrupt

[13:11] disruption. Local residents near clearing sites are already reporting

[13:15] that their historic springfed ponds, which have held water consistently since

[13:19] 1937, are suddenly losing water. The ecosystem

[13:24] is starving. And I mean, it's just not going to be

[13:28] good. We're going to be heating this place up. We're going to have these

[13:32] chemicals. You've got a lot of residents that moved out of the city area to live

[13:38] a rural lifestyle. And now this is going to be next door.

[13:43] So let's talk about the human cost and air pollution and premature mortal

[13:48] mortality. The most harrowing asset of this unchecked expansion is the undeni

[13:54] undeniable scientifically modeled human toll. Data centers do not just pull

[14:00] massive electricity from our grid. They require massive grids of their own to

[14:05] guarantee 59's uptime, which that is a system that is available 99.999%

[14:12] of the time, allowing only about 5 minutes and 15

[14:17] seconds of downtime per year. These facilities rely on arrays of dozens of

[14:22] industrialsiz diesel backup generators. And so according to the American lug

[14:29] association state of air report, it designated DA data center backup

[14:35] generators as a rapidly growing threat to public health. These massive diesel

[14:40] engines emit a catastrophic cocktail of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic h

[14:46] compounds, and fine particle matter known as PM2.5.

[14:51] The Environmental Energy Study Institute notes that these industrial diesel

[14:55] generators emit 200 to 600 times more toxic nitrous oxides than a standard

[15:01] natural gas plant. What does that mean for the human body? PM2.5 bypasses the

[15:08] lungs and enters the bloodstream directly. A joint public health model

[15:12] developed by researchers at Caltech and the University of California, Riverside

[15:16] calculated the exact national burden of this expansion. Their peer-reviewed

[15:21] model estimated that data centers air pollution will contribute directly

[15:25] to,300 premature deaths every single year in the US by 2030. Furthermore, a

[15:32] specific regional air input analysis conducted by Virginia Commonwealth

[15:37] University and the University of Washington looked at clusters of data

[15:41] centers which is kind of identical to what we're having happen. We've got one

[15:45] on Latex, one in South Shreport, one over in Benton right now.

[15:50] They discovered that merely testing these generators for less than an hour a

[15:55] week creates a public health burden equivalent equivalent to operating five

[16:00] gas powered gas fired power stations simultaneously causing a localized spike

[16:05] in chronic respiratory diseases, strokes, heart attacks, and a definitive

[16:10] baseline of annual premature deaths in the immediate area. So the study said

[16:17] for every data center, we're looking at 3 to six people that live around that

[16:22] area dying every year. So I know they've been hanging the carrot and they're

[16:29] talking about all the jobs they're going to create and they're talking about all

[16:33] the good that these data centers are going to do, but you've also got to look

[16:37] at what it's going to do to those people in y'all's areas that are going to be

[16:42] forced to live close to these things. I mean three to six people per data

[16:46] center. It's a lot of people that are dying because of the data center.

[16:53] Okay. Another good study is health implications of the rapid rise of data

[16:57] centers in Virginia. An exploratory assessment by George Mason University.

[17:02] This was done in Virginia and it pretty much outlined all this stuff and I gave

[17:09] y'all that that's at the back because I know some commissioners might have gone

[17:13] to Virginia possibly to look at them and I know some people said that the people

[17:19] around there really liked them, but this study seems to show that they don't like

[17:24] them. So, I I just want you guys to do your homework on this. And I know that

[17:33] there's a huge push to do planning and zoning. I don't think that's going to

[17:36] fix the problem. But there are things that y'all can do with your police

[17:41] powers through ordinances that don't I know it gets kind of technical if you

[17:46] don't have planning and zoning. It's real hard for you to use the police

[17:50] powers if you're doing anything with planning and zoning, saying they can't

[17:54] go here or over here or this far from this place. I know there's a lot of case

[17:58] precedent that says that won't work, but you could establish environmental

[18:03] committees right now to slow down these data centers rollouts while while they

[18:09] conduct footprint and quiet studies. Doing these environmental committees,

[18:13] it'll slow them down. You can halt all financial and tax incentive pilot

[18:18] programs. Like we we shouldn't be giving them money. Like that's that's

[18:24] ridiculous. And then your your best one is probably your nuisance ordinances.

[18:29] Chapter 30. You can define nuisance to include excessive heat, noise, the

[18:36] 24hour 24/7 low frequency hum of cooling fans

[18:41] or you and you can also do emissions. So, I mean, y'all can use y'all got

[18:47] tools that you're that y'all can use to try to combat

[18:51] this, but I don't really think you're going to be able to do it with planning

[18:57] and zoning. I just don't think it's going to be quick enough.

[18:59] » All right. Thank you. Thank you very much, uh, Mr. Brown. Uh, your 15 minutes

[19:03] up. Uh, we you don't have to leave now. There may be commissioners that have a

[19:07] question, uh, for you. Uh, Commissioner Victor Thomas is on the board.

[19:11] » Thank you, Mr. President. Um, thank you, Mr. for coming and visiting with us

[19:15] today and thank you for your service thus far on the PCC. So, um really want

[19:19] to applaud you guys for that. >> Um I I really like you I thank you for

[19:24] your presentation. >> Yes, sir.

[19:25] » Um I wanted to um hit on a few points that you mentioned. Um I know you kind

[19:30] of talked about the conversation around planning and zoning um kind of around

[19:35] how you know our desire is to um settle this. Um you also mentioned um that we

[19:41] haven't really done much with that for six years now. Um I think it is

[19:46] important that we address um the f the file mau zone. Um you know thank you all

[19:51] to the cattle alliance for your efforts in crafting that. Um representation is

[19:56] important. Um what I heard you say though to me still seems like there's

[20:01] still no representation in real zones. >> Well, there is.

[20:04] » I didn't I'm talking I didn't interrupt you.

[20:07] » Yes, sir. um uh there's still no representation in rural zones. So to me

[20:13] to come to us as this body and to say that you don't trust us to do it when we

[20:19] haven't entrusted you and others to to serve on the PCC. We don't need an

[20:24] environmental committee. We have a parish zone and a planning commission.

[20:27] Um so to say that you don't trust us to do this when that's literally what you

[20:33] guys serve on that planning zoning commission for. um you have stood before

[20:37] this body and your word said that y'all are spot zoning and just throwing stuff

[20:42] up and coming off the wind case by case. Why would we not endure to have a model

[20:48] um a model plan in place? Um not only that, um as it comes to House Bill 9697,

[20:55] you guys successfully lobbyed and got that passed. That's where the ball

[20:59] dropped after that and we it's now time for us to get that in in in in place.

[21:04] You said that it will take about a year and a half. My question is when are we

[21:07] going to get started? Um your your role on the PCC is not to compile this. I

[21:13] would love to see one of these on how we can get planning and zoning done. Um I

[21:17] hopefully we can get something compiled before January. Um because that doesn't

[21:22] make sense to invest the time in this and data centers. We didn't appoint you

[21:26] guys to the health and and um and and public aware awareness zone. You're

[21:31] there for planning and zoning. research that and please do some homework on that

[21:35] so we can get this done. Um, six years behind is something that I don't think

[21:39] is appropriate. I don't think it's I don't think that any 12 of us can go and

[21:43] ask voters to go and reelect them if we do not get this done. That's how

[21:48] important it is for me and it should be important to you all as well on the

[21:52] planning zone um on the planning and zoning commission. Um, we have

[21:55] committees for these. I wish that this could have been a conversation that we

[21:58] could have had in our rural planning zoning commission or we have an upcoming

[22:02] special projects meeting for that where we can have that discussion. Um, I I

[22:07] think that's a thing that we need and we entrust you all to be able to help us to

[22:12] go and speak to those people in the rural communities so that they can be a

[22:15] part of how we dis how we discuss it, how we plan, and how we implement it

[22:19] because they're going to be the ones to let us know when we cross the line

[22:23] between protections and when we cross the line between persecution and and

[22:27] what they feel is lording over them and things like that. we shouldn't have to

[22:31] twist um police law and law law powers to try to do what we can effectively do

[22:37] through the planning and zoning commission. Um, I think it was kind of

[22:41] this is a prime example of why we didn't need to send a resolution to the PTC

[22:46] because to me that's the equivalent of sending a text message to y'all to text

[22:50] us back some some recommendations so we can text you back an approval to do it

[22:54] when we can literally just all do our jobs and sit here and plan and get this

[22:58] taken care of and get this done. Um I I'm it's sad that you don't trust this

[23:03] board because we have given trust to you all to be able to help carry out this

[23:06] mission and I hope that we can restore that trust and that we can try to get

[23:09] this done hopefully once again like I said before January. Um these are some

[23:13] things that I I don't like but this shouldn't be our focus right here. We

[23:18] should be focused on putting protections in so that if um these studies, these

[23:22] observations, these exploratory uh this exploratory information comes true,

[23:27] we'll we'll be able to protect our citizens in the future. Thank you, Mr.

[23:30] President, and thank you, Mr. Brown. >> Thank you for your remarks,

[23:33] Commissioner. Um, the chair recognizes Commissioner John Paul Young.

[23:37] » Thank you, Mr. President. Thanks for being here, Jake. I appreciate your

[23:40] research. uh the one one very very superficial

[23:45] fact that you shared with us was that this groundbre breaking study about I

[23:49] think it's the heat island effect came out in March of this year just like

[23:54] » you know a long time after we got sped through a vote about data centers in the

[23:59] first place. So uh information seems to be coming fast and uh very little of it

[24:05] was you know uh available to our awareness um when we voted about data

[24:11] centers in the first place. Um I also want to thank you for all your work on

[24:15] the PCC. I know that you have done a lot of work uh for identifying things that

[24:20] needed to be changed in the code and I know that we have not made any changes

[24:23] to the code >> according to that. Yeah. Well, we y'all

[24:26] y'all control the purse. So, right. >> I mean, at the end of the day, the MPC

[24:30] is only funded to do the cases. So, until we get that ironed out, and I have

[24:36] come in >> prior to this meeting, like multiple

[24:40] times >> to try to get funding for master plan to

[24:45] fix the five mile zone. This isn't something I mean when I was president

[24:50] for the last two years we had a committee and we actually went

[24:55] through and fixed all the codes. I can give that to you right now. But the

[24:58] problem is it doesn't fit with the master plan. So we can't really fix the

[25:04] codes until we fix the master plan. We're just putting a mandate on it.

[25:09] Well, it's the UDC that there's a plan. The master That's what I think there's

[25:13] confusion. The master plan says how we're going to do stuff for the next 30

[25:18] years or 20 years. And then out of that master plan becomes a UDC. Those are the

[25:23] codes that govern our private property. And and that's the problem. We keep just

[25:30] barely fixing the codes. And Mr. Jean, the director, now we've got one that

[25:34] where we fix the parking. It's coming up soon. You know, y'all are going to get

[25:37] to see it and and possibly vote on it, you know, if it goes through. But we're

[25:42] trying to at least give us what Shreport's got. Shreport fixed their

[25:45] codes. We We haven't We haven't done the master plan. And the MPC doesn't have

[25:51] the funding to do that unless y'all give the funding to them. And that's the

[25:56] problem. Like we're kind of at a stalemate. I can only fix it on a case-

[26:00] by case basis because that's what they're paid to do. Could you um could

[26:05] you tell us what you think um would be the characteristics of a master plan

[26:09] that would be um acceptable and uh welcomed by people who are both in the

[26:16] five mile and in the unzoneed parts of the parish?

[26:19] » I mean I think it would be like we have like at the time we had like 30

[26:24] different zones. We luckily took out a whole bunch of them. We had city zones

[26:28] like zones for Shreveport and that our master plan for the five mile zone to

[26:34] where we have no city. So I mean that's the thing there's so many different

[26:39] there's R1, there's R3, there's R5, there's R seven, there's R12, you know,

[26:45] there's RA, we have the residential broken up, there's RE. It's broken up

[26:50] into like 15 segments. And that's the problem. Like it just needs to be

[26:54] simple. just needs to be a few, you know, and that's what we were doing, but

[26:59] they don't the MPC can't do it without the funding. There's only so much we can

[27:04] do as appointed board members without them having the funding to do it, you

[27:09] know, or getting and it takes a lot of time to do I mean, you're going to see

[27:13] when you look over the parking space just to trade, just to change that

[27:18] parking spaces aren't required for business, which we've had things fail

[27:24] like there was that grocery store that was over there by Northwood High School

[27:28] that Blanchard didn't annexed it, you know, to because the parking space

[27:33] issue, you know, and we're fixing that, but like Stephen Gene and them have to

[27:37] go through that code and change it everywhere. I mean, it's a ton of stuff

[27:40] to do. I mean, because it's mentioned everywhere. So, I mean, that's kind of

[27:44] where we're at right now is we need funding for them so that we can

[27:48] fix it. And I think we can do it internally, but like they need more

[27:52] funding so that they can have people that are just doing that. You know, you

[27:54] got to change the whole map. All those zones have to be changed. I mean, it's

[27:58] just it's a ton of stuff and it just needs to be shrunk. Like, you need to

[28:03] have an RA zone. you maybe you just need to have like an R1 that's residential

[28:08] single family that doesn't allow multiple structures but the majority of

[28:12] people are going to be RA unless there's a subdivision.

[28:14] » Mr. Brown, I appreciate your additional comments but you know in the interest of

[28:18] time I think Commissioner Kman was on the board that I see you came back down.

[28:22] Do you >> still wish to Okay, so

[28:25] » Oh, may I finish up Mr. President? >> Right. But kind of keep it because it's

[28:31] it's getting into it short. So, it looks like my clock is still running. So, I

[28:37] have two minutes left on the floor. I'll try to be brief.

[28:39] » No, I'm not I'm not trying to restrict you.

[28:40] » I understand. >> Okay.

[28:42] » Um, so I just want to again thank you for your comments.

[28:45] » Yes, sir. >> Um, I want to thank you for uh your

[28:48] input about uh having a committee to study this for our benefit in particular

[28:53] and that's something we can talk about more in the future. And um I especially

[28:57] want to thank you for this uh really thorough scientific information which

[29:02] looks uh you know like better better information than I've seen. I I don't

[29:08] want to speak for other commissioners but I would wager uh most of us have

[29:11] seen about uh data centers and um thank you so much for sharing your time with

[29:16] us today. >> Thank you Commissioner. Thank you Mr.

[29:18] President. >> Thank you. Thank you uh Commissioner. Uh

[29:20] let's see. Uh let's go to to Commissioner Bere because you've been up

[29:25] before. The chair recognizes Commissioner Ber.

[29:30] » Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Brown, glad to see you here. I guess I don't

[29:34] know it's the first time meeting you, but you took on quite a responsibility

[29:40] for this PCZ. Uh

[29:45] I've been around uh government for quite a while and I've uh at different levels

[29:50] and and I know that certain legislation affect certain projects. My question to

[29:56] you and and uh this may be uh for my own edification and education is that uh

[30:04] most of these data center projects are more controlled and affected by

[30:12] state and federal laws more so than local laws is is the way I

[30:18] understand it. And uh these studies are good because I

[30:23] am a study person. I I like to read studies,

[30:28] but shouldn't these studies be directed toward our state and national figures,

[30:36] officials who are basically stuffing down our throats a lot of the

[30:43] legislation that says that you cannot stop these things um that this this

[30:48] private sector development uh for whatever reason. And when it gets to us

[30:54] as local officials, then we have to figure out how we can circumvent the

[30:59] laws and the legislation that they've put in place,

[31:02] » right? >> Uh that really hamstring us.

[31:06] » And let me tell you, it does hamstring us. It bring me back to to an issue that

[31:12] I dealt with 12 years when I was in the legislature and that's having to do with

[31:16] council Alli and the environmental effect that it had on

[31:22] people and still having on people down there who are still getting uh getting

[31:28] cancer generations after generation. But yet

[31:34] there are those studies that are there but nothing is done because the local

[31:38] folks either cannot do anything about it or they don't do anything about it.

