[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6513428,"mediaKeyId","5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2","parentId",5071080,"title","Council authorizes counsel to settle Cortez lawsuit after executive session, vote 7-2","audioSeconds",68,"startMs",2332000,"endMs",2400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2&start=2332&end=2400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2/thumbnail_2332000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6513428/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/Council-authorizes-counsel-to-settle-Cortez-lawsuit-after-executive-session-vote-7-2","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513428-5123d8e417ebf98fb41e96a804a75c77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048186&Signature=Mkugf1xX9KKJ5mpwRC5X-60ibxjIzjWN-HqJ6PIsp7hAQXA8lVfaQ8DfTvv5IKcObb9fVGgAfFuRWR~9FqHmENgtoHKstag5ZTQ9nrYWZ48SmMJee96LeJtjpFzF6~tomSz5PMK8ZQCPmchYmw~-1yd7iIftDXTSIMAlQFXAGqCZZ0YEdvouJPlO2XAYAhHHt7lzgsJpfrJXla70YKPKq2FDemSKfNLJ3wyyurcDvMdtM~7lAnU9BVggepitPprPGu4Kp7kj8LGPYXHP18N9eOVhJn-X1Gu7JGcuKdhH9XcTtyrq3JWokiadGe9n84riGqFmsGN-m3Vn0Y3WVnyANA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tangipahoa Parish Government","date","2025-06-24T00:24:44Z","article","The Tangipahoa Parish Council met in executive session on June 23 to discuss potential settlement of Cortez v. Tangipahoa Parish. After returning to open session, the council voted to authorize counsel to enter into the proposed settlement by recorded roll call.

Counsel summarized the topic as a challenge to aspects of the parish charter and said a settlement would resolve the lawsuit while protecting voters’ interests. The attorney asked for authority from the council to enter the settlement; the details were discussed in executive session and were not disclosed on the public record.

A roll call vote followed the public return from executive session. Councilman Senagra and Miss Cietat recorded “no” votes; seven members recorded “yes.” The public roll-call record shows the motion passed by recorded vote (7-2). The clerk’s roll-call exchange and the attorney’s summary are on the meeting record.

Ending: The council authorized counsel to finalize the settlement documents and instructed counsel to report back to the council after execution; the substantive settlement terms were discussed in executive session and were not released at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tangipahoa Parish Council | June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After an executive session, Tangipahoa Parish Council voted to authorize counsel to enter a proposed settlement in Cortez v. Tangipahoa Parish; details were withheld and will be reported back to the council.","taxTitle","Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana","taxId",4558,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513433,"Consultant outlines zoning and land development code work ahead of July 16 community meeting",443,1189000,1632000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2&start=1189&end=1632","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2/thumbnail_1189000.jpg","/articles/6513433/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/Consultant-outlines-zoning-and-land-development-code-work-ahead-of-July-16-community-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513433-80d399a1c655f961d1077fe15ca0c499/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048186&Signature=F0yTpQlg6xdUzgBrERdrQiGuhyGeVsC~WGeUQcp9MpfmieFrWWiqaePGk2acZxUW-CzbSBQdw5LGAmacL8WLJS30XzzZZ5kQFhN1bAdSrZS4lBAl~QJ7Zj6GWcEKzAjAw9ehb9L6JTTgNFoehDsPHvL4E3tfhmYDyK84PHkhUC-oDbW7osvR2S1JVNAPLPG6W7JU5NlFzwp-cvYJuudjFvGDumdF1ZmgIV7OvMLhfrvEZgA6RpL-ZCKdO54pIHldCBacNp7xvzl3qU~AU~nmViiCXcHV7rSiBmbhYVMh7wz-HkOIrS66S-OqnUcknoA35g2c5yACcTtd0wzBD4bnOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Desire Line planners presented an update on implementation of Tangipahoa Parish’s 2045 comprehensive plan at the June 23 council meeting and previewed a July 16 public meeting and an online map for community review.

“On July 16, we have an upcoming community meeting. We're also going to launch an online map,” Evelyn Campo of Desire Line told the council. The firm said it has worked with the parish since the comprehensive plan process began and is now focusing on the land development code, potential zoning districts, subdivision regulations and related procedural clarifications.

Campo said the implementation effort aims to “protect existing land uses, creating predictability in processes, and making, like, a user friendly code” and emphasized public engagement. Desire Line reported public meetings in December and February that drew participation and identified concerns such as protecting residential and rural/agricultural character.

The consultant encouraged council members and residents to review draft maps and comment through the project website or at the July 16 meeting (event center/arena, 4:30–6:30 p.m., per the meeting record). Campo said the maps are drafts and the process will continue into the next year, allowing changes based on public input.

