Livingston Parish Council approves opioid-school agreement, fire-district levies, zoning changes and tower waivers; votes at a glance

The Livingston Parish Council on July 24 approved a package of resolutions, ordinance changes and site waivers, including a cooperative endeavor to give opioid-abatement funds to Livingston Parish Public Schools, ballot measures for two fire-protection districts, a change to single-family lot minimums in R-2 zoning, a revised parish littering ordinance with a three-year “cleansing” period, and two waivers allowing AT&T to build new cell sites.

The council opened its meeting with presentations and an audit briefing before voting. In the evening’s most substantive item on public health, the council adopted a resolution authorizing the parish president to execute a cooperative endeavor agreement with Livingston Parish Public Schools to provide government opioid funds for testing, treatment and abatement in parish schools.

Under the approved agreement the school district will expand teletherapy services (Daybreak Health), complete installation of vape detectors in remaining middle and high school restrooms, use a small portion of funds for contracted drug testing tied to parental consent for some students returning from expulsion programs, and hire an administrative assistant for the Livingston Alternative program. The council voted to adopt the resolution with a recorded outcome of 7 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain; 2 members were absent.

The council also approved two local fire-district ballot measures for November 2025. Fire Protection District No. 5 won council approval to place a 5-mill levy for 20 years on the Nov. 15 ballot; the district estimates roughly $900,000 in annual revenue and said proceeds would fund a new station, equipment and additional manpower. The council approved sending that proposition to voters unanimously (7 yes, 0 no; 2 absent).

Separately, the council amended and approved a resolution for Fire Protection District No. 8 to appear on the same November ballot. The district asked to amend the advertised 13.11 mills to 15 mills; the council voted to amend the resolution to 15 mills and then adopted it as amended (vote recorded as unanimous). Council members noted the district may levy less than the maximum later if the board chooses.

On land-use rules the council adopted an amendment to the R-2 (residential single-family) zoning standards increasing the minimum lot width and side setbacks for new subdivisions. After discussion the council adopted a substitute amendment setting a 70-foot minimum lot width with an 8-foot side setback (which yields 16 feet between houses). The motion passed unanimously.

The council also adopted changes to the parish littering ordinance (LP Ordinance 25-13). Attorney review confirmed the proposed penalties mirror state law; during debate council members added an amendment establishing a three-year cleansing period so that, after a qualifying interval without additional offenses, prior littering infractions would not be used to enhance later penalties. The amended ordinance was adopted unanimously.

On telecommunications infrastructure the council granted two setback waivers to AT&T for new cell sites aimed at closing coverage gaps. The first waiver for the Nickens Lake site on LA-1032 asked relief from the parish requirement that tower setback equal tower height plus 30 feet; AT&T presented engineering documentation (a sealed structural “0-fall” collapse-design letter) and coverage maps showing improved reception and 9-1-1 reliability. That waiver passed 6 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain. The council subsequently approved a second AT&T site in French Settlement with similar findings and the company’s engineering letter; that action also passed with one abstention.

Public works and capital items cleared the council’s agenda as well: the council accepted roads and improvements in several developments and authorized release of a $104,123.40 maintenance bond for Arbor Walk (Cinder Drive), and adopted resolutions formally accepting completion of several DOTD-funded road projects (Forest DeLatt Road and Meet Church Road contracts) as administratively complete. Those DPW items were approved unanimously.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Cooperative endeavor (schools opioid funds): Adopted; motion to authorize parish president to execute cooperative endeavor with Livingston Parish Public Schools for opioid testing, treatment and abatement; outcome 7–0 (2 absent). Key provisions: expanded Daybreak Health teletherapy for middle/high school students; finish vape detector installs in remaining middle/high school restrooms; contracted drug testing with parental consent for students returning from expulsion/alternative programs; administrative assistant at Livingston Alternative program. - Fire Protection District No. 5: Adopted to place 5-mill levy for 20 years on Nov. 15, 2025 ballot; estimated $900,000/year; outcome unanimous (7–0; 2 absent). - Fire Protection District No. 8: Council amended resolution to 15 mills (from advertised 13.11) and adopted as amended; outcome unanimous (7–0; 2 absent). - R-2 zoning amendment (LP Ordinance 25-08): Substitute adopted to require 70-foot minimum lot width and 8-foot side setbacks (16 feet between houses); outcome unanimous. - Littering ordinance (LP Ordinance 25-13): Adopted as amended to mirror state penalties and add a three‑year cleansing period for prior offenses; outcome unanimous. - AT&T tower waivers (Nickens Lake; French Settlement): Waivers granted with requirement that AT&T provide structural engineer documentation showing a collapsible/zero-fall design and other conditions; Nickens Lake waiver passed 6–0–1 (one abstain); French Settlement waiver passed 6–0–1 (one abstain). - Public works/contract acceptances: Release of $104,123.40 maintenance bond for Arbor Walk; final acceptance of Forest DeLatt Road (Baker Pyle Driving & Site Work LLC) and Meet Church Road (Barrier Construction Co. LLC) state projects; motions passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The cooperative endeavor will direct opioid-related federal/state funds into school-based prevention, screening and recovery supports; the fire-district levies set to appear on the November ballot could change local property tax obligations while funding needed stations, trucks and personnel; the zoning change and littering ordinance alter land-use standards and enforcement tools that affect neighborhood density, drainage expectations and public cleanliness; the telecom waivers accelerate new cellular capacity and 9-1-1 resiliency in coverage gaps.

What’s next: The two fire-district measures will appear on the Nov. 15, 2025 ballot. Planning staff and parish administration will proceed with contract closeouts and the school cooperative-endeavor documents will be executed by the parish president as authorized. AT&T indicated it will proceed with permitting and construction according to the council’s conditions and the submitted engineering evidence.

Quotes from the meeting (excerpted and attributed) "This allows us to have more counseling services available to students..." — Mr. Purvis, speaking about teletherapy expansion and vape detectors under the proposed cooperative endeavor with schools. "We're the fastest growing fire district in this parish...if we don't build, we will lose our rating because we just don't have enough facilities or equipment to maintain what we do have." — Fire Chief Joe, speaking on behalf of Fire Protection District No. 5 about the proposed 5-mill levy. "These are targeted infrastructure investments designed to improve public safety...cellular service for us is no longer a luxury or a convenience. It has been deemed critical infrastructure." — Matt Adams, AT&T representative, on the coverage need for the proposed towers.

Ending: The council scheduled routine follow-ups for planning and advertising; several items deferred to future meetings for additional planning‑and‑zoning work or ordinance drafting. The full meeting video and the audit booklet were made part of the public record after the session.