[31:43] » I see that same scenario right here. So I'm I'm saying that to say this. Maybe

[31:51] we should take these studies and talk to our state and federal

[31:57] officials. Yeah, I do agree with you on >> before they get to us. And I like to see

[32:03] people protesting around their doorsteps,

[32:06] » right, >> first and to to to get some some some

[32:10] push back and see where they are on it because again, a lot of this stuff is

[32:14] stuffed down our throats to the to the to the extent that

[32:23] our hands sometimes are almost tied to do certain things. and the citizens

[32:28] think that we can work miracles on a local level when we're already tied up

[32:32] at the state and and national level. So, I would like to see um uh more

[32:38] discussion and more fight levels. I I do not agree with the way

[32:45] Baton Rouge has been handling all this and I think it's not good what they're

[32:49] doing, but like >> if you can do something to help your

[32:55] people, like shouldn't you like that? That's all I'm saying. You know, you

[32:59] know what I mean? I mean, and I know they're putting roadblocks up and it's

[33:02] » all politics is local. >> Yeah. Exactly.

[33:04] » The same people that vote for us vote for them.

[33:07] » Yeah. >> And maybe we should be on their

[33:09] doorsteps. Maybe we should have signs in their faces.

[33:12] » Yeah. >> Maybe we should be waving our flags with

[33:16] these studies and say, "Look, it's killing us."

[33:18] » Yeah. >> And can you do something so they can

[33:22] help local people, local >> Yes, sir.

[33:25] » legislators to try to help you at this level.

[33:29] » Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you for your remarks, Commissioner

[33:32] Burrell. Uh, the chair recognizes for a second time, Commissioner, Victor

[33:35] Thomas. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um and I I

[33:38] apologize earlier in my comments because um I do want to make sure I recognize

[33:41] the fact that you did come before us. I remember my first time meeting you um in

[33:46] a committee in which we spoke with you and Miss Laura Newbert and you did

[33:50] present some um you guys did a great job of going through and presenting some um

[33:54] changes that you thought would be beneficial um just even on a you know an

[33:58] immediate level at that time. Um and I remember the momentum behind that and I

[34:02] you know want to let remind you that the why that momentum stalled. Um when we

[34:07] initiated trying to split the cost of the of the master plan with the city of

[34:11] Shreport um we had colleagues who um instead of trying to figure that out

[34:16] they much rather us defund MPC and break away from MPC alto together. So that's

[34:21] why that stalled and why once again we have kicked the can and not done a

[34:26] master plan. Um, like you stated earlier, master plan, it it puts into

[34:30] place how we'll do this for the next 20, 30 years. And I think that's important.

[34:34] And I I hope that you can recognize that. I say this because this body has

[34:39] the desire to get this this problem fixed, not just put a band-aid on it. In

[34:43] 20, 30 years, we can't say who or what a commission body will have the desire to

[34:48] do. But while we have a chance to do something, we can do so. Um, you say

[34:53] it's going to take time, we've wasted six years. like we we need to get this

[34:58] process started. We need to get this process on the on the on the ball and we

[35:02] need a thorough update what you did in 2023. Let's let's have it thorough.

[35:06] Let's expand it so that you can do the research on how we can get a master plan

[35:10] done. That's what's important to me. Um it's important for me for us to protect

[35:14] the people. Um like you said, um there are some people just as many people that

[35:18] don't like data centers. There are people that are welcoming this this new

[35:22] change in our economic landscape right now. And um even while they are like it,

[35:27] while they want to do it, we still have a duty to protect them. Um even if it's

[35:31] something as simple as us just putting in a permitting process for industrial

[35:34] permits, that at least gives us a voice because like Commissioner Burrell said,

[35:39] these things are happening well above local and sometimes even state level. So

[35:44] let's do what we can do. Let's do what we are charged to do. Let's do what we

[35:48] all took oaths to do and let's work on what we can work on here. We don't have

[35:52] to manipulate and twist law powers. We can actually put a plan in place so that

[35:57] for the next 20 to 30 years, people are protected. People have something to

[36:00] follow. You as a PCC has a document that you can refer to so that you all can

[36:05] make decisions that are equitable and that are not just on a case-byase basis

[36:09] where we're doing it for her, but we're not doing it for him because enough

[36:13] people came and said they didn't like it. So, we're going to take that

[36:15] pressure. No, we'll put that in place and so the next 20, 30 years, cattle

[36:19] pair citizens can be protected. Thank you.

[36:22] » Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

[36:24] Kraken,

[36:28] » what's up, Jake? >> Hey, Mr. Krakman. Appreciate you coming

[36:31] down and I appreciate the study. Uh, especially peer-reviewed study. Uh, that

[36:36] means it wasn't just put together by Tik Tok conspiracy theorist. So, uh,

[36:41] definitely be reading that. So, uh, more or less what what we're

[36:47] saying is is that we would appreciate mitigations in the rural areas, uh,

[36:54] sound, light, things such as that as far as our nuisance codes go, and we could

[36:59] follow and abide by that. And that would be a great compromise to the people not

[37:04] wanting zoning because you have the citizens that that don't want zoning,

[37:07] but they do want protection from industries, you know, no different than

[37:11] a frack unit or a pump jack or something like that. U which protections have been

[37:17] provided. Now, I I don't disagree uh with my other colleagues saying that

[37:24] this should be taken to a state national level. That that's for certain. And um

[37:29] and I certainly don't want to make it, you know, a political thing where, you

[37:33] know, I think everybody assumes that we should go the same route as our

[37:38] president and governor and all of this and and the truth is is most of us are

[37:42] just trying to look at it from a common sense perspective and and protect our

[37:46] citizens, albeit few. Um but the five mile boundary issues

[37:54] um have been around for six years. they do need to be whittleled down and and I

[37:59] do think that that needs to be fixed and I I believe what was proposed and I

[38:04] can't remember if it was myself or uh Commissioner John Paul Young

[38:10] uh that wanted to take funding from the MPC to fund the master plan, a new

[38:16] master plan, not completely defund them, but to help afford us the opportunity to

[38:20] jump on board with either the Shreport initiative of or our own. And what we

[38:26] all had kind of agreed to at that point was kind of a gentleman's agreement to

[38:31] see if u now director Jean would be willing to

[38:37] put in the work or if he would you know rather have us u sublet it to a

[38:44] different company. So that's a question that we haven't asked yet. Of course,

[38:47] you know, we still got plenty of time this year for budgeting, but we need to

[38:52] fix the five mile radius, the buffer zone, and we need to talk about

[38:57] mitigations around new industries. And uh like you,

[39:02] my understanding is is that there's 300 acres on 169 and latex that has been

[39:10] consumed by Invery to build a natural gas power plant. Uh I learned that today

[39:16] right before walking in here. And so that's going to be a big deal. Uh that

[39:20] that's a that would be a power plant twice the size of the one off of uh what

[39:25] is that? North common. >> Mhm.

[39:27] » And so presumably to power the data centers and

[39:32] return some energy to a know that they have a statewide deal for I think it was

[39:36] like $4 billion or something like that working with one another. And so we

[39:41] have, you know, yet another big industry that's going to go up adjacent to that

[39:44] one. And we don't have very many mitigations aside from what the EPA and

[39:48] the DEEQ have. >> And so I appreciate you separating the

[39:52] two issues for us and uh and giving us a lot of experienced fact-based

[39:57] information. Looks like I'm the last one on the board. So if you have I got three

[40:02] minutes if if you want to close out with anything. Yeah, I'll yield to you.

[40:07] Yeah, I would just I know there's been some division on the board, but I I just

[40:12] want to see y'all come together on this so that and yes, we are we do need to

[40:16] talk to Baton Rouge also, but come together to try to

[40:22] » Yes. in Congress to try to fix this, you know, and even if it's just some chapter

[40:29] 30 nuisance and some environmental committees to just slow it down, you

[40:36] know, I mean, it could buy you time if you're planning on trying to do a master

[40:41] plan in the rural area, you know, but I mean, you've got to get something on the

[40:45] board because they're coming and they're coming fast and I just we're not in a

[40:51] spot to stop it right now. We don't have

[40:54] anything to. And that's why I just want to see y'all work together as a group to

[41:00] try to see if we can get this fixed, you know, cuz I feel sorry for the people

[41:04] that are going to live next to these things. So, it's just not going to be

[41:07] good. And thank y'all.

[41:09] » All right. Thank you. Hold on just one second. Yes, sir.

[41:12] » It's been brought to my attention that I were very learned attorney. I would like

[41:15] to >> not not

[41:20] Okay. Uh I would just like to say that um

[41:26] just to kind of clarify something. >> Yes sir.

[41:28] » As as a researcher myself um

[41:35] I think it's important um that we understand what the concept of peer

[41:38] review really means. Peer review simply means that it's been

[41:43] reviewed by the peers of the researcher. other researchers in that particular

[41:49] field have also uh reviewed it. It doesn't mean that simply because

[41:54] something is peer-reviewed that the peers agree with it. I I think that's

[41:59] important to point out. Now I haven't read uh the study so I'm not here to say

[42:04] whether or not uh the peers agree with uh the analysis or the conclusions in

[42:09] the study but I think that needs to be made very very clear. peer review does

[42:14] not mean peer approved. Um, also I think it's important

[42:21] at least from my point of view that when I decided to uh run for this office, I

[42:26] had three priorities and three priorities alone. Public safety,

[42:30] economic development, and quality of life. These particular areas of concern

[42:35] are not mutually exclusive. They should complement one another. And

[42:40] as I talked about several weeks ago, um you know, as a very young man, 21, 22

[42:48] years old, I lived uh in the one park area and Came was right next door to me

[42:54] and my first child was born and I recall very vividly explosions going off in the

[43:01] middle of the night, knocking us out of the bed. And we have literally thousands

[43:05] of people who live in relative proximity of calimit in this community. And of

[43:11] course we have hundreds of thousands of people in this area that are impacted

[43:15] um by the very very hazardous carcinogens that are put out every day

[43:20] by calimett. If anybody ever heard of benzene, they know what I'm talking

[43:24] about. It's one of the most dangerous or cancercausing elements in the world. I

[43:29] just think we ought to be careful. But I do I do think that as we approach

[43:33] economic development and and it is very important economic

[43:38] development. I think it's the reason why most people

[43:41] are leaving our community is because of a lack of economic development. But at

[43:44] the same time we do have to uh responsibly

[43:50] assess economic development in terms of safety,

[43:54] public safety. I think that's very important and I think that's what

[43:58] everybody's trying to speak to. as to how safe this is.

[44:03] I just think that it's rather precarious and irresponsible to only focus on one

[44:08] industry. The reason why we put up with all this fracking, with all this

[44:14] drilling these holes in the earth, I mean, have we ever had earthquakes in

[44:18] this area before? Mm-m. I just think that

[44:23] the reason why we put up with all that, all this with fracking and all this

[44:27] explor oil exploration, it's because of the economic impact. There are a myriad

[44:33] of jobs. Um I think one of my peers who sit up here has a job that probably

[44:40] wouldn't exist if it were not for Calumet.

[44:43] And so the economic impact of the prochemical industry is widely known. I

[44:49] mean it produces trillions of dollars every year to the global economy. We see

[44:54] what's happening to the global economy just just by the slowing down of um of

[45:00] oil exploration and oil transportation through the port of Humus. And so even

[45:07] though this is dangerous, I think that we need to weigh its dangers

[45:14] in comparison to the economic impact. And I'll just close with this and I

[45:18] would invite anybody to to Google this and Google anything that I say. Just

[45:24] don't misrepresent what I say. The richest county in the United States

[45:29] of America. I want to make sure I don't tear the

[45:33] name up.

[45:37] Is a county by the name of Lden County. It's in Virginia. Let me just read you

[45:42] something real quick. In Laden County, there are 250

[45:46] operational developing data centers. It's affectionately known as data center

[45:53] alley. It has the largest concentration of data centers on the planet. On the

[45:59] planet, richest county in America. This is the income.

[46:06] Excuse me. The medium income there

[46:11] is between $150 to $175,000 a year.

[46:20] When we were in Virginia, we were informed that the minimum wage because

[46:25] of the cost of living there is $100,000. That's what they start them out with at

[46:28] data centers. And so I can really appreciate the concern because I know

[46:34] the concern is real that people have for data centers.

[46:38] But what you have to also understand, it's not that I'm not listening to them

[46:44] to their complaints about the prospects of the data center. But you have to

[46:48] understand why I'm here. I'm here because when the power goes out in the

[46:55] dead of summer, that little baby is in that bedroom crying because they're hot

[47:00] and sweating in that house because their mama or their daddy can't buy a backup

[47:05] generator. I'm here because this lady is having to

[47:11] live with her family in a roachinfested house in dilapidated housing and there

[47:17] are no jobs there. that's no way that she can enjoy social mobility. I'm here

[47:22] for people who really want a high standard of living. And so that's what I

[47:27] have to that's what I have to consider when I think about data centers versus

[47:31] the public hazards that may accompany it. And for me, as someone who's been

[47:36] researching this, ever since I was first introduced to it back in November of

[47:40] last year, the jury is still out. The jury is still out. One thing we do know

[47:46] and most of most reasonable people can agree to and that is the prochemical

[47:51] industry is very very dangerous and very very hazardous to all of us. Why do we

[47:56] put up with it? Because we're not willing to park our cars. We're not

[47:59] willing to do away with our air conditioners. And and the only thing I

[48:03] and I never said anybody should throw away their cell phones or staff for

[48:06] their cell phones. What I'm saying is that data centers are a reality in our

[48:10] lives because there is a demand for data centers. I think it's ironic that the

[48:16] very same people who do all the protesting and that is within their

[48:20] right to protest. I'm all for protest. I'm all for expressing disagreement with

[48:26] government. Anybody who follow me, they know that I'm not I'm not ashamed and

[48:30] I'm not constrained in terms of my criticism about government. But my

[48:34] problem is be consistent. Be consistent. You can't stay off of

[48:39] social media barking at data centers. That's just too

[48:44] ironic to me. If you stay off of social media, maybe there wouldn't be such a

[48:48] demand for data centers. But I digress. I really appreciate you coming forward.

[48:53] Um I I I didn't think that this would continue to be a discussion or debate

[48:57] almost a year after this idea was first introduced to this community, but uh I'm

[49:02] I imagine that it it's not going to end today. But I do appreciate you coming uh

[49:06] before uh here. I know that on occasion you sit behind here with the PCC and I

[49:11] do appreciate the work you've been doing. Thank you very much for coming,

[49:14] Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Brown.

[49:16] » All right. Uh let's see. Before we move to our next guest, uh I just want to

[49:20] take this opportunity uh to bring a little bit more levity to um our uh

[49:25] meeting. Uh that beautiful young lady uh with the blue jean jacket and with the

[49:29] yellow shirt on is arguably inarguably one of my favorite people on the whole

[49:35] wide world. And if you guess she kind of look like me. Uh that is my middle

[49:40] daughter. Um, I love her. I would I would die for her. Uh, give her a

[49:45] kidney. Uh, she's someone that I I tell you, I I would paint the sky if I could

[49:49] for her. And I'm just so happy uh that she's here today in the audience. Will

[49:53] you please stand?

[49:59] » Just just give her more money. She'll be happy.

[50:02] » Well, thank you so much, Torculin. And also, she's the mother of my grand my

[50:05] grandchild. So, hey, y'all y'all y'all let me out of this moment. Okay. Uh now

[50:11] at this time I want to invite um one of my um very very uh distinguished uh

[50:16] constituents uh who would like to come up and make a presentation. Mr. Irma

[50:20] Rogers

[50:43] Good afternoon. >> Afternoon,

[50:45] » President Young, Vice President Thomas, other commissioners, Mrs. Erica Bryant,

[50:51] and staff. Thank you for this time. The folders that you're receiving right

[50:57] now will have a copy of the bellshaped curve

[51:04] in its simplicity, not in its standard form for statistics

[51:10] for what I attempt to present to you today. And also a copy of school

[51:15] closures, a condensed version of what happens to black and brown communities

[51:22] from school closures.

[51:26] Does everybody have a folder?

