The Sabine Parish Police Jury meeting on November 20, 2024, focused on the contentious selection process for banking services, particularly the decision to choose Citibank over Bank of Montgomery. The discussion revealed significant concerns regarding transparency and communication with the banks involved.

During the meeting, members debated the scoring process used to evaluate the bids. Some jurors expressed frustration that Bank of Montgomery was scored despite not meeting the submission requirements. This led to questions about the fairness of the process and whether the banks were adequately informed about why they were not selected. One juror suggested that a public meeting could help clarify the situation for voters who were questioning the decision.

The conversation highlighted the need for clearer communication with the banks regarding their proposals. Jurors acknowledged that simply informing a bank that they were not selected without providing detailed reasons could lead to misunderstandings and accusations of impropriety. A proposal was made to post the committee's response on the parish's website and share it with local news media to ensure transparency.

Ultimately, the jury reaffirmed their decision to select Citibank, citing it as the best option based on the evaluations conducted. However, the discussions underscored the importance of maintaining clear and open lines of communication in future procurement processes to avoid similar issues. The meeting concluded with a commitment to improve transparency and address the concerns raised by both jurors and the public.