Ending: Council members were asked to help publicize the July 16 community meeting and the online map so residents can review proposed map changes and submit comments to their council representatives.","Desire Line planners described phase-two work to implement the 2045 comprehensive plan, including potential zoning districts, an online map and a July 16 community meeting for public review and comments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513437,"External auditors give Tangipahoa Parish a clean opinion, note one budget finding",195,695000,890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2&start=695&end=890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2/thumbnail_695000.jpg","/articles/6513437/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/External-auditors-give-Tangipahoa-Parish-a-clean-opinion-note-one-budget-finding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513437-f9e26c72f196ab45167942d294d3438a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048186&Signature=dNa7RKtF1mhG2RzIXV5Qe17p1E1Y9eLp6HIxad2Jsq8COQ2ciXHeN0MwYXCyGN4Fc~mV7xbfpBT~2kkBLpWF0PY6tej6X6-B0gx3KbAaNyz4N3RYVxckL25172Rla8gmKmQUDuM4wJdUeXfBYTvtBtQJKkLD~U1A~l2kkTag3cQed-XiGm4HWnwZxzxjUroPhoz0w8xVFzia54ZUu2oLRJMIBvj8T9~SNjys2H5JllWLAYXF2cxVEs8IHt98SF9DEisN-FWig3UUlxnQpCyCj06znfbm71kpYQ7-krSFlA4OsKDhIjIXHhmvYZirz6-~WLjLL-TzvDPjG8R4iVRFXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James Lambert, Riggs and Associates presented the Tangipahoa Parish 2024 audit at the June 23 council meeting, delivering a clean opinion on the parish financial statements and noting one continuing budget finding.

“Basically, we are giving a clean opinion on your financial statements,” audit director Paul Riggs told the council. He described the audit as having gone “very, very smoothly,” with no internal control findings and positive compliance results for most federal grant testing.

Riggs said auditors identified one budget finding related to the industrial development fund: money received after year-end for calendar-year 2024 was not reflected in the 2024 year-end budget, which resulted in a budget violation. He framed the matter as a recurring but narrowing issue: “We have had this finding for a number of years... This year, it was just 1.”

The audit team also performed the statewide agreed-upon procedures mandated by the legislative auditor. Riggs reported no exceptions in the specific areas tested for 2024 (collections and disbursements) and said the auditors will resubmit required materials electronically to the legislative auditor by the June 30 deadline.

Riggs noted approximately $40 million in federal grant spending in 2024, including ARPA funds, and said the auditors found no significant issues with compliance for those programs.

Ending: The finance committee reviewed the audit earlier the same day and moved to accept it; the council voted 9-0 to accept the audit report as presented.","James Lambert, Riggs and Associates reported a clean opinion on Tangipahoa Parish's 2024 financial statements but identified a budget finding in the industrial development fund.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513442,"Parish reports 178 property cleanups since 2022 as council approves additional liens and demolitions",111,421000,532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2&start=421&end=532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2/thumbnail_421000.jpg","/articles/6513442/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/Parish-reports-178-property-cleanups-since-2022-as-council-approves-additional-liens-and-demolitions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513442-58e874e45c52d8b751bb35dc18d22995/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048186&Signature=BSfPWKU7EJNFReRQ7yBADVAe4FJWRNf6e5heOU4xa~47Mu1DVqoFx9psOwouRAHpiDNbYR5U~Q0zc3c9V9CRV2A~MUPMvFTx-lk~6StNIlsCUrzBMDCqdedP13Bt0yZPWZnC1TuSewUsgYWp0qMACvG-lltgqBi0ANnJkaj9r99Dxd4ChbzDnhxempO6mKbs4vFsLQQtvXobYnwB~zYC9rGKQPb6xmNbzys7HcsEL7Ay3ucVbU8t5kWJ6X0yW8oI0D1VO8oP-HsexLXrIxuJn4YOLHt9lo1GdZ9hqyPf0D3bMv0TYNx7zoyVQg95CXvJXE~BqxiN5~9pk4U8hRGi6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tangipahoa Parish President Miller told the parish council on June 23 that the parish’s property-abatement and demolition program has led to 178 properties being cleaned up since the parish began more aggressive enforcement in 2022.

“We're currently working 37 demos for 2025 so far,” Parish President Miller said during the meeting. He summarized the outreach and enforcement pattern: many owners clean up after notice, and the parish performs removals when owners do not. “Since 2022, when we started aggressively doing this program, we've had a 142 owners clean up their own property. 40 that we've actually done. So it's a 156. And then and you add the Ida private property debris cleanup that we got grants for from from DRC. They did 22 more. So since 2022, we have cleaned up 178 properties,” Miller said.