[51:31] Thank you. If you look at the bellshaped curve in

[51:36] your folder and you'll notice

[51:41] at the very far left you see excellent performance above

[51:46] expectations in the middle meets expectations and on the right side below

[51:52] expectations serious underperformance. This curve has been the standard for

[51:57] over a hundred years. concerning education

[52:02] and looking at what our children are being asked to do. Now, I bring this up

[52:07] because in 2021, the MLKCDC instituted summer basics program and we do receive

[52:14] funds from this body to help us with our tutors and summer basics and other

[52:20] programs that we run in terms of education.

[52:23] So now none of our schools were like F

[52:29] with the last reading. Now there are some new scores going to be coming out,

[52:33] but all of our schools came up at least to a D status. Uh, one high school,

[52:39] Green Oaks, is B. Not only are they B, they scored in the top 50 of high

[52:46] schools in the United States for CLIP, the college level entry program test.

[52:52] they scored at that level last year. This was reported in November.

[52:59] So, I wanted to bring that up to just let you know how hard we try to work

[53:03] with our schools after instituting summer basics where we put in place and

[53:10] we had a full month at that time in 2021. Since that time, we've not had

[53:15] that because the school board takes the first couple of weeks of June to run

[53:19] summer programming. So we have to take the last couple of weeks. So we only

[53:23] have about nine to 10 days to run it now. Okay.

[53:27] But the state superintendent Dr. Kate Bramley reported 2023 when he came to

[53:31] St. Mary College here and I was in attendance that Louisiana has come up

[53:36] from the bottom from 49. We were up to 42 and I think we up to like 38 now or

[53:41] 32. I don't know the most current but we came up to like 42 in a couple of years.

[53:47] He said this was based on going back to the basics, teaching phonics, not the

[53:52] phonics of the 40s and the 50s, but what we did in the 80s and the 90s that

[53:57] helped to gradually bring these up. My question to him at that time, February

[54:02] 2023, was are you going to mandate this for all of our parishes? His answer is

[54:10] no, they cannot. Each local school board governs what goes on in that parish. And

[54:18] the same about mathematics. Going back to the old 100 fact

[54:25] pages that we use for students, 100 problems and teaching the basic facts,

[54:31] those kinds of things. But just just to put into focus what's happened within

[54:38] our communities, let me name for you the schools that have closed in the past 20

[54:44] plus years. Jack P. Timmons, Ingresol, Union Street, Pier Avenue, also known as

[54:51] George P. Hendricks, Laurel Street, Central Elementary, West Shreport

[54:55] Elementary, Newton Smith, Stona Hill, Hillsdale, Queensboro, Sunset Acres,

[55:02] Warner Park, Fair Park, 81st Street, and Blanchard. Repurposed Laneir North Side.

[55:10] North Side is now inside of Lenir School, Bthoon Oak Park, and Morttown

[55:18] really is at an impass right now. that's supposed to be turned over for another

[55:22] housing project. At any rate, all of these schools total up 19 schools and

[55:28] these are primarily within the black and brown communities.

[55:32] This sheet will tell you what happens when you close the schools in our black

[55:38] and brown communities. It means getting up so early.

[55:43] It means not being able to stay for tutoring because your bus is going to be

[55:47] so late. you might not get home until after 6:00 in the evening and then you

[55:51] have to get food and rest and get up the next day and do it all over again. So I

[55:56] wanted to call that to your attention and just to make you aware that with

[56:02] them moving we reached the targets got all the schools up at least out of F

[56:07] category some to B Category etc. And then now students are being able being

[56:14] asked to do mastery and advance. It's as if the center of this curve where you

[56:22] see most of the students even if you think back when you were in school how

[56:26] many children were in your class of say 25 or 30 students that were all A and B.

[56:31] Were they all A and B students? I don't think so. Even in college, you can

[56:38] graduate with a college degree with a C average.

[56:43] So, think about what Bessie and the State Department is asking us to do.

[56:51] My reason for bringing it to this this commission is if possible,

[56:58] please call this to the attention of the Bessie board and any of our state

[57:02] education department persons that you might know or our state legislators

[57:07] because where will it end? You want everybody to be an A student.

[57:13] This whole world is not designed like that. By and large, if you look at it,

[57:21] most people fall within the C or average range.

[57:26] You have a few people who are exceptional. You have a few people who

[57:31] really need special needs services, but everyone is not A and B.

[57:37] So, you're asking teachers to teach and to do things with not one hand, now with

[57:42] two hands tied behind their backs. And then the resources, many of the

[57:47] resources that were needed within our schools, our community would help to

[57:53] provide because they're not presently there. We

[57:58] found this out with the pandemic in 2020.

[58:02] when we saw the digital divide firsthand. When we had children in my

[58:07] neighborhood sitting in front of the library just for internet access and not

[58:12] through any fault of their own, one of the apartment complexes had some kind of

[58:17] a beam that ran up in it that would not allow

[58:20] the service to come through. So, children had to learn however best they

[58:26] could learn. So resources are a big determining factor in what happens in

[58:33] those classrooms. I think I've taken up enough of your time. Please let me know

[58:37] if you have any questions. You can have all the information and

[58:43] we are proud of what our teachers have been doing with the funds that you give

[58:48] us and we give them because they have made changes. But we're asking them now

[58:55] to make every child an A and B student. That's why I bought the curve.

[59:00] » Question. >> Let's see. The chair recognizes

[59:03] Commissioner Ken Eperson. >> M. Rogers. Have you made this

[59:07] presentation to the school board? >> No, sir. I I have not. I felt like

[59:12] coming here first because basically my understanding cat the schools really are

[59:18] part of the parish and you are the parish commission.

[59:23] Am I correct? >> Oh, but are you going to make the

[59:26] presentation to the school board? I think you should.

[59:29] » I can make the presentation, but I wanted to come here first.

[59:34] » Thank you. >> Thank Thank you for your question,

[59:36] Commissioner Ken Epson. Um, is there anyone else has a question? This

[59:42] recognizes Commissioner Robert. Just a followup uh statement that uh

[59:47] Commissioner Eper said and and your statement about the school being in the

[59:52] parish. You're right about that, but we has we have no jurisdiction to

[59:56] understand over the school board. Now, we we can

[1:00:00] advocate or complain and protest just as you. But I don't think we have any

[1:00:06] direct authority. I know we don't fund them. Commission does. Am I correct, Mr.

[1:00:10] President? >> Yes, sir.

[1:00:11] » So, I just wanted to make that observation.

[1:00:14] » I understand a lot of their funding comes from our very tax dollars.

[1:00:18] » Yeah.

[1:00:21] » Yeah. Just one continuation on this. It's interesting that you would bring

[1:00:26] this because um I had an experience when I was in the legislature

[1:00:32] uh when we started applying grades to schools A B C D so forth. So, I thought

[1:00:40] I was uh be smart enough to go and get a fourth grade and an eighth grade LEAP

[1:00:46] test and take a portion of it from the fourth grade LEAP test and the eighth

[1:00:52] grade leap test uh and introduce it to my colleagues

[1:00:59] uh there in the educational on the educational committee uh to let them

[1:01:03] know that I didn't think that the the grades that they were applying to school

[1:01:09] really was applicable. So I gave I decided to

[1:01:15] take a portion of the fourth grade and the eighth grade LEAP test and give it

[1:01:18] to my colleagues in the legislature. Don't you know they asked me to leave as

[1:01:24] a legisl as the legislator because when they looked at it they realized that

[1:01:29] they couldn't fill it out. They could not u answer the questions. So it it it

[1:01:34] really to me brought to the forefront that

[1:01:40] sometimes we as public officials make these rules

[1:01:46] that we have no idea of what's in them. And and uh I think that was a perfect

[1:01:52] example. I politely got up and walked out

[1:01:56] uh uh of the committee, but I proved my point. So again, I I you know, this kind

[1:02:04] of br that back to life for me. Thank you, Mr. President.

[1:02:08] » Thank you. Thank you for your observations. Commissioner, uh the chair

[1:02:11] recognizes Commissioner John Atkins. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Miss Rogers,

[1:02:15] thanks for coming down to visit with us. Thank you for choosing Cattle Parish

[1:02:19] Commission First to meet with. You're always welcome to visit with us and we

[1:02:23] were glad to see you today. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:02:25] » Thank you. Thank you for that observation and and that uh that mention

[1:02:29] commissioner. Um I I I too I think it's important that you came to us today. Oh,

[1:02:34] I apologize. The chair recognizes Commissioner Ron Cotton.

[1:02:37] » Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. Rogers, thank you very much for this information

[1:02:41] because as a citizen of Cattle Parish, I think we've all heard about school

[1:02:47] closures and we've heard different things about it. But, you know, the

[1:02:50] presentation that you made today uh kind of solidifies some things that I have

[1:02:54] always thought uh as a former educator. I have never seen as many schools close

[1:03:02] in a parish county as I have till I came back home. And the thing about it going

[1:03:10] forward, it's not just Carol Parish schools. it's elected officials and

[1:03:17] parents must acknowledge what is or could be going on as well. Uh because

[1:03:24] again every child learns at his or her own pace. That's the first thing and a

[1:03:28] lot of people forget that uh the kids you might not be excelling in the first

[1:03:32] grade but you know by the time you get fifth sixth grade you just take off and

[1:03:35] it happens a whole bunch. So going forward, I think the most important

[1:03:39] thing is that we just must share this information throughout our community so

[1:03:43] everybody's on the same sheet of music or have a opportunity to understand it

[1:03:47] if they choose to. Thank you very much. >> Thank you.

[1:03:51] » Thank you. And and again, Mr. Rogers, um your passion for public education is uh

[1:03:56] very well known and really do appreciate you coming to us today. Look forward to

[1:04:01] uh future presentations that you come to make to this body. Thank you very much.

[1:04:05] » Thank you for allowing me the time. Right,

[1:04:09] Mr. Click, where are we? >> Okay, that uh so just uh for the record,

[1:04:14] I think that was um maybe like kind of a a president's report item that that we

[1:04:20] took up under visitors. Um so that brings us back to adopting regular

[1:04:24] session minutes um where you do have both the regular

[1:04:29] session minutes and the um special session uh meeting from August 28th.

[1:04:35] » All right. The chair rec well the mo there's been a motion by commissioner

[1:04:39] Victor Thomas and a second by commissioner Ron Cland.

[1:04:42] » Thank you Mr. President. I'd like to make a motion to adopt the minutes of

[1:04:46] the August 20th regular session. The minutes of the August 28th cattle

[1:04:49] commission special session meeting um the special resolution section and I'll

[1:04:55] stop right there.

[1:04:59] the whole special >> the whole special resolution section

[1:05:04] » to include any presentations or any comments by any commissioners.

[1:05:07] » Okay. So that goes all the way down to communication.

[1:05:13] » Right. Okay. All right. Um let's see. Commissioner uh Cochman, would you like

[1:05:19] to speak on that? Are you good? >> Thank you, Mr. President. I'm good

[1:05:24] because uh yeah, I'm good. Thank you. >> Uh let's see. The chair recognizes

[1:05:28] Commissioner Ken Eperson. >> Uh, Mr. President, I'd like for the uh

[1:05:33] special resolution for the Miles family reunion to be read in the record and

[1:05:37] I'll present it to them in October at the family reunion which be held in

[1:05:41] Cattle Parish. >> Okay. Well, just to be clear, you want

[1:05:43] the clerk to read into the record today? >> Yes. Yes, sir.

[1:05:46] » Okay. Um, would it be appropriate to read into the record prior to voting on

[1:05:50] it, Mr. Clerk, or should we do the vote on all of it then? I think it might be

[1:05:54] most appropriate to do the vote first and then we can read it into the record

[1:05:57] and then do any other presentations at that point.

[1:06:00] » Okay. Well, thank you. All right. Let's vote.

[1:06:06] » Thank you all. And that motion carries unanimously with uh nine in support,

[1:06:10] none in opposition, and three absent. Uh and at this point, I can um read that uh

[1:06:18] resolution into the record. And I have it right here.

[1:06:25] Um, as well as, uh, I believe the only other special resolution that we have,

[1:06:30] uh, is going to be for, uh, some of our staff members who, uh, may be making

[1:06:35] their way up shortly. Um, but this is the special resolution for the Miles

[1:06:40] family. Uh and it reads uh whereas the Cat Parish Commission is pleased to

[1:06:44] recognize the Miles family reunion and celebrate a family whose enduring bonds,

[1:06:49] cherished traditions, and shared history have united generations for more than a

[1:06:53] century and where the foundation of this remarkable family legacy was uh

[1:06:57] strengthened through a loving marriage established on December 12th, 1912. a

[1:07:02] union characterized by devotion, perseverance, faith, and unwavering

[1:07:07] determination to build a family rooted in pride and purpose. Whereas from that

[1:07:11] union came 12 children, seven sons and five daughters who became anchors,

[1:07:16] teachers, protectors, and sources of inspiration within the family, carrying

[1:07:21] forward the principles instilled in them and helping to create a living history

[1:07:25] that continues through their descendants. Whereas the family

[1:07:29] established a home upon 11.5 acres along Mount Mount Olive Church Road uh and the

[1:07:35] treasured property has remained within the family for more than 113 years with

[1:07:40] members of the family continuing to reside upon the land today. Whereas the

[1:07:44] ancestral homestead stands as a lasting bridge between past and present, a place

[1:07:50] of comfort, belonging, and remembrance that continues to welcome family members

[1:07:54] home. Even succeeding generations have established lives in their communities

[1:07:59] miles away, many miles away. Whereas through changing times and across

[1:08:04] generations, the Miles family ancestors and elders have served as mentors, quiet

[1:08:09] supporters, and faithful guardians of the family, offering boundless love,

[1:08:13] courageous leadership, and unwavering guidance that have held the family

[1:08:17] together through hardship and triumph. Whereas the devotion to prayer, service,

[1:08:22] generosity, and mutual care has enriched not only the lives of their descendants,

[1:08:26] but also the communities in which members of the Miles family have lived,

[1:08:30] worked, worshiped, and served. Whereas by passing down invaluable traditions,

[1:08:34] cultural heritage, family stories, spiritual values, and essential life

[1:08:39] lessons, the elders of the Miles family created a legacy that continues to

[1:08:43] sustain and inspire each new generation. And whereas the Miles family reunion

[1:08:47] provides a meaningful opportunity for relatives to return to their roots,

[1:08:51] honor those who came before them, strengthen existing relationships,

[1:08:55] welcome younger generations into the family's living history, and renew the

[1:08:59] commitment to preserving the legacy entrusted to their care. And whereas the

[1:09:03] Kaparish Commission recognizes that strong families are essential to strong

[1:09:06] communities and commen commends the Miles family for preserving the love,

[1:09:10] faith, resilience, and unity that have remained hallmarks of their family for

[1:09:14] generation. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Cat Parish Commission

[1:09:18] does hereby recognize and congratulate the Miles family upon the celebration of

[1:09:22] its family reunion in Kado Parish from October 9th to October 11th, 2026 and

[1:09:28] extends its sincere wishes for a joyous and memorable gathering filled with

[1:09:32] fellowship, reflection, gratitude, and renewed family bonds. Be it for the

[1:09:36] resolve that the cutter commission honors the memory and sacrifices of the

[1:09:39] Miles family ancestors, celebrates the generations who continue their legacy,

[1:09:43] and encourages the family to remain steadfast in preserving its traditions,

[1:09:47] strengthening its connections, and sharing its remarkable history with

[1:09:51] generations to come. >> Okay.

[1:09:58] Commissioner um Ken Epson, >> Mr. President, I wanted to have that

[1:10:02] read in the record today. uh plan to have uh family members present today.

[1:10:08] However, one of the members uh passed upon last week and they're going to be

[1:10:12] funeralizing him this Saturday. >> Uh so they won't be able to attend. So

[1:10:16] that's why I wanted to do that. >> All right. Thank you.

[1:10:18] » Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Great job, sir.

