DeSoto Parish Police Jury approves precinct mergers, tax exemption and a series of routine measures

DeSoto Parish — The DeSoto Parish Police Jury met March 3 and approved a package of resolutions, an ordinance to merge low‑population precincts, an industrial tax exemption and several administrative actions.

The jury adopted Ordinance No. 1 of 2025 to merge precincts with fewer than 300 active voters as required by state statute, a change the consultant said will generally not change polling locations and is intended to reduce election costs. "All we're doing is geographically merging one precinct in with the next one," the consultant explained during the meeting, adding that affected voters will receive new cards from the secretary of state where appropriate.

The jury also voted to authorize the president to sign a resolution consenting to the assignment of state lease number 22261 from Beta Land Services to Chesapeake Louisiana L.P.; officials characterized the action as an administrative assignment of operator rights under the state mineral board lease terms and approved the measure. The motion passed after a brief clarification that the action is a transfer of lease rights rather than a change in statutory obligations.

On economic development, the jury approved a resolution authorizing an industrial tax exemption application for International Paper, submitted by Louisiana Economic Development. The measure was moved and seconded with no further discussion recorded.

Administrative business included acceptance of the resignation of Brian Norwood Jr. from DeSoto Parish Water Works District 1 and appointment of Bubba Lum to the board. The jury also authorized a $500,000 transfer from the general fund to the Office of Community Services (OCS) fund, budgeted through June 2025 and expected to be reimbursed through the Louisiana Housing Corporation.

The jury approved a citizen participation plan required for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, authorizing community outreach conducted by an outside organization to identify low‑ to moderate‑income areas for future grant applications. The parish administrator explained the contractor conducts door‑to‑door outreach and compiles the qualifying data for grant submissions.

Other items passed included a contract agreement with the Town of Stonewall for drainage work on 20 Oaks and acceptance of a donation from the Louisiana Housing Corporation of a weatherization mobile unit trailer (the transcript described the donated unit as a "F-three 50"; the jury's motion accepted the in‑kind donation).

The meeting opened with reports from the parish administrator, who said the sheriff's litter crew completed 126 miles of road cleanup and that the recent household hazardous waste day served 153 households and collected 228 tires. Greg Morrison of Delta Resource Group previewed the upcoming state legislative session and highlighted early bills including House Bill 4 (carbon sequestration) and House Bill 13 (school board sales tax authority), and jurors discussed the complexity and potential local impact of a proposed constitutional amendment (Amendment No. 2) that could change severance‑tax allocations.

The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were acted on. The jury will take up additional matters at its next scheduled meeting.