Jury adopts road ordinance, approves equipment purchases, broadband MOU and several transfers; sets Dec. 18 budget hearing

The Sabine Parish Police Jury held routine business and approved a series of motions affecting roads, equipment, contracts and finance on Nov. 20.

Key votes and approvals

• Reappointment: Jurors approved the reappointment of Michael Pitt to the board of commissioners of the South Toledo Bend Water District (motion carried).

• Roads and ordinances: The jury approved a moratorium on acceptance of new parish roads into the maintenance system, adopted Order/Ordinance 6 of 2024 (roads, bridges and ditches), amended subdivision regulations (Ordinance amendment to Ordinance 3 of 1992) and adopted an ordinance rescinding the prior road order. The jury also approved written policies for school bus turnarounds and related cooperative agreements. One proposed ordinance on commercial/recreational vehicle parks (Ordinance 9 of 2024) was tabled for more information.

• Broadband: The jury approved a memorandum of understanding allocating $510,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as the parish match for a broadband subaward with Cable South Media 3 LLC.

• Equipment and procurement: The jury authorized staff to solicit bids to purchase a dozer for the sanitary landfill (committee recommended purchase over lease), approved purchasing a front‑end loader via state contract using obligated funds, and authorized disposal of three high‑mileage vehicles through Enterprise Fleet Management with replacement leases.

• Landfill liner contract: Five sealed bids were opened for construction of a Subtitle D liner at the sanitary landfill; the low bid read aloud was Track Construction LLC at $4,944,377. After discussion the solid‑waste committee recommended awarding the contract and the jury approved the recommendation.

• Banking and transfers: The jury authorized staff to begin the multi‑step process of transferring parish accounts to Citibank and Trust Company and approved a transfer of $225,000 from the general fund to the criminal court fund to cover an estimated shortfall.

• Memberships and grants: The jury approved a $9,220 annual membership in the Coordinating and Development Corporation (CDC), which staff said helps secure block grants and related funding opportunities.

• Budget schedule: Jurors set a public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget for Dec. 18, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. in the Police Jury meeting room at the courthouse.

Votes at a glance (as reported)

- Adopt agenda: 7‑0‑2 (ayes‑nays‑absent) - Reappointment, Michael Pitt: carried (vote announced 7‑0‑2) - Road moratorium: carried (7‑0‑2) - Adopt Ordinance 6 (road order): carried - Amendment to subdivision regs: carried - Rescind prior road ordinance: carried - Approve bus-turnaround policies: carried - Broadband ARPA match MOU ($510,000): carried - Authorize purchase solicitations for dozer and approve front‑end loader purchase: carried - Award landfill liner contract (committee recommendation): carried (7‑0 as announced) - Authorize bank transfer to Citibank and Trust Company: carried - Transfer $225,000 to criminal court fund: carried - Authorize vehicle disposal and lease replacements: carried - CDC membership ($9,220): carried - Set budget public hearing: carried

What happens next: Committee and staff follow up on equipment specifications, finance will review the economic‑plan funding referral, staff will begin banking transitions and obligations, and the full jury will consider award and appropriation items at upcoming meetings including the Dec. 18 budget hearing.