During the meeting the council approved contracts to cut grass and remove debris at specific addresses and authorized liens to recover contract costs plus administrative fees. Actions recorded on the public record included approvals to hire contractors for: 57161 Haino Road (Independence, Assessment No. 481807), 42428 Yoakam Road (Ponchatoula, Assessment No. 5696003) and 4801 Whiskey Lane (Assessment No. 3981118, District 5). Each motion was adopted by roll call with votes recorded as 9-0.

Miller described the cost implications of the demolition and cleanup work in general terms. When asked to ballpark costs he said the parish estimates roughly $15,000 per teardown and cleanup, adding that even when owners perform cleanup there are still administrative costs for staff time, filings and mailings. “You've been looking at $6,070,000 dollars right there,” Miller said when illustrating the extrapolated scale of costs.

Council members thanked staff and residents for cooperation; one council member relayed that residents in Kentwood reported the parish cleanup crew made their road the cleanest it had been in 30 years.

Ending: The council approved the listed contractor hires and accepted several condemnation recommendations during the same session; staff were directed to proceed with liens and required filings as recorded in the meeting minutes.","Parish President Miller told the council the cleanup program has led to owners or the parish addressing 178 properties since 2022; the council approved several contractor hires to cut grass, remove debris and authorize liens, and accepted multiple condemnation recommendations.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":46,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513446,"Council approves truck route, zoning language, millage rates and multiple condemnation measures in 9-0 votes",2398,2000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2&start=2&end=2400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5071080-0c635532b5b1f6f62d584124329ea1c2/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6513446/Tangipahoa-Parish/Louisiana/Council-approves-truck-route-zoning-language-millage-rates-and-multiple-condemnation-measures-in-9-0-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513446-d2f050a87e9916f782dd3c315394ee50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048186&Signature=Y3hS5p~a8~Rk7oS-dWg1IkQj1YfjZwLjGOmKVSpYpRvuRomETJYKtydEG7g7PhJ5FlT49FJsDwFYwPJijUpvxrf0EXwQD5FdUbjDz2zR74g6xwPRko3cg55tlUCNYvikxfiBkKk87AURl9Fruj2-dEap8wYQsETNFnwXqPmIcgbwqpcIdI0j0EBEGC04PnZ8Zsb~2AcQFIalIV~qWF7fRZbjNDcu0N2O2UXu11lwtZjuUzgJic-y00bHLjqG3fDC9t9VchXqvGtnrcfXloGwDNUjgdwdOljH2UVlb16KbQiOodO0LHs1ooJdl6ZFy3GwXy55hpSgAsGGFtZ-CN0i1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tangipahoa Parish Council on June 23 approved a set of ordinances and resolutions by unanimous votes and took several administrative actions including a board appointment.

The council adopted Ordinance 25-16 to establish a truck route on West Pleasant Ridge Road, Ordinance 25-17 to amend Chapter 36 to add language on small-box retail stores, and Ordinance 25-18 adopting the 2025 millage rates. The clerk recorded each ordinance as passing 9-0. The council also adopted Ordinance 25-19 to declare surplus and dispose of a power-file system located in the assessor’s office; that measure also passed 9-0.

The body moved a series of condemnation-related actions and related resolutions. The council accepted condemnation recommendations and later adopted resolutions to proceed with condemnation proceedings at the following addresses (all roll calls recorded as passing 9-0): 25017 Corbin Lane (assessment number referenced in the record), 48190 Whiskey Lane (assessment number referenced in the record), 42318 South Airport Road (assessment number referenced in the record), and 44087 Stein Road (assessment number referenced in the record). The council recorded votes of 9-0 on those measures.

The council also approved a board appointment: Robert E. Williams Jr. to the Hammond Area Recreation District board (term details on the record), with the motion passing 9-0.

Several ordinance and resolution motions were moved and seconded on the council floor and were recorded by roll call; where recorded, the minutes show unanimous 9-0 outcomes. The meeting minutes and roll-call transcript provide the formal text of each ordinance and resolution and list the assessing numbers when supplied by staff.

Ending: The council concluded that block of business with no further recorded objections and moved on to other agenda items, including presentations and an executive-session authorization later in the meeting.","Tangipahoa Parish Council on June 23 adopted four ordinances, declared a surplus asset and approved several condemnation resolutions and appointments, with most measures passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council authorizes counsel to settle Cortez lawsuit after executive session, vote 7-2

Consultant outlines zoning and land development code work ahead of July 16 community meeting

External auditors give Tangipahoa Parish a clean opinion, note one budget finding

Parish reports 178 property cleanups since 2022 as council approves additional liens and demolitions

Council approves truck route, zoning language, millage rates and multiple condemnation measures in 9-0 votes