[1:10:23] » Okay. Then we have h we have resolution and appreciation for

[1:10:28] » at this point we have a yeah we are uh have a resolution of recognition

[1:10:32] honoring Tom Fannon and Charles Mccclure. If uh Tom and Chucky could

[1:10:36] make their way up that would be great. I believe they'll be joined by

[1:10:43] Jacobs Paulo and maybe other members of uh facilities crew might be uh coming as

[1:10:48] well. I'll begin by reading it into the record. It reads, "Whereas the Cat

[1:10:52] Parish Commission takes great pride in recognizing those public servants whose

[1:10:57] faithful work, professional expertise, and personal commitment have contributed

[1:11:01] immeasurably to the effective operations of parish government. And whereas Tom

[1:11:06] Fannon and Charles Mccclure are retiring from the Cat Parish facilities and

[1:11:09] maintenance department following distinguished careers as audiovisisual

[1:11:13] engineers during which they provided decades of exceptional service to the

[1:11:17] parish of Kado and most especially to the Kato Parish Commission. Throughout

[1:11:21] their career, Tom and Charles have worked diligently behind the scenes to

[1:11:24] ensure that the proceedings of the commission could be her could be clearly

[1:11:28] heard, accurately recorded, reliably preserved, and made accessible to the

[1:11:33] citizens of Katau Parish. And whereas their years of service have spanned an

[1:11:37] extraordinary period of technological transformation in which public meetings

[1:11:42] progressed from traditional microphones, analog recordings, and limited

[1:11:45] broadcasts to digital audio and video, internet streaming, video on demand,

[1:11:50] teleconferencing, mobile devices, and immediate public access across multiple

[1:11:54] platforms. And whereas each advancement brought new equipment, new expectations,

[1:11:59] and new challenges, requiring Tom and Charles to continually adapt their

[1:12:03] knowledge, develop innovative solutions, and respond promptly to the rapidly

[1:12:07] evolving needs of commissioners, parish employees, and members of the media and

[1:12:11] public. And whereas citizens increasingly came to expect convenient

[1:12:15] and immediate access to their government, Tom and Charles played an

[1:12:19] essential role in helping the commission expand transparency, public

[1:12:22] participation, and accessibility by ensuring that meetings could reach

[1:12:26] constituents both inside and beyond the walls of Government Plaza. And whereas

[1:12:30] through countless commission meetings, committee sessions, public hearings,

[1:12:34] special events, presentations, and teleconferences, they could be relied

[1:12:38] upon to make certain that microphones were working, presentations were

[1:12:41] visible, broadcasts were available, recordings were preserved, and

[1:12:45] unexpected technical difficulties were resolved. Whereas the success of their

[1:12:50] work was often measured by how seamlessly each meeting proceeded, yet

[1:12:53] beyond the apparent ease where years of experience, careful preparation,

[1:12:57] technical skill, patience, and abiding commitment to getting the job done.

[1:13:03] Whereas Tom and Charles met with the pressure of live public meetings and

[1:13:06] constant technological challenges with dependability, good humor, calm

[1:13:10] professionalism, and a willingness to assist whenever and wherever they were

[1:13:14] needed. And whereas their service extended far beyond equipment and

[1:13:18] technology, for they became trusted colleagues and valued members of the

[1:13:22] parish family, whose personalities, friendship, institutional knowledge, and

[1:13:26] reassuring presence will be deeply missed. Whereas Tom Fannon and Charles

[1:13:30] Mccclure prepare to begin their well-earned retirements, the Kat Parish

[1:13:34] Commission desires that they know how greatly their service has been valued

[1:13:37] and how sincerely their many contributions are appreciated. Now

[1:13:41] therefore be it resolved that by the Katy Parish Commission does hereby

[1:13:45] recognize and commend Tom Fannon and Charles Mccclure for their decades of

[1:13:49] dedicated service as uh with the Cat Parish facilities and maintenance

[1:13:53] department and for their indispensable support of the commission and the

[1:13:57] citizens of Kado Parish.

[1:14:09] Click

[1:14:53] Well, as calm and soft spoken as I am, some of you all get that they still

[1:14:59] decided to let me speak. You know, it's hard to believe it's been

[1:15:02] this many years. It really is. But as I look around, there's like three faces,

[1:15:08] maybe four faces I see that were here when both of us started, which lets me

[1:15:12] know how far we have. I mean, how much things have changed.

[1:15:16] It's just hard to believe it's been that many years. It It doesn't seem like it.

[1:15:22] I mean, it's weird. We started in the courthouse on the fourth floor, which is

[1:15:26] where the commission meeting started before we moved into here. And this was

[1:15:30] all hightech when we got here. And if you look at what it was then and what it

[1:15:34] is now, it's two completely different. But the neat thing is the team has

[1:15:39] stayed pretty well cohesive. I mean, everybody, it's amazing to me we can

[1:15:44] attract the caliber of people that we do and hang on to them for as long as we do

[1:15:49] because a normal job, you know, you go, you don't go somewhere for 25 years

[1:15:53] anymore. You may go two or three and then you jump somewhere else and, you

[1:15:56] know, it's just unusual that that happens. And it's

[1:16:02] I don't know. It started after like 15 years, it started feeling like home.

[1:16:06] » And it's which is scary, but that's just No, I'm out of stuff to say. And I

[1:16:14] said I'd keep it clean. And I know all the deputies, so they're

[1:16:19] not going to throw me out of here. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

[1:16:24] » All right. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:16:28] It's a bit surreal for us to be on this side of the cameras, so bear with us.

[1:16:33] But like Tom said, uh, we I started filming the meetings back in 1997, and I

[1:16:39] know Commissioner Eper remembers. It was on video cassette tape, fourth floor of

[1:16:43] the courthouse. It's now a courtroom. Uh, and then Tom and I was talking the

[1:16:48] other day. We calculated that we have filmed over 1,500 commission meetings in

[1:16:53] our career. episode, and this is the last one for us. So, we

[1:16:57] thank y'all. >> All right. Thank you very much.

[1:17:00] Look, you know, you know what I'm thinking?

[1:17:04] Um, you know, we we just really start

[1:17:07] getting it uh the the technology right and now y'all leaving.

[1:17:13] Well, thank you all so much. Um, they said we're going to kind of go, I guess,

[1:17:17] in a little bit in reverse. um uh your your CEO uh even though she's not first

[1:17:22] on the board. I know it's only because she didn't hit on it first, but I I

[1:17:27] think um u my colleagues wouldn't mind if she went first. Um Madam

[1:17:32] Administrator, >> yes, thank you. I just wanted to say to

[1:17:36] um Tom and Charles um on behalf of administration, thank you. Um, you all

[1:17:43] have, I mean, the commissioners may not know the level of effort and level of

[1:17:46] time you all put into your work, not just only for commission meetings, but

[1:17:50] what you're doing every day in day in and day out. I know I've had to speak to

[1:17:54] both of you all at some point and sometimes during the hours, after hours,

[1:17:58] and you're always available. You are those unsung heroes that are working

[1:18:02] behind the scenes and people may not know um the level of work that you're

[1:18:07] doing on behalf of Cattle Parish and behalf of Cattle Parish citizens. And

[1:18:10] for that I want to um thank you. I want to wish you the best in your retirement

[1:18:14] and know that we will miss you and anytime Kettle Parish can be of

[1:18:19] assistance to you, we're right here ready for so enjoy your retirement.

[1:18:23] Thank you.

[1:18:27] that chair recognizes Commissioner Ken Everson.

[1:18:31] » U my partner Charles, we go way back to Brookers on West 85th and Lynwood Avenue

[1:18:40] even before uh you got hired here. Uh I was starting my community activism out

[1:18:46] there and we worked uh with Brookers as far as community meetings and

[1:18:52] always had a respect for you. you could always see your personality

[1:18:58] uh from working there at Brooks. And as I went on down the road and got hired on

[1:19:03] the commission, uh you came aboard. And uh Brother Tom, there I didn't realize

[1:19:10] you were so articulate with words. You quiet, but you you did you did pretty

[1:19:15] good. I'm I'm going to put you on the public speaking circuit now time. And uh

[1:19:20] I call them the dynamic duo. you know, I I did things a little different. Uh

[1:19:26] started the community meetings uh out in the community, brought the entire parish

[1:19:31] government to the communities, and those two gentlemen was out there to record

[1:19:35] video um community ebony center, Cedar Grove. Some of you may not know what

[1:19:41] that is. That's the O&P store that Miss Gloria Harrison bought. And that's where

[1:19:45] we start our first community meetings out in out in Cedar Grove uh with

[1:19:51] Greenwood, Bethany, everywhere. And you all were there, the Rose Center always

[1:19:57] with your technology. And we appreciate you uh so very much. And uh your

[1:20:02] attitudes have been uh you know just just phenomenal. And if if more

[1:20:07] employees were like you too, gentlemen, uh we will be even better than we are

[1:20:11] today. And uh once again, if there's anything I can do, you know, we always

[1:20:17] ask, "How's your wives doing? How's your families doing?" We know each other like

[1:20:21] that. So feel free to call on me at any any time. And thank you very much.

[1:20:28] » Thank you, Commissioner. The chair recognizes Commissioner John.

[1:20:32] » Thank you, Mr. President. Um, Charles and Tom, I really can't say anything

[1:20:37] different or in addition to what Miss Bryant said and what Commissioner

[1:20:40] Jefferson said, but we sure have enjoyed having you all all these years. We hate

[1:20:45] to see you go, but everybody, you certainly have earned the right to uh to

[1:20:49] explore other avenues and new adventures. But I'll miss seeing you

[1:20:52] guys as I leave at the end of a meeting and uh and getting feedback and

[1:20:57] commentary. And that was all part of my routine. So, I'm going to have to find

[1:21:00] some new some are y'all going to be y'all going to hang out after meetings.

[1:21:06] But thank you all for all you've done and uh I I wish you all all the

[1:21:09] happiness and success in your in your retirements.

[1:21:12] » Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Commissioner Atkins. Uh the

[1:21:14] chair recognizes Commissioner Ron Cth. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I would just

[1:21:19] like to say congratulations to the both of you all. Even though I wasn't here

[1:21:23] when you started, it's really uh gives me a very happy feeling seeing the

[1:21:30] amount of time, the amount of effort, and particularly for those that can go

[1:21:33] back with you all because I'm sure you've seen a lot of people come and go

[1:21:37] during your particular times. And the most important thing is that you're able

[1:21:40] to walk out of here and be able to do some of the things that you've been

[1:21:44] putting off for years. And again, I thank you for this opportunity. I thank

[1:21:48] for the handshakes, the hells, and the goodbyes and things of this nature.

[1:21:51] Please don't stop coming by every now and then. Thank you very much. It's my

[1:21:55] pleasure meeting you both. >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner.

[1:21:59] Appreciate those remarks. Uh, Commissioner John Paul Young, the chair

[1:22:02] recognizes you, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. President.

[1:22:05] Congratulations to both of you. Uh, I'll miss you. I'll miss the cheerful

[1:22:09] greeting that you always give me when I sneak in that back door with sometimes

[1:22:14] with butterflies in my stomach about the meeting or sometimes just, you know,

[1:22:18] walking in and I'll I'll miss saying goodbye to you when I sneak out early or

[1:22:22] when I leave on time. And uh >> I know you never you never tell him, but

[1:22:27] you record it all. And the thing that I always think of when I when I pass by

[1:22:31] you guys is and uh it's like from the Wizard of Oz when when they say pay no

[1:22:36] attention to the man behind the curtain because it feels like you know sometimes

[1:22:41] you're in total control of the whole room. It's like we can't even have a

[1:22:44] meeting if you're not there. So I really appreciate all the work you've done.

[1:22:47] It's been um it's been a pleasure to get to know you a little bit and I hope you

[1:22:51] have a wonderful retirement. I hope you'll stick around in Shreport and Cat

[1:22:56] Parish. But if you decide to, you know, go somewhere else, I hope you have a

[1:23:00] wonderful journey and a great retirement. Thank you.

[1:23:03] » Thank you, Commissioner Young. The chair recognizes Commissioner Victor Thomas.

[1:23:08] » Thank you, um, Mr. President. Um, I'll speak for the new faces, um, on the

[1:23:12] board. Um, thank you all for congratulations on your retirement and

[1:23:15] thank you for the work that you guys have done. um as a millennial I didn't

[1:23:19] know um I I see them all the times but I wasn't as well verssed about the fact

[1:23:24] that we offer our meetings online and um I don't think um like Commissioner John

[1:23:28] Paul Young said you know this doesn't just happen by us it's like literally a

[1:23:32] whole team of individuals um that are led by you all that produce these

[1:23:36] meetings um you guys did a great job last Friday and you can produce these

[1:23:39] meetings here or everywhere anywhere um in the land of Oz wherever we want to do

[1:23:44] them you guys make it happen so um congratulations on that And um like I

[1:23:48] say um a lot of people and I try to um bring a lot of attention to that that

[1:23:52] you guys um so dutifully post the meetings um online that they're

[1:23:55] available for citizens to watch on there. Um so and I I like to let people

[1:24:00] know that we are a digital, you know, commission body and you can access us um

[1:24:04] on the website and on the things. So I know that you guys had a heavy hand in

[1:24:07] making that happen and making it continue to go. So congratulations. I

[1:24:11] hope the quality doesn't fail now that y'all are leaving to Commissioner Eris's

[1:24:16] point, but um we know that you guys have left, you know, blueprint so that

[1:24:19] whoever follows behind are going to be able to follow and they have some big

[1:24:21] shoes to fill. So, congratulations. >> Right. Thank you, Commissioner. Uh the

[1:24:26] chair recognizes Commissioner Rob Bell. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Again, I want

[1:24:31] to congratulate Jaws and uh and Tom on their retirement.

[1:24:36] I was around when we first came to this building. We used to uh um I was on the

[1:24:40] city council. I was a part of uh of helping set up the technology here

[1:24:46] because I was a telecommunication engineer during that time and on Texas

[1:24:51] Street. We had no uh technology over there. We just shouted out what we

[1:24:57] needed into the audience. But it but uh when we set it up over here, it's it's

[1:25:02] it's a lot better than it was when we started. So I I can contribute that to

[1:25:07] you guys. Um I I met you after I had had uh come upon the uh the commission but

[1:25:15] um but you must be pretty brilliant to get into technology and learn it on your

[1:25:20] own unless you actually went and studied it somewhere. So I I admire you for

[1:25:25] that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[1:25:34] I I had the benefit um the privilege um of retiring from federal service for

[1:25:39] almost 34 years. And um it's difficult sometimes for me to really comprehend

[1:25:44] the fact that I've been retired for 18 years. And so I kind of know what it's

[1:25:49] like to have a long career. Um but I can assure you that there's a second act in

[1:25:54] store for you. It may not be determined as yet what you're going to be doing,

[1:25:57] but I'm very confident based on your contribution here that you're going to

[1:26:01] continue to be a major comm community uh change maker uh uh for for this

[1:26:07] community. And uh thank you again. Thank you all very much for all that you do

[1:26:10] for cattle. Appreciate it.

[1:26:16] » And just to set the record straight, the streaming that y'all were talking about,

[1:26:19] that's Tracy in the IT department. That's not us. I'm not taking somebody

[1:26:23] else's credit. >> Well, if you're going to get the blame,

[1:26:26] you might as well get some credit. >> Thank you again.

[1:26:30] » It takes a whole team of people to make that many mistakes.

[1:26:35] » We all We all play a part in technical glitches, but

[1:26:37] » That's right. Okay, Miss Clay, where are we?

[1:26:39] » We are um at communicates and committee reports where we start off with an

[1:26:44] administrative response to information requests for uh from commissioners.

[1:26:49] » Good afternoon, commissioners. I have uh nothing else to add and my report was uh

[1:26:54] related to Tom and Shaw. So congratulations to them again. Thank

[1:26:58] you. >> Thank you. Uh the chair recognizes

[1:27:03] Commissioner Ken Eperson. >> I just wanted to uh chime in on uh

[1:27:09] Mr. Rogers's report. uh very informative

[1:27:16] and should have been out here a long time ago.

