Tangipahoa Parish Council approves multiple measures; Tangipahoa Times named official journal in 7-3 vote

The Tangipahoa Parish Council on June 9 approved a slate of routine motions and introductions, and selected the Tangipahoa Times as the parish’s official journal following a contested bid process that produced a 7-3 roll-call vote.

The selections and motions came during a regularly scheduled meeting at the Gordon A. Burgess Governmental Building in Amite where the council introduced local ordinances, adopted routine resolutions and confirmed board appointments. Several items were adopted or introduced unanimously; the contest for the official journal drew public comments from both bidders and the only recorded divided vote.

Why it matters: Official-journal selection directs where legal notices and public advertisements are printed and determines how much of the parish’s publishing spend goes to a local newspaper. Ordinance introductions and resolutions set the next steps for land-use standards, tax millage adoption and housing program administration.

Key outcomes - Official journal: After public remarks by representatives of the Hammond Daily Star and the Tangipahoa Times, the council voted 7 to 3 to award the official-journal contract to the Tangipahoa Times. The two bidders submitted per-square advertising rates; the meeting packet and participants identified the Tangipahoa Times proposal at $5.00 per square and the Daily Star proposal at $5.70 per square. The motion to award to the Tangipahoa Times passed on the recorded roll call. (Vote: 7 yes, 3 no.)

- Ordinances introduced: TP Ordinance 25-17 (amending Chapter 36, planning and development, to add standards for small-box retail stores) and TP Ordinance 25-18 (to adopt millage rates for tax year 2025) were introduced and moved forward by the council. Both introductions passed on roll call (10-0 for TP Ordinance 25-17; 10-0 for TP Ordinance 25-18).

- Other motions/resolutions: The council introduced TPRNIS 25-19 (declaring surplus equipment) and adopted TP Resolution 25-16 (2025 Housing Choice Voucher utility allowance schedule). Those items passed on unanimous roll calls where recorded (10-0). The council also approved accepting Fairhope Phase 2 subdivision into the parish maintenance system and approved seeking bids to construct a Section 8 housing office (both actions were approved on recorded votes; roll-call outcomes recorded as unanimous where roll call was taken).

- Appointments and reappointments: Multiple board appointments and reappointments were approved, including mosquito abatement, recreation and communications district seats; the council recorded those approvals by unanimous votes where taken.

What speakers said: Robbie Genoble, identified as an employee of the Hammond Daily Star, and Wes Younger, representing a Tangipahoa Times bid, both addressed the council during the official-journal agenda item. Genoble outlined the Daily Star’s long local presence and community work; Younger urged the council to keep parish advertising dollars local. Council members discussed bid amounts and publication-frequency requirements during deliberations.

Next steps and context: Most introduced ordinances will return for public hearings or final readings in subsequent meetings. The official-journal contract will be administered under the parish’s procurement rules. Several items in this meeting (ordained introductions, surplus declarations, board appointments) are routine annual business the council conducts each fiscal year.

Ending: The council recessed to an executive session later in the meeting and returned with no action reported; it then adjourned.