[1:27:20] Uh as uh an individual that

[1:27:26] Let me see. I got to count them up. I got I just had number eight great the

[1:27:30] other day on June 29th. got eight grades, 16 grand and uh all of them were

[1:27:39] in Cattle Parish public school system, including myself. And one correlation

[1:27:45] that I've always noted is that all these places where these schools have closed,

[1:27:51] those neighborhoods have denigrated.

[1:27:56] Those neighborhoods have denigrated. And one thing that hangs in my crawl is

[1:28:03] the school that's down on Pier Avenue. Uh what was the name of that one?

[1:28:09] » George. >> George P. Hendricks. That was my seventh

[1:28:13] grade de debate teacher, an American history teacher.

[1:28:20] And his name is still up on that dilapidated raggedy building.

[1:28:26] If I wasn't at the age I am, I would get my ladder and go down and pull it down.

[1:28:31] I think I think it's just unconscionable and

[1:28:35] disrespectful as to the things he provided to

[1:28:42] thousands of individuals at Union Junior Senior High School.

[1:28:49] Thank you. >> Thank you for your remarks,

[1:28:51] Commissioner. The chair recognizes Commissioner John Paul Young.

[1:28:57] Thank you, Mr. President. Um, Attorney Frasier, were you able to look up the

[1:29:01] question about whether we could um change our meeting times to 5:30?

[1:29:10] » Commissioner, I was not, but I will get you that information.

[1:29:13] » Okay. Thank you. And um if you when you get it to me, could you share it with

[1:29:16] the other commissioners, too, please? >> We'll do.

[1:29:18] » Thank you.

[1:29:25] Oh, thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Um, listen, Commissioner Robert.

[1:29:30] Uh, Mr. President, I just wanted to be added to the special resolution.

[1:29:35] » Okay. Well, just to be clear, we we we're no longer in administrative

[1:29:39] reports. We're in communications. >> I know.

[1:29:42] » Okay. No, no, I'm just trying to clarify that for everybody else.

[1:29:47] » Okay. Uh, Commissioner Thomas, >> thank you so much. And I do um apologize

[1:29:52] in advance and I hope that you all will um indulge me. Um so much has been going

[1:29:57] on in Shreport and so much to commun to communicate about to you all. Um first I

[1:30:02] want to start by saying to the members of the appropriations committee um and I

[1:30:05] also have permission from the chair of economics um development. Um just a

[1:30:10] reminder that your scoring packets were due today. Um if you have not turned

[1:30:13] them in, please do so soon. Um if not tomorrow, let's try not to lapse past

[1:30:18] this weekend. and I will be here on Monday trying to help sift through some

[1:30:21] of that with our administration and our staff. So, um uh please try to get those

[1:30:25] in for me. Um I wanted to say that I was inspired by a guest to our community, uh

[1:30:29] Mr. Scott Passfield. Um there's a post going on on social media. I've shared it

[1:30:34] on my page where he um passes through Cattle all the time on I 20 and um he

[1:30:39] just happened to stop. he was passing through during a sunset and he was just

[1:30:42] compelled to pull over and take photos of what he saw and he had some beautiful

[1:30:47] photos of our skyline. He had some beautiful photos of um um just some

[1:30:51] images here in Cattle Parish and um what he reminded I think has kind of

[1:30:55] reignited and I'm glad to see this in our community. People um things that we

[1:30:59] take for granted, you know, um he really highlighted that in a very beautiful way

[1:31:03] and I'm glad to see members of the community that are sharing that

[1:31:05] information. Um, so I just wanted to say, um, you know, thank you for that.

[1:31:10] He he really highlighted the treasures that we have here. And, you know, I'm

[1:31:13] hoping that we can have, you know, some new treasures. Um, I do want to say

[1:31:16] congratulations and a thank you, if I had not said it already, to the staff

[1:31:20] for such a professional presentation that they provided on last Friday. Um, I

[1:31:24] am still getting calls about that. Um, they're very thank um, the citizens are

[1:31:28] very thankful for that information. So, thank you for that. And I want to um,

[1:31:32] applaud you on the website. It's been really useful um for me as I've been

[1:31:36] talking to people about these things. Um so they've been very very receptive to

[1:31:40] that and um just want to remind everybody to go to cattle sports cattle

[1:31:44] cattle.gov/cattleports.

[1:31:48] Let me get it right. Um because it's a lot of great information there and I

[1:31:51] just want to applaud y'all on that again. Um Miss um Miss Nations if you

[1:31:56] could um assist me real quick. Um thank y'all for your indulgement.

[1:32:01] Um wanted to remind everybody that SWCO has a program that's going on between

[1:32:04] October 30 um through October 31st. Um it is offering temporary support for

[1:32:09] existing residential customers. Um a lot of people are um do dealing with the

[1:32:14] extreme heat. Um I know I've been running my air conditioner nonstop. I'm

[1:32:18] sure others have to try to combat the extreme temperature. So, um they're

[1:32:22] pausing the required deposits, um waving late payment fees for um customers who

[1:32:27] contact SwepCo for assistance and they're also expanding eligibility for

[1:32:31] the average monthly payment program um to provide more predictable monthly

[1:32:35] bills. So, um please if you are watching um on YouTube from your phone,

[1:32:40] screenshot that information um so you can um please utilize it. Um also this

[1:32:46] past um weekend I did get a chance to participate with Sportran. Um they are

[1:32:51] leading the way um here in innovation um in here in Shreport in Cattle Parish. We

[1:32:57] have the first in the state an autonomous um public transit vehicle um

[1:33:02] assistant um the national assistant secretary Seville Oz was in Treport to

[1:33:06] announce this autonomous bus. Um this was done by some funding by um the US

[1:33:12] Department of Transportation smart grant. So, um I did get a chance to

[1:33:15] share with some um other public officials. We got a chance to go and

[1:33:19] ride the bus for the first time. We were terrified, y'all. But I will tell you

[1:33:23] that the sensory system in this um device is much better than in my car.

[1:33:28] And um I have a you know, so we a citizen was flying and the bus saw and

[1:33:35] protected us from the citizen before the citizen I guess saw this big old bus.

[1:33:39] But the um the technology is very very advanced. Um I hope that there are more

[1:33:44] opportunities for you all to preview it, get comfortable with it before it's

[1:33:47] implemented in the public transit. Um but um I did just want to share some of

[1:33:51] the um information and some of our our time there. If you'll go to the next

[1:33:56] photo, you can see the bus and its size and how big it is. Um also um

[1:34:02] next um just to while we're talking about Sportran, they are going to be um

[1:34:06] having a ribbon cutting for the Sportran Gateway Hub. It's going to be at 4821

[1:34:11] Hollywood Avenue. Um I really really like the innovation that um their

[1:34:16] director um and CEO, Mr. Dairo Washington, is doing in public

[1:34:19] transportation. Um they're really coming up with some innovative ideas and I hope

[1:34:23] this will help um support our um citizens who rely on public

[1:34:26] transportation for work and to get, you know, other things taken care of in

[1:34:30] their life. Um September is suicide prevention month. Um the 988 lifeline is

[1:34:36] u more than just an easy to remember number. Um it's a direct connection to

[1:34:40] compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental

[1:34:43] health related issues and um distress. Um I um happen to have known a number of

[1:34:49] individuals who um unfortunately lost their life um due to suicide. Um and um

[1:34:54] I just want people to um know that there is help. Um please just dial 988 if you

[1:34:58] can remember that number um in your time of despair. Um next I do want to talk

[1:35:04] about this event that I saw that's going on free. Um, I always try to highlight

[1:35:08] our history in America. I mean, in Kado Parish, especially our robust, um, film

[1:35:13] and entertainment history that we have. And so, wanted to show you that the

[1:35:17] program is presented by Lieutenant Governor Billy Nunger and the Louisiana

[1:35:21] Vision of the Arts in partnership with the Louisiana Endowment for Humanities.

[1:35:25] Um, a lot of work has been put into this. So, I hope that you guys can

[1:35:28] please come out and uh, participate. that is on um

[1:35:33] September 18th um at the municipal auditorium and it's from 6:00 to 8:00

[1:35:37] p.m. Um also for um its 50th anniversary um Streetport Regional Arts Council, the

[1:35:44] Red River Rebel as well as the Independence Bowl are celebrating 50

[1:35:47] years um they have opened up an exhibit that is at Art Space downtown. Please,

[1:35:53] if you um really um have supported these organizations over the years, please

[1:35:57] come down and um re and view that um view this exhibit. Um this weekend,

[1:36:03] thank you, Commissioner Burrell. Um on Wednesday, he did come out um I know

[1:36:07] there was some inclement weather, but I wanted to remind you guys about the

[1:36:10] Streetport Green Urban Farm uh farm and community market every Wednesday from

[1:36:14] 11:30 to 12:30. Once again, they have fresh produce for a dollar a pound. Um,

[1:36:20] also, um, I had had some conversations with, um, um, our natural resources

[1:36:25] chair, Miss, um, um, Graceand Blake. Um, me and her are going to try to stop by

[1:36:29] and assist, um, Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor and Lieutenant Governor Billy

[1:36:33] Nungster. He's doing a lot in our community. I love to see it. Um, in

[1:36:37] their effort about um, for our love the waterways cleanup. We'll be doing an

[1:36:41] effort at the um um, Cross Lake. That's going to be Saturday, September the 12th

[1:36:46] from um 8 to 1 o'clock pm. Um the meetup spot is the American Legion um Low

[1:36:51] McFarland Outpace Outpost um 51 5315 South Lakeshore Drive. Um I also wanted

[1:36:59] to share um something that's really close to my heart. Whatever you do, work

[1:37:03] at it with all your heart. Ask for working for the Lord and not for man.

[1:37:07] So, I'm really excited to announce um um to join um Commissioner Ken Efferson um

[1:37:14] um in my appointments to the National Association of Counties. I'm really

[1:37:17] excited to be appointed to the Community Economic and Workforce Development

[1:37:21] Policy Steering Committee um as their vice chair um the Arts and Culture

[1:37:25] Innovation Council and the International Economic Development Innovation Council.

[1:37:29] So, I'm really excited to um be able to take those um take our issues in cattle

[1:37:34] um on a national level and be able to discuss those things and get um other

[1:37:38] information and other things we can bring back here to shreport. So, I'm

[1:37:42] very thankful for that. Um as we talk about representation, I wanted to also

[1:37:46] announce um some updates um from our um Commissioner Storm Gage Watts. I know

[1:37:51] she's been present. I don't know if y'all have missed her, but I've missed

[1:37:54] her here um in the commission meeting with us this week. Um she is still on

[1:37:58] her um a series of meetings by the police jury. Um she is our region for

[1:38:02] representative and what she has done um they are um hard at work working on our

[1:38:07] legislative priorities. Um if you didn't know Kat Parish is leading the way on

[1:38:11] these priorities um with our Louisiana u police jury association and um um her

[1:38:16] representation has been a very very integral part about getting a lot of

[1:38:19] things that we've had um and they petition the state for and getting those

[1:38:23] passed. Um, so thank her for her work in that. And I just want to let you guys

[1:38:28] know that um it's September, the greatest month of

[1:38:32] the of the on the calendar. And on tomorrow is one of the greatest days of

[1:38:38] the world, which happens to be my birthday. And um I'll be celebrating my

[1:38:42] 39th birthday um this year. U I don't want any gifts, anything like that. I

[1:38:47] love for people to support our efforts in the cause for walking in Alzheimer's.

[1:38:51] Um, I'm going to relax and enjoy this birthday for a good cause and I want to

[1:38:56] invite everybody out. If you want to come, you want to talk politics or

[1:38:59] whatever and stuff, I'll give you my email there and we'll talk about it

[1:39:01] Monday. But um, we'll be at the Louisiana Dairy Cafe on September the

[1:39:06] 4th tomorrow night and on um September the sec I mean September the 5th, we'll

[1:39:11] be um at Fatty Art Vocals from 1 to 5:00. So I want to invite you all to

[1:39:15] please come and join me, celebrate my birthday, and we'll do it for a great

[1:39:19] cause. Um, so, um, this ends my communication and I thank you all for

[1:39:23] indulging me all the time. >> Hold up, my brother. Hold up.

[1:39:28] » Who is that dude on that picture? >> This, that's me. You know, I can make

[1:39:32] sure you see the smile in person. U, you know, that is me. 39 years old. I'm

[1:39:37] really excited um to go into my last chapter of my 30s. Um, it's been a

[1:39:43] journey. uh when I look back over my life, you know, I can go on and y'all

[1:39:47] know I'll get emotional, so I'mma stop. But I just want to say um it's been a

[1:39:52] journey. Um thank y'all for being a part of that journey. So no matter what part

[1:39:56] you play. >> Yeah, that's that's the Ozil version.

[1:40:02] » I need to take some more. I'm trying to get them a little smaller. So

[1:40:06] » all right, my brother. Happy birthday. >> Thank you.

[1:40:08] » All right, let's see. Let's see who else is on the board. Let's see. Commissioner

[1:40:11] Gracian Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, first I

[1:40:17] would like to say um how much I appreciated Scott Passfield for um

[1:40:21] driving through Shreport and taking these beautiful pictures and thank you

[1:40:26] Commissioner Thomas for pointing that out as well. It's always wonderful um to

[1:40:31] see other people that recognize your most beautiful community. Um, one of the

[1:40:36] pictures that I think is so powerful are the two children that are playing

[1:40:41] outside of the water park in downtown Shreport.

[1:40:45] My husband and son fly out of the downtown airport and we're there quite

[1:40:50] often and so we get to see the joy that's being felt there. And when I

[1:40:56] travel outside of Shrefport, I love going to downtown communities and seeing

[1:40:59] the different unique um things to see and do. the bridge that's lit up is a

[1:41:05] wonderful joy um to see that and um going through downtown I just

[1:41:13] it's absolutely beautiful and so that was such a beautiful post to come

[1:41:16] across. I reposted it and it's wonderful to see the people's comments about how

[1:41:21] much they love and appreciate our community.

[1:41:25] I want to wish everyone a safe holiday this weekend. It's Labor Day weekend

[1:41:29] that we're going to be celebrating and um I think that for me I stand on my

[1:41:34] feet all day and for 35 years I feel the the labor and um so it really means a

[1:41:41] lot to me this weekend and I didn't start taking off Labor Day weekend until

[1:41:46] about 10 years ago to actually enjoy that day because I was working um so I

[1:41:52] want everyone to have a safe holiday. I would like to share that Broadmore

[1:41:56] Neighborhood Association is going to have a forum this coming week on Tuesday

[1:42:01] or in two weeks. And um I want to make sure that um Administrator Bryant, can

[1:42:08] you share with us the open house that is going to be happening next week at LSUS

[1:42:13] to share the information um about the sports complex, the date and time,

[1:42:20] location, and then also for the Broadmore Neighbor Association.

[1:42:25] » Okay, Crystal. >> Okay. Thank you so much.

[1:42:32] Good afternoon, commissioners. Um, so we have three public meetings that will be

[1:42:36] happening next week. Um, sort of as a continuation of the presentations that

[1:42:40] we've done, uh, on Friday from our special meeting, we have three public

[1:42:45] sessions. For anyone that may have missed the presentation, um, did not

[1:42:48] have a chance to get any of the information or want, you know, to ask

[1:42:51] any questions about the project. Those three meetings all are starting at 5:30.

[1:42:56] So, our first meeting is Tuesday, September 8th, and that is at the LSUS

[1:43:01] Red River Room in the University Center, but it's on the second floor, not the um

[1:43:06] actual theater. Um the one on September 9th is right here in Government

[1:43:10] Chambers, and the one on September 10th is at the Greenwood Acres Family Life

[1:43:14] Center on Greenwood Road. Um and just uh it's a little bit separate, if I'm

[1:43:19] right, Commissioner, down the street from the actual church, the Family Life

[1:43:24] Center. >> Oh, yes. They're together. just a road

[1:43:26] » just okay so just if there was any confusion about that but all of those

[1:43:29] meetings start at 5:30 and citizens do have the opportunity to see the

[1:43:33] presentation and ask any questions that they may have

[1:43:37] » thank you

[1:43:40] » I'm sorry >> um so that meeting is on the 15th um

[1:43:46] » Tuesday se Tuesday September 15th at Broadmore Baptist Church and it begins

[1:43:51] at 6 o'clock >> thank you Crystal

[1:43:55] Commissioners, we have um scheduled meetings with other neighborhood

[1:43:58] associations. Um we have the Southern Hills Neighborhood and Business

[1:44:03] Association. We're um Queensboro Neighborhood Association. So, as we get

[1:44:08] them scheduled, we'll notify you.

[1:44:15] » Email. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you very

[1:44:17] much. And uh especially for uh bringing that up about when we're having those

[1:44:21] meetings. Very very important. Um, the check recognizes Commissioner Rob Baro.

[1:44:27] » Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to reiterate uh something that the uh

[1:44:32] our administrator just said. The Queensburg Neighborhood Association

[1:44:36] uh will be having their uh meeting September 10th. I believe it's 5:30 at

[1:44:43] Billsbury Park. And as I understand it, they will they will be uh discussing

[1:44:49] also the sports complex. Uh I have a couple other events at the same time,

[1:44:55] but I do plan to stick my head in uh since it's over in the district

[1:45:00] um in my district. Uh the second thing is the fifth annual main attraction bike

[1:45:07] and car show is coming up again on September 9th at the state fairgrounds.

[1:45:14] Um um that group came down last year and

[1:45:19] and showed you they filled up the fairgrounds. Uh probably one of the

[1:45:23] largest event that we've had we had last year uh here. um very successful uh

[1:45:32] program and a lot of cars and a lot of noise, but at the same time um it's

[1:45:39] something very good for uh the fairgrounds.

[1:45:44] And in addition to that, I I guess I've gotten kind of hooked on these bikes. I

[1:45:50] don't I don't ride a bike, but uh we we've been negotiating to get a national

[1:45:57] uh uh bike con uh sort of like a convention here uh

[1:46:04] that was held in Little Rock uh this past year. Matter of fact, it was just

[1:46:10] last month and it drew some 50 to 60,000 bikers from all over the nation. Um,

[1:46:18] that's a lot of noise at one time. So, we're we're working on that, M. Mr.

[1:46:22] President. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Commissioner

[1:46:24] Burrell. Let's see. One more time. Uh, Commissioner Victor Thomas.

[1:46:28] » Thank you so much. And I'll be brief. Um, I did I would be remiss and I

[1:46:32] probably will get beat up because he bigger than me. Um, I did want to um

[1:46:36] tell Commissioner Stefon Jones happy birthday. His birthday just passed as

[1:46:39] well um on last week, but um um I also want y'all to please be in prayer for he

[1:46:44] and his family. his mother is not um in the best of health right now and that's

[1:46:48] what what his absence is for today. Um so please keep them in your in you guys

[1:46:52] prayers as well. Um and thank you for bringing it up again. Um Miss Blake, um

[1:46:56] I did hear you say that we will be having some other community meetings um

[1:47:00] in like neighborhood associations and everything. Is there a way for like an

[1:47:04] organization who may want um to kind of hopefully request um our presence at

[1:47:09] maybe their meeting to um give some information maybe on a case- by case

[1:47:14] basis or availability as it permits. But is there something they can

[1:47:17] » We do have a email that we've set up. It's um

[1:47:23] cattleports.gov. >> They can send a request there. Also, if

[1:47:27] there are any questions that citizens may have, they can email us at

[1:47:31] cattleports@cettle.gov. >> Okay. Thank you so much.

[1:47:35] » All right. Thank you. >> And I failed to mention we do have a

[1:47:37] meeting as well at the MLK Neighborhood Association. We will get that uh those

[1:47:41] list of meetings out to you all. >> Thank you.

[1:47:45] » Um let's see. And it's been brought to my attention that's um at least one of

[1:47:49] our commissioners having a problem with that little board. Um and so um the

[1:47:56] chair is going to recognize Commissioner Conton at this time, but Commissioner

[1:48:00] Krakman, if you having problem with yours, you have anything you want?

[1:48:03] » Okay. All right, Commissioner. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Just wanted to

[1:48:06] acknowledge uh as previously stated in the Southern Hills area, uh at least

[1:48:13] two meetings have been scheduled. I'm pending a um answer from the uh Cedar

[1:48:19] Grove uh spar as well where we could use that uh the end of September. So there

[1:48:25] are numerous places where people can go and hear and are they actually live

[1:48:32] streamed or not? >> We're not streaming.

[1:48:36] Uh in addition to that, I want to share on the 8th of September, CARE uh will be

[1:48:41] having their neighborhood meeting and also on the 14th, Southern Hill

[1:48:44] Neighborhood Association will be uh conducted as well. And and as we talk

[1:48:50] about birthdays, Sunday will be my birthday as well. Thank you very much.

[1:48:54] » Greatest people born. Happy birthday to you, Commissioner.

[1:48:57] » Commissioners, the the original meeting is still on the website that anyone can

[1:49:02] view at any time. It's just the additional meetings. We won't be live

[1:49:05] streaming those. >> Right. And uh Commissioner Jung, I know

[1:49:08] you stepped out for just a moment, but uh it was brought to my attention that

[1:49:11] Commissioner Carter was having a problem with his board and so just want to make

[1:49:14] sure you're not having a problem if you want to get on the board to speak. All

[1:49:18] right. All right. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Clerk.

[1:49:22] » Okay, that brings us uh to the president's report. Did you have

[1:49:26] anything else? >> No. No, I think I've exhausted. All

[1:49:29] right, that brings us then to public hearings on zoning ordinances and cases

[1:49:33] where the first item we have is a public hearing on ordinance number 6639 of

[1:49:37] 2026. That's in relation to parish zoning case 26-13-P.

[1:49:42] That is an ordinance to amend volume two of the code of ordinances of the parish

[1:49:45] of Kat as amended to Kataparish unified development code by amending the zoning

[1:49:49] of property located on the south side of stage coach road approximately 500 ft

[1:49:53] west of writing club lane in Cataparish Louisiana from RA rural agricultural

[1:49:58] district to RA rural agricultural small planned unit development district and

[1:50:03] otherwise providing with respect there too. This item is in district 11.

[1:50:10] » Okay. Okay. Public hearing is now open. Um those who wish to express opposition

[1:50:16] uh to this ordinance u may speak now. And those in support of this ordinance,

[1:50:20] you may speak now.

[1:50:25] Public hearing on ordinance 6639 of 2026 is now closed.

[1:50:29] » Thank you very much. Now we have a public hearing on a regular ordinance to

[1:50:33] address and that is uh 6640 of 2026. That is an ordinance amending the budget

[1:50:39] of estimated revenues and expenditures for the public works fund and the

[1:50:42] capital outlay fund to provide an appropriation to install welcome signs

[1:50:46] on I20 eastbound and otherwise providing with respect there too.

[1:50:51] » Public hearing is now open. Um excuse me public hearing is now open. Uh those who

[1:50:57] are in opposition to this ordinance uh 6640 of 2026 may speak now and those who

[1:51:04] are in support of it may speak now. Seeing that no one has risen, this

[1:51:11] public hearing is now closed. >> Thank you very much. That brings us now

[1:51:14] to the consideration of the ordinances that just had public hearings. The first

[1:51:18] one is adop uh to consider adopting ordinance 6639 of 2026 in relation to

[1:51:23] parish zoning case 26-13-P.

[1:51:28] » Okay. There's a motion um by Victor Thomas and a second by Commissioner

[1:51:34] Eperson. Um, I'd like to make a motion to adopt and uh to adopt ordinance 6639

[1:51:41] if appropriate to adopt ordinance 6639, ordinance 6640

[1:51:46] um to adopt the work session minutes of August 31st um resolution 52

[1:51:55] and that will bring us to our new business if that a global and adoption

[1:51:59] is is appropriate. >> All right, let's see. Uh, Commissioner

[1:52:04] Epson, would you like to speak on the motion?

[1:52:08] » Okay. If I just may add that um um the first one,

[1:52:14] ordinance um 6639 is in Commissioner Lazarus district and he's expressed to

[1:52:20] me that uh he is in support of this um ordinance just for the record.

[1:52:28] Okay. And we'll comment on either of these

[1:52:31] items. Okay. Hey, Mr. CL.

[1:52:34] » Okay.

[1:52:44] » And Commissioner Cawthorne, is your pad back up yet or Okay. Thank you. That's

[1:52:48] an affirmative. Uh, Commissioner Corn.

[1:52:55] Okay. And that motion carries with seven in support, two in opposition, and three

[1:52:59] absent. Um, so those items are adopted. Uh before we move on, we do need to

[1:53:03] quickly introduce uh an ordinance by title. Uh and that is 6641 of 2026.

[1:53:09] That's an ordinance to close and abandon the street dedication in the BMK

[1:53:13] subdivision located in section 32 township 17 north range 14 west in the

[1:53:17] parish of Cado and otherwise provide with respect there too. That item is in

[1:53:21] district 7. Uh and then that brings us forward to new business where the first

[1:53:26] item we have today uh and our only item under new business are the animal

[1:53:31] service board appeals.

[1:53:34] » Yes.

[1:53:44] » You're not You're not on the mic. You're not

[1:53:49] okay. Now,

[1:53:53] » I'm sorry, >> speaker.

[1:53:54] » Okay. I would like to uh I think I did a thumbs up for 6640. That

[1:54:02] was not my intent.

[1:54:07] » That's not an affirmative for 6640. >> Just based on our um our policy to do a

[1:54:12] motion to reconsider, we have to have a um somebody on the failing side of the

[1:54:18] vote. So somebody that voted no >> prevailing.

[1:54:20] » No, it's prevailing side. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Right. Yes. Sorry.

[1:54:24] » Right. >> So,

[1:54:26] » and which he was. And now he now he has a motion to reconsider. And if I

[1:54:30] understand it correct, we have we have to vote on whether or not to reconsider.

[1:54:34] Is that accurate? >> Yes. Correct.

[1:54:36] » Okay. You like to speak on your motion,

[1:54:40] Commissioner? >> Yes, Mr. President. And I just like to

[1:54:43] say >> Well, I apologize. I apologize. You need

[1:54:46] a second. Okay. Thank you. Uh for the record,

[1:54:50] Commissioner Kraken is a second. >> Okay. Thank you. You may proceed,

[1:54:55] Commissioner. >> Thank you, Mr. President. The the thing

[1:54:57] is when I look at the language here, uh there's two different things going on

[1:55:02] because again, when I look at the ordinance and actually go into the

[1:55:05] adoption part versus the fact sheet in and of itself is showing me two

[1:55:08] different things. in the one area is showing me that we're just voting for a

[1:55:14] welcome sign on I uh on I 20, but then when I go into the fact sheet is showing

[1:55:19] me that we're voting for $75,000 for a sign. And the thing is my question is

[1:55:25] how's this any different from what we had previously vote on concern

[1:55:29] concerning the veteran friendly sign that we

[1:55:34] did not support last time?

[1:55:40] Is that a question for the chair? Just statement. Um I mean I don't I

[1:55:48] don't I don't see where it's materially different. You know, it's still the sign

[1:55:51] and and and he wants to sign at the the different ends of uh I believe I 20. Um

[1:55:58] I don't think there's anything materially different. of course has been

[1:56:02] articulated and thoroughly expressed around this body that individual can

[1:56:05] keep bringing things up you know as long as he wants to correct

[1:56:09] » and uh sometimes um the politics change you know people have a right to change

[1:56:14] their mind about things as we evolve we get more information um you know and of

[1:56:19] course you know politics is what it is and I I really don't know what else to

[1:56:24] say about it >> yeah I mean it's not a yeah or nay

[1:56:27] question it's just sir you know that's sir

[1:56:29] » that's my But to your point, I don't think there's anything materially

[1:56:32] different. Correct. Does anybody else have any other view about it?

[1:56:36] » Is there anything that you all know that's materially different?

[1:56:40] » Okay. >> Well, it the our understanding is that

[1:56:44] we would be u mimicking the sign that we already have on I49. So, we have a sign

[1:56:50] on I49 that says welcome to cattle parish and at the bottom of it, it says

[1:56:55] um veteran friendly. Uh so, the sign itself is a welcome sign. The purpose of

[1:57:00] the sign is to be a welcome sign, but we added language that says veteran

[1:57:05] friendly. So, it's not it's not different. I'm just

[1:57:10] explaining what it is. It is a welcome sign. It says,

[1:57:12] » right, but to be clear, we approving what is in the record. And what's in the

[1:57:18] record is is to do what? >> A welcome sign on I20 East. But you need

[1:57:25] but what we're actually doing is appropriating the dollars to do that. We

[1:57:30] have to have money to add the the I the welcome sign,

[1:57:34] » right? >> And we were my understanding is that we

[1:57:37] would put the same type of sign as that we already had. We already have one on

[1:57:41] I20 I mean on I49 and it says welcome to Kettle Parish and at the bottom it says

[1:57:46] veteran friendly.

[1:57:51] » Okay.

[1:57:54] Okay, the motion is on the board. Commissioner Thomas, you had something

[1:57:57] you wanted to say? >> Yes. I just wanted to clarify with

[1:57:59] administration that I mean, we haven't entered the design phase for this sign

[1:58:02] yet or nothing. At this point, we're just appropriating dollars um for the

[1:58:06] welcome sign. Um it's Commissioner Epson's desire for it to say veteran

[1:58:10] friendly and welcome to Kado. Um, I think I'm sure that he's amanable to if

[1:58:15] we want to say veteran friendly and and deer hunting friendly, you know, or

[1:58:20] whatever we can do, we have time to discuss that in the, you know, in the um

[1:58:24] in the design phase of this portion. >> Yes, we can adjust the design if you so

[1:58:28] desire. You're basically doing a budget amendment. Once you appropriate the

[1:58:33] dollars, this administration's role, you don't vote, you're not actually, you're

[1:58:36] voting for the money. >> Thank you. And once you vote for the

[1:58:39] money, we then have to go figure out what the sign would be. We would provide

[1:58:43] you um you know, in the past we provide you um diagrams to show what we were

[1:58:48] putting, what it looked like, and then we went forward with the um approval.

[1:58:53] Now, I will remind you all DOTD does have to approve this. We can't just go

[1:58:58] put a sign on I 20. We do have to work with the state to determine if they

[1:59:03] would allow us to put the sign. and then if they do allow us and that will take

[1:59:07] some time. If they do allow us then we would design the sign. Um but this is

[1:59:12] basically just appropriate the dollars. >> Right. Thank you so much for that

[1:59:16] clarity. And you know, I want to just assure everybody um the reason why my my

[1:59:20] um vote changed on it cuz I um didn't support it initially was because I think

[1:59:24] that when we initially did the sign on I49 um Cattle Parish may not have had as

[1:59:29] much um activity going on as much um things that we should be telling people

[1:59:34] welcome the cattle and stop and see. So um I think that um once again getting

[1:59:39] into the weeds about what it looks like and this I'm not insinuating that's what

[1:59:43] you're doing. I think we first need to once again like many other things first

[1:59:47] we need to identify a dollar amount before we get into you know the the

[1:59:55] details of the things of certain things I mean design and all those other

[1:59:58] aspects. So that's why I support it. Thank you.

[2:00:06] » Okay. Right now um what's on the board the motion on the board is to reconsider

[2:00:11] uh the previous vote. So that's what we're going to be voting on right now,

[2:00:14] whether or not we want to reconsider the previous vote. If you vote no, you're

[2:00:18] saying that the previous vote stand. If you vote yes, then we have to vote all

[2:00:22] over again on the matter that's before us on the agenda.

[2:00:27] Is that clear to everybody? >> Let's go.

[2:00:31] » You would have to take up all of the items that were in the enlo.

[2:00:35] You'd have to revote on everything. Yeah.

[2:00:40] » Excuse me. Just to be clear, we're not it's not

[2:00:44] we're not just we can't reconsider on just one item like it it's the whole

[2:00:48] conglomerate, >> but we're voting as to whether or not

[2:00:51] we're going to reconsider. >> Mhm.

[2:00:53] » That's what we're voting on right now. Whether or not we're going to reconsider

[2:00:56] the vote that we previously had. So, we don't have to vote on the on the on the

[2:01:01] global part. We don't have to vote on that if the motion to reconsider stands

[2:01:06] » passes. Yes. >> Right.

[2:01:08] » Okay. Is that clear to everybody what we're voting on now?

[2:01:12] » Yes. >> No means the previous vote and global

[2:01:16] vote stands.

[2:01:22] Is Is that not clear to everybody? >> All right. All right, Mr. Clerk. Let's

[2:01:27] go with it. Is somebody Okay. Okay.

[2:01:41] Okay, that motion does not carry that uh you have four in support, five in

[2:01:45] opposition. Um and so that uh motion to reconsider does not uh does not uh

[2:01:52] carry. Um, so that brings us uh again back to new business

[2:01:59] where we have the animal services board appeals

[2:02:04] and we have two cases today. Uh the first case uh I believe is the Hawthorne

[2:02:10] appeal and I believe Mr. Hawthorne is here. Um I believe we have a second case

[2:02:16] uh the Galvin appeal. I don't believe there is anybody present for that case.

[2:02:22] Uh seeing no one uh we can move forward with the Hawthorne appeal. So uh if uh

[2:02:27] Mr. Hawthorne uh if the appellant would like to make their way forward

[2:02:32] um

[2:02:36] we typically start out by inviting the appellant to speak and these hearings I

[2:02:42] know we haven't done one in a minute so I'll just refresh everybody's memory. Uh

[2:02:45] we'll invite the appellent to speak first. Uh they appeal directly to this

[2:02:49] body. After that the um the KTO animal services will give a presentation. Uh

[2:02:56] you do have your um uh on the agenda linked are uh documents from the

[2:03:02] previous hearings uh that may be referenced uh and you do have those

[2:03:07] available as part of the public record. Um so uh at this time uh we'll have the

[2:03:13] presentation uh from uh Mr. Hawthorne or the appellent.

[2:03:21] Hi,

[2:03:25] firstly um thanks for seeing us today. I would just like to apologize for

[2:03:31] somebody leaving the gate open and the two Houdinis going to town.

[2:03:37] Um but I think I would just like to read you my letter. Um, if you ask any of the

[2:03:45] Kado Parish animal control employees, they will probably tell you that they

[2:03:51] are not aggressive and they are not vicious or dangerous.

[2:03:56] Um, the driver that came to pick them up, I'm I was not there that day and I

[2:04:01] was not at the last hearing because my patient got on the floor as I was trying

[2:04:05] to leave and I had to stay for two hours and check blood pressure.

[2:04:10] Um, I don't think that she even wanted to

[2:04:14] take them because they just got right in the car with her like they do anybody

[2:04:18] that would come by. Um, the ring leader

[2:04:24] is pinned up, but she got out. She's 9 years old and has arthritis. I don't

[2:04:29] know where she thought she was going, but he felt a pure pressure and went

[2:04:34] with her. They have not been out that I know of

[2:04:39] because nobody has told me anything since August the 2nd of 2025. And they

[2:04:45] were picked up by a very nice man named Brian Garza. Somebody told him where

[2:04:50] they thought they lived. He messaged me because I saw it on

[2:04:56] Facebook and he said, "I'm sorry, I put them out at the wrong place. Are they

[2:05:00] home? They're so sweet." Yes, sir. They're home.

[2:05:04] When this video that was posted that you're going to see, the comment that

[2:05:08] was made by the lady who posted the video says she had met them before and

[2:05:12] she thought they were nice because they are nice. The owner of the dog told me

[2:05:18] that she saw them and turned around and basically started running back home.

[2:05:23] These two goofballs will protect anybody in this room and if there was a dog

[2:05:28] chasing you, they would go after them. But this is not they don't stay loose

[2:05:35] and at large and running the town. So um you know she sent me a copy of of the

[2:05:43] bill $69 a photo of the scratch no stitches staples glue or antibiotics.

[2:05:51] Her and the lady that posted the video, without her permission, had both already

[2:05:56] called the shelter by the next morning to ask why they came to get the dogs.

[2:06:01] They knew where the dogs lived because when they used to get out frequently

[2:06:07] before August of last year, they made lots of friends. Uh the Petri over on

[2:06:14] Norris Ferry, um their best friend is the delivery driver from FedEx. And I

[2:06:20] have a letter that I brought from her. She's been delivering mail for 9 years.

[2:06:27] They're lovable fur babies and always greet me with affection. They get on her

[2:06:32] truck and they eat the dog treats. Um,

[2:06:36] we live on a farm and the acres in front of us and beside us are owned by Gabriel

[2:06:41] Baldderas who is a member of the MPC. He has multiple employees at his

[2:06:47] property every day who take care of his poultry because, you know, he has his

[2:06:52] business. He he does farm to table at his restaurant. Those dogs are probably

[2:06:57] more of a pest than anything because they want to help him do everything.

[2:07:01] They go down there and they watch and they protect and they help. They've

[2:07:05] never bitten him. They have never bitten his employees. They've probably licked

[2:07:10] them to death. The one that does not say pinned up,

[2:07:14] which is the young one, guards all of his animals, all of our

[2:07:19] animals. I've lost two chickens and my farm cat since he's been gone.

[2:07:26] All of our neighbors have dogs. I don't know if anybody went and interviewed

[2:07:30] them from the shelter, but they don't go to their house. They don't attack their

[2:07:34] dogs. I firmly all I can see is a video of a

[2:07:39] corner of them nipping her dog, but she told me she was running. When I run, he

[2:07:45] runs after me, too. So, I mean, we have a great two great grandchildren, one is

[2:07:50] two, and he drapes himself across this dog and sleeps on him. If if he were

[2:07:57] either of them were vicious, um if either of them were dangerous, they

[2:08:02] would have already been to the vet and be unelved and would not be running the

[2:08:07] streets and getting arrested. They were bred to protect,

[2:08:13] not to be aggressive. Um you know, we're not going to open the

[2:08:19] gate to mow the yard. The goats will just have to mow it or it's going to be

[2:08:23] eight feet tall because if she gets out, she's going to tell him, "Let's go to

[2:08:28] town. Let's go to Norris Ferry and see our friends." I don't know if they've

[2:08:32] ever been to the Grove. They used to go to Providence all the time. They have a

[2:08:36] sweet lady in fancy house shoes they go see. But I'm I'm just here to beg for

[2:08:42] forgiveness because this has never happened before. If you met them, you

[2:08:47] would be like, "Oh my god, y'all are goofballs.

[2:08:51] Um, that's really all I have to say. Thank

[2:08:55] you.

[2:09:09] » How y'all doing? >> Thank you.

[2:09:11] » Um, we sent information to Mr. Jeff. I'm certain if him and Mrs. Nation sent you

[2:09:18] all that. Have you read the synopsis of the cases and whatnot?

[2:09:21] » But you can give us an overview of it. >> And these items are, by the way, I know

[2:09:25] I mentioned a moment ago, but they are all linked on the agenda, your

[2:09:27] electronic agendas, >> um, as an attachment.

[2:09:30] » Yes, we all have >> for your reference.

[2:09:32] » Okay. So, one, when a dog is deemed dangerous, we

[2:09:39] know that it's a difference between dangerous and vicious. Dangerous means

[2:09:43] that the animal has either bitten someone, escaped the property, attacked

[2:09:47] another animal. It does not mean that we want to keep your animal, and you will

[2:09:51] not get it back. It means that if this animal is deemed dangerous, it goes home

[2:09:56] with stipulations that it can no longer run loose, has to stay confined, has to

[2:10:02] have a muzzle if it leaves the property, also has to be spayed or neutered.

[2:10:08] According to the records, Kaa being the older Great Pyrenees, the female, she's

[2:10:13] already spayed according to our records. The younger one is the male. We know

[2:10:20] that he's intact. >> Excuse me, sir.

[2:10:23] » The video that Excuse me, just one second. There's some type of disturbance

[2:10:26] going on. >> They're watching video.

[2:10:29] » Okay. Well, you may want to you may want to freeze it while he's making his

[2:10:32] presentation. Right.

[2:10:36] » No. So, >> I'm I'm thinking as a dog or pencil.

[2:10:40] » So, when we run into these instance in instances or these situations, it is not

[2:10:45] solely on me to deem a dog dangerous. I give the owners an opportunity. Hey, you

[2:10:51] can agree with the dangerous stipulations or it can go before the

[2:10:54] board. The board reviews the information with the owner and with the victim and

[2:11:00] they make their determination. They made the determination that the

[2:11:04] dogs are dangerous. You have videos that you can watch. It

[2:11:09] is solely up to you. If you want to uphold, you want to kick it back. It's

[2:11:13] totally up to you. >> Right. Um, thank you. Thank you very

[2:11:18] much for your u presentation. Um, just so that the general public can be made

[2:11:24] aware of what the process is. Um there was an incident on a particular date

[2:11:29] involving uh the two animals in question,

[2:11:32] » right? >> Um there was a complaint that was

[2:11:35] forwarded to your office. >> Yes.

[2:11:38] » The board convened and listened to both sides of the case.

[2:11:42] » Yes. >> And they rendered a decision that the

[2:11:44] dog met the criteria for being characterized as dangerous.

[2:11:48] » Yes. Subsequent to that, subsequent to that, uh, the parties, uh, the owners of

[2:11:53] the dog, >> the two dogs,

[2:11:56] » uh, filed an appeal. Yes. Before the commission.

[2:11:58] » Yes. >> To overturn the Bo decision.

[2:12:02] » Yes. >> Is that pretty, that pretty much sums it

[2:12:04] up? >> Yes, sir.

[2:12:05] » Okay. And so, uh, I I guess, um, at this point, we'll, uh,

[2:12:11] commissioners to, uh, make an observation or question or whatever they

[2:12:14] want to do. Commissioner John Fang. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um,

[2:12:19] » Director Clark, can you tell me is it both dogs that were deemed dangerous or

[2:12:24] just one? >> Both.

[2:12:26] » Both. >> Both. Both dogs are at large. Both dogs

[2:12:28] are in the video. >> Mhm.

[2:12:30] » You don't want to differentiate one dog from the other.

[2:12:34] » Which dog is it? Is it the older one or the younger one that we can see um doing

[2:12:38] the bite? >> We believe that is the male, but again,

[2:12:43] both dogs are at large, >> right? I'm just trying to see. So I can

[2:12:48] see >> and they gray white paint. They both

[2:12:51] look alike. >> They look pretty similar.

[2:12:54] » Yeah, >> one of them has like a little Oh, they

[2:12:57] both have >> nipp the uh other dog. That was the

[2:13:01] male. >> That was the the the younger dog.

[2:13:04] » The old >> Okay. And you've you've got your older

[2:13:09] dog has like a little black spot right here.

[2:13:12] » Probably better. >> Okay.

[2:13:13] » I think that's a point of information. >> Sure.

[2:13:18] Young, if you would uh could we show the video? Yes, I think I think that'll be

[2:13:22] helpful. >> That'd be great.

[2:13:24] » General public too. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Uh if it if it

[2:13:27] pleases you, Commissioner jumped to show the video.

[2:13:30] » While we're pulling it up, I would just like to observe that. So, for a dog to

[2:13:34] be dangerous, it does not have to bite another dog. It merely has to attack

[2:13:38] unprovoked, and that can be just charging in a menacing manner.

[2:13:43] So, um, what I see in the video is, and it has to be, you know, not in the dog's

[2:13:49] own yard. Um, so what I see in the video, this is the second video. If you

[2:13:54] show the first one, it's a little clearer.

[2:14:01] So, was that the is that the boy dog that bit the other dog?

[2:14:06] » Okay. So, what I see in the video is um the first one is these two dogs are on

[2:14:13] public property first, the street, and then they run onto private property. And

[2:14:17] like not only do they charge in a menacing manner, but one of them bites

[2:14:22] another dog. And um that is the definition of a dangerous dog.

[2:14:27] » Oh, we're a mile away from their house. >> Oh, and they're more than a mile away

[2:14:30] from their house. Okay. So like um I would also like to just so now I have

[2:14:35] the information that I wanted. Um what I would like to observe for the public is

[2:14:40] great Pyrenees are wonderful super sweet dogs. I have a great Pyrenees mix

[2:14:46] myself. He's mixed with a border collie. He likes to get out and he likes to roam

[2:14:50] and I have to make sure he doesn't. He's old now so he doesn't do it as much. Um,

[2:14:55] my dog has never run up to another dog and bit it or charged any other dog in a

[2:15:01] menacing way. But those are the elements that are the definition of a dangerous

[2:15:08] dog in Kat Parish. And if I was this dog owner uh whose yard they ran into and

[2:15:14] whose dog they bit, I would feel very strongly that those dogs had attacked my

[2:15:20] dog and were dangerous. even though I love this kind of dog and I think

[2:15:26] they're wonderful. So, what I would suggest, and I'll make

[2:15:31] a motion later because I've already started speaking, what I would suggest

[2:15:34] is that we um acknowledge that finding a dog dangerous means it has to wear a

[2:15:40] muzzle and a collar that says, "I'm dangerous. It does not have to be

[2:15:44] killed, but especially in the case of dogs that have a habit of getting out

[2:15:49] like this breed does, like this is going to happen again

[2:15:54] if it goes outside without a muzzle on and the gate is open. So, I think it

[2:16:00] would be appropriate for us to like go ahead and uphold that dangerous because

[2:16:05] they did everything that a dangerous dog has to do under our law to be considered

[2:16:09] dangerous. and um caution the owners very strongly that they must not let

[2:16:16] this ever ever ever happen again because two attacks by a dog means it has to be

[2:16:21] put down and these are wonderful dogs and I don't want to see them put down.

[2:16:27] » Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Appreciate um

[2:16:30] your observations. I think I may add that um Commissioner John Paul Young is

[2:16:35] a for former chair of the U animal and mosquito control committee.

[2:16:40] » So he is >> well but he's very very well versed on

[2:16:45] this issue and I do appreciate your contribution. Uh Commissioner Ken

[2:16:48] Eperson, >> Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion

[2:16:52] that the dog be deemed as uh dangerous and be put under the oposes of uh

[2:16:58] whatever those stipulations are. I need a second. Second.

[2:17:03] » Can I say something? >> Not not at this not at this time. We'll

[2:17:07] give you an opportunity.

[2:17:20] » Give me an opportunity to speak after Commissioner um Trac Blake.

[2:17:26] Go ahead. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Could you

[2:17:31] clarify to us what Commissioner John Paul Young was sharing that

[2:17:37] if a dog is bitten twice, they can be put down?

[2:17:43] » If a dog attacks twice,

[2:17:45] » okay, >> twice.

[2:17:48] » All right. >> Would you share that to make that clear?

[2:17:50] I thought I think what he what he's what he's trying what what he's trying to

[2:17:54] convey is any dog that is deemed dangerous because this offense could

[2:17:58] deem the dog dangerous. If the dog goes home and has another incident off of

[2:18:04] that property chasing someone, biting another animal, biting a human, it can

[2:18:10] automatically be upgraded to vicious. When an animal is deemed vicious and it

[2:18:16] is upheld, that animal is humanely euthanized. that is not allowed to

[2:18:21] return home at that point.

[2:18:26] Am I correct, Commissioner? That's what he was.

[2:18:29] » That's what he was trying to >> behavior,

[2:18:31] » right? >> Right.

[2:18:34] » Second instance of the same behavior means it'll come back before the board

[2:18:38] and if they deem it vicious and we uphold any appeal, then the dog has to

[2:18:41] be euthanized because we don't allow vicious dogs,

[2:18:44] » right? It's like he's on a life probation. You got one strike,

[2:18:48] » right? >> Right.

[2:18:50] » Right. So, the dangerous dog stipulations prevent any other attack if

[2:18:54] they're followed. >> Right.

[2:18:57] Because >> because he wears a muzzle.

[2:19:00] » Right. And and as I understand it, um if something similar to this occurs

[2:19:07] after he's been found deemed to be dangerous, then he's considered a

[2:19:12] vicious dog. He has to go through the same process to be considered a

[2:19:15] » Absolutely. Absolutely. You still have to The dog still gets due process,

[2:19:20] » right? Sure.

[2:19:24] » So, the dogs can run freely on the property

[2:19:28] without being muzzled. It's just But if it was off of the property

[2:19:33] » within the enclosed yard, they can. Once they leave their property, if they leave

[2:19:37] confinement of that yard or that house, then they're legally they're supposed to

[2:19:41] be Muslims. And it could be is a specific muzzle or

[2:19:46] just one of the muzzles that >> muzzle that prevents them from biting.

[2:19:51] » Okay. So different types of muzzle. So it would be their choice of muzzle

[2:19:56] » as long as they don't bite anybody. >> Okay. I was just wondering because I

[2:20:00] have different types of muzzles. I I have a dog that I sometimes, you know,

[2:20:03] muzzle. >> But I think what he's saying, and of

[2:20:05] course he can speak for himself. >> Yeah. want to whatever kind of muzzle he

[2:20:10] wants to. >> But if the dog is out and if the dog

[2:20:12] bites on >> off the property,

[2:20:14] » then that means the the muzzle didn't work.

[2:20:16] » Yes. Okay. >> Okay.

[2:20:20] » Thank you. >> Um and of course, you know, this is not

[2:20:22] something that that we do every week or every month. And so, you know, we we all

[2:20:28] need to make sure that we enjoy great latitude and trying to get an

[2:20:32] understanding about the process. >> May I ask for a point of clarification

[2:20:35] regarding Commissioner Blake's question? >> Um

[2:20:39] Director Clark, uh, on a on a property that's large. Uh, I'm not I I haven't

[2:20:45] dealt with a case of a dangerous dog on a large property before, except that one

[2:20:49] where we um where they paid for the sheep and um so like isn't there a

[2:20:55] prescribed enclosure that's supposed to be made?

[2:20:58] » It can be it can be recommended.

[2:21:04] » Okay. You know, you you all can say, "Hey, this dog will be allowed to go

[2:21:09] home, but we want to add that it needs to have a concreted enclosure, however

[2:21:16] many feet, concrete floor, uh has to have a lock on it."

[2:21:20] » Okay. >> You you can you all can do that.

[2:21:23] » Okay. Um >> the board did not make that

[2:21:26] recommendation, but >> that is a recommendation that can be

[2:21:29] made because we have had people who've had to have dogs and they'll put them in

[2:21:33] like a 10 by10 concrete the bottom enclosed the top has to have a lock on

[2:21:38] it. >> Okay. Well, so just like one sentence

[2:21:43] beyond my point of clarification in this case, I would say like if it was my dog

[2:21:47] whenever it went outside, I would put one of those buzzles on it just to be

[2:21:52] safe. But I I don't want to force this roaming happy farm dog to live inside a

[2:21:57] kennel. >> Right.

[2:21:59] All right. Thank you. U Commissioner um Commissioner Eperson.

[2:22:05] You just have your motion. Um at this time, I want to permit uh the dog owner

[2:22:11] uh to make >> I'd like to explain

[2:22:14] how I got my farm set up. Now, I know my female, the older one, she's the

[2:22:19] instigator. She's the ROR. I built a pasture fence for her last year. She has

[2:22:27] not been out of that since. She's the one that instigates the Roman. He don't

[2:22:31] go nowhere. He stays right there on the probably got three acres.

[2:22:36] I went and with the motor grass, she was on the other side of the pasture. Before

[2:22:41] I could get the tractor in there, she got out and they got out. They have not

[2:22:45] been out in a year since I buil built that fence. She's the one that roams. He

[2:22:50] does not leave the property at all. Period.

[2:22:55] And that's why I say I, you know, if you deem him vicious or dangerous,

[2:23:02] then he cannot be outside the little pasture at the house to take care of our

[2:23:08] animals, which is what they're there for. Like I said, we've lost cats. We've

[2:23:14] lost chickens since he's been locked up. Uh our neighbors Gabriel, they've lost

[2:23:19] 30 ducks because he watches their whichever probably butts up to ours.

[2:23:25] As long as she is locked up in her pin, which she ain't been out in years. My

[2:23:29] fault she got out cuz I'm mowing the grass.

[2:23:32] He does not. He goes to the end of the our driveway, which our driveway is

[2:23:36] probably a half a mile long. And he'll sit right there

[2:23:40] and he stays in the yard. He never leaves. Period. And to put vicious that

[2:23:45] I've got to keep him on a muzzle and it's just they can't do their job. I

[2:23:52] mean it's more or less you might as well put them down because I've got dogs

[2:23:55] locked up. He knows I got great pyrenees locked up. They can't do their job.

[2:24:00] That's what they're raised for and born for is to take care of our farm animals.

[2:24:06] And then just

[2:24:10] if I mean if there's something we can do not where they ain't vicious. I know I

[2:24:15] know she'll never get back out again. But I'll make sure I tie her up before I

[2:24:19] » right >> undo that. And can we put a uh shot

[2:24:24] collar to keep him in the a more confined area in our property or

[2:24:30] something? I just don't want them deemed vicious because you got a Muslim. But to

[2:24:34] be clear, I apologize for interrupting you, but to be clear, he's not being

[2:24:37] deemed vicious. That's a whole another level.

[2:24:40] » Okay. But dangerous, don't they still have to be muzzled and kept and kept in

[2:24:45] a pin? >> So, let me let me ask you this. U

[2:24:49] because um you are describing uh some um well, I would say different

[2:24:53] circumstances um in comparison to what people would

[2:24:57] normally be dealing with in a neighborhood. uh your your dog is

[2:25:00] essentially uh your dogs are a working dog,

[2:25:03] » right? >> And their their mission is to protect

[2:25:06] your farm animals uh from predators, >> right?

[2:25:10] » Other, you know, wild animals and so forth.

[2:25:12] » And so what you're saying is that your dogs by uh the way that um uh you use

[2:25:18] them is outside of the fence is outside of the fence.

[2:25:22] » No. No. Well, she stays in about an acre fence,

[2:25:26] » right, >> with the goats,

[2:25:29] » right? >> Cuz she's the one that likes to roam. He

[2:25:31] don't he don't roam unless she's out, >> right?

[2:25:34] » And they've been put out now. Now, him he he guards the other two acres.

[2:25:38] » Yes, sir. >> Which is in the yard. We live on a dead

[2:25:41] end in street and there's nothing but woods around us.

[2:25:43] » Yes, I understand. But just so that everybody would kind of be on the same

[2:25:46] page. >> She's she's still put up in a big

[2:25:49] » acre fence and he's >> right. But he's not.

[2:25:53] » But the space that they are protecting your livestock is inside is already

[2:25:57] inside of a fence. >> Some of some of it is.

[2:26:01] » Okay. >> Some of it is.

[2:26:04] » But your but your animals do any of your animals, your livestock, do they roam

[2:26:08] outside of the fence? >> Oh, the chickens do.

[2:26:10] » The chickens do. >> Yeah.

[2:26:12] » Well, okay. it. What what I'm saying is that I

[2:26:18] I I know you suggested earlier that if we if we vote and that's not yet

[2:26:23] determined, but if we vote to to render your dog dangerous, your two dogs

[2:26:27] dangerous, you suggested that it would really disqualify them from doing their

[2:26:32] work. >> But if their job is to protect the

[2:26:34] animals inside of the fence, right, >> that does not disqualify them from doing

[2:26:39] the work. >> I understand that.

[2:26:40] » You understand what I'm saying? >> Right. Essentially, essentially

[2:26:44] essentially the animals will be put on sort of a probation, right?

[2:26:49] » If this never happens again, it it would never rise to the level of vicious.

[2:26:53] » Okay? >> You know, unless he attacks somebody uh

[2:26:56] in the manner that he just did, right? >> And of course, uh you know, I more

[2:26:59] learned that animal control guy uh that sits over there. Um Mr. Travis, if if

[2:27:05] I'm mistaken in this regard, you know, please correct me. Uh the way I

[2:27:08] understand it is that if if the dog is inside of the the fence, he doesn't have

[2:27:14] to have to wear a muzzle. >> And so he wouldn't be restricted from

[2:27:18] doing the work that you have commissioned him to do. If any any

[2:27:22] livestock is threatened by animal that has come to that perimeter, your dog can

[2:27:27] still do his job. And so this does not in fact based on you know what you've

[2:27:32] what you stated here and what's been conveyed you know by your spouse this

[2:27:37] does not disqualify your dog from doing the work that you want him to do if he's

[2:27:42] if he's rendered to be dangerous and so if your dog is not in the habit of doing

[2:27:46] this type of conducting himself in this way you should never ever have a

[2:27:50] problem. This would be >> you know like one of these moments and

[2:27:53] you say yeah back in the day you know I had the dog did this and this happened.

[2:27:57] Yeah, but um but Lucy was a wonderful dog. I'm not saying your dog name is

[2:28:00] Lucy, but I'm just saying >> um you kind of on the same page because

[2:28:05] you know we take we take your concerns very seriously as a governing body

[2:28:09] » but at the same time you know we value human life. Yes.

[2:28:14] » Right. So we have to protect the citizens.

[2:28:16] » I would just like if y'all just if y'all could have just met the dogs like I when

[2:28:20] I was in the meeting with them and everybody raised their hand said the

[2:28:23] bishes. No, no, they watch. That's a different It's not when I was in there

[2:28:27] and I'm like, you know, I'm tell y'all didn't Yes, sir.

[2:28:30] » Y'all don't know the dogs, right? >> Y'all could go to the pound right now,

[2:28:33] talk to everybody's there for the last month.

[2:28:36] » They lick you to death. >> Yes, sir.

[2:28:37] » You know. >> Yes, sir. But these are the these people

[2:28:40] that sit up here typically, they're very fair-minded folk, you know, you know,

[2:28:43] they're not coming after those. That's not, you know, what we do.

[2:28:46] » Okay. All right. Anybody else have any other Let's see. Commissioner, let's

[2:28:50] see. Um I know you're still on the board for the motion, right? Okay. And and so

[2:28:55] John Pow, you had another observation you wanted to make.

[2:28:58] » Yes, Mr. President. Thank you. So, um the stakes are high if these dogs get

[2:29:05] out again and do this whether they're deemed vicious or not because I saw them

[2:29:10] attack a dog in a neighborhood, not on a farm, and we were told it's a mile away.

[2:29:17] So, I don't want that to happen again because of a vote that I make. So, um if

[2:29:25] if they're deemed dangerous and they stay inside their fence, that's fine.

[2:29:29] And this wouldn't have hap we would never have seen this video if they had

[2:29:33] stayed inside their fence the first time. So, like I'm going to vote to deem

[2:29:39] them to uphold the deeming that they're dangerous. And if it was my dog, I would

[2:29:44] want to protect it from ever having the chance of doing this again and getting

[2:29:48] put down as a result of it. And I would put a muzzle on him when he goes

[2:29:52] outside. But inside their fence, it's up to them whether they muzzle it or not.

[2:29:58] And I understand they're on a farm, and that's a wonderful setting for this kind

[2:30:01] of dog. Um, but it is 100% immaterial

[2:30:08] to the question whether a dog is dangerous or not. if he is super

[2:30:11] friendly to people and will lick your hand in the pound or in any other

[2:30:15] setting. The only thing that matters for whether a dog is dangerous or not is

[2:30:19] whether a dog has done exactly what we saw in the video, which is attack

[2:30:24] somebody or their dog unprovoked in a place that's not their own yard.

[2:30:29] » But we don't know that he was on >> Well,

[2:30:32] » when he was at the end of that driveway, that dog was sir. Sir, a dog on a leash

[2:30:38] on its own property cannot possibly be provoking another dog.

[2:30:42] » So, they ran th those dogs ran from the street into somebody's yard

[2:30:47] » without being teased or summoned or anything. So, that's the definition of a

[2:30:52] dangerous dog. And I'm sorry because these are wonderful, sweet breeds, but

[2:30:56] I'm going to vote that way. All right. >> Thank you.

[2:30:58] » All right. Thank you, Commissioner uh Commissioner Atkins.

[2:31:00] » Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to um respectfully

[2:31:05] make sure our our our owners understand that, you know, if we vote for this dog

[2:31:12] to be considered dangerous, then he's basically on probation. He's free to do

[2:31:17] what you want him to do, but if he were to get out and have another incident

[2:31:21] like this, he would then be upgraded to vicious, or maybe I should say

[2:31:25] downgraded to vicious. So, I just want to make sure you all understand. And I

[2:31:28] don't I want you to be able to I want you and your dogs to be able to enjoy

[2:31:31] the life that you want to enjoy. I just want you to be aware of the situation

[2:31:34] and use care and caution. And I say that with due respect. Thank you, Mr.

[2:31:38] President. >> All right. Thank you for your

[2:31:40] observation and your comments, Commissioner Atkins. All right, Mr.

[2:31:44] Cler. >> Okay, we ready?

[2:31:49] » Explain explain what the vote means. If you vote yes, it means we'll

[2:31:54] » a vote to uphold the decision uh of the deeming of the dog as dangerous.

[2:31:58] » And if you vote no, >> the dogs as dangerous and voting no uh

[2:32:04] would would require another motion to be made,

[2:32:07] » right? >> Okay, because

[2:32:10] » it would it would not deem the dogs, >> right? Forgive me.

[2:32:12] » It would not uphold, >> right? You're voting to uphold the

[2:32:15] decision. If this doesn't pass, right, >> then we'd need another motion. The

[2:32:18] reason why I was concerned is because I I thought we were hearing an appeal and

[2:32:23] normally when you're hearing an appeal, you vote yes, you're agreeing with the

[2:32:26] appeal. >> Thank you for that clarification. Yes,

[2:32:28] that the mo the motion, however, was made to uphold. So, and as opposed to uh

[2:32:34] saying yes or no because you're right, a lot of times our agenda items are

[2:32:37] phrased in the affirmative. Uh but this being an appeal, the motion that was

[2:32:41] made was made to uphold the decision of the previous body that heard this.

[2:32:44] » That's right. I just want to make sure that was clear with everyone.

[2:32:47] All righty.

[2:32:54] » So, a yes vote upholds the the dangerous dog determination.

[2:33:01] » Commissioner Catherine is affirmative.

[2:33:07] » That's what I'm doing right now.

[2:33:14] Okay. That uh motion carries with aid in support, none in opposition. Uh that

[2:33:19] that uh that uh dangerous dog determination is with is upheld. Um and

[2:33:26] that uh case number two, we do not have the appellant here today. Um I'm not

[2:33:32] sure how to I guess we will go ahead and hear the KTO

[2:33:38] uh animal services summary or I'm not sure how y'all want to proceed with

[2:33:42] that. Maybe our parish attorney may have a suggestion.

[2:33:45] » Um, commissioners, it's my understanding that the um appellant contacted the

[2:33:50] clerk's office and stated that they had an emergency due to flooding.

[2:33:54] » That is correct. >> Um, which I'm not aware if they're

[2:33:57] currently here in the parish. I would suggest that this be continued to the

[2:34:01] next regular meeting that he be notified um via certified mail that it will be

[2:34:06] continued. >> Okay. We have a motion by Victor uh

[2:34:10] Thomas and a second by Ken Epson. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to

[2:34:15] make a motion to postpone the appeal um the appellet um hearing to allow um the

[2:34:20] Galvin um appeal to be able to be present and allow some like the request

[2:34:26] to certified notice. >> Okay, Commissioner.

[2:34:30] All right, let's vote.

[2:34:36] And Commissioner Cauman is also voting in the affirmative.

[2:34:42] And that motion carries with eight in support, none in opposition and four

[2:34:46] absent. Uh brings us to communication committee report second round.

[2:34:51] Anybody? Nobody. I just want to uh take this opportunity to to acknowledge and

[2:34:56] to thank our our very uh handsome u law enforcement officers and our very

[2:35:02] beautiful law enforcement officers that are ladies and really do appreciate you

[2:35:06] know your presence and uh your participation. Thank you very much.

2026-09-03 CPC Regular Session

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