DeSoto Parish jury authorizes contract cancellation notice, adopts road‑use and road‑damage ordinances and approves multiple routine actions

At its Sept. 8, 2025 meeting the DeSoto Parish Police Jury took several business actions: it authorized its administrator to draft a notice of cancellation to Live Oak Environmental LLC, adopted updates to heavy/oversized-load permitting and to excessive-damage provisions for parish roads, approved a request to apply for FTA transit grant funds, and carried a number of routine motions including financial report acceptance and a three‑year contract for property‑owner location services.

Live Oak Environmental LLC

Jurors discussed a sharp decline in tonnage delivered under an existing contract with Live Oak Environmental LLC and heard the parish administrator say the company had largely stopped marketing municipal solid waste and special waste streams that formerly produced substantial revenue for the landfill. The jury voted to authorize the parish administrator to draft a notice of cancellation to Live Oak Environmental LLC so that the contract will not auto‑renew; the administrator said profiling and manifesting services will be replaced and staff would pursue alternative marketing arrangements.

Road permits and road‑damage ordinance updates

The jury adopted Ordinance No. 3 of 2025, amending section 78‑8 of the parish code to add an engineer and superintendent evaluation requirement for permits involving more than 150 truck trips, and the authority to require security (for example, letters of credit) based on per‑mile road values. It also updated section 78‑9 (Ordinance No. 5 of 2023) on excessive damage by motor vehicles and clarified the process for assessing and recovering damage. The administrator said the changes give the parish “some teeth” to require road evaluations and recover costs for repair; oil and gas industry representatives had asked for a delay to review safety and operational details but the jury proceeded after hearing their request.

Resolutions, grants and real‑estate items

The jury authorized submission of an application to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for FTA programs on behalf of the Council on Aging and approved an equal transfer of real estate with J. Michael Knight for construction of a compactor-site road in Stonewall. The jury also authorized the president to sign a procurement policy resolution to meet LCD BG guidelines.

Administrative approvals

Finance staff presented a detailed financial report through Aug. 31 and jurors voted to accept the financial statements. The jury authorized a three‑year agreement with Thomson Reuters (software vendor for owner-location services used in nuisance abatement) at an estimated cost of about $293 per month. Road department items — including authorization to place oil mix on Stagecoach Road and a requested budget amendment tied to road materials — were carried. The jury adopted an order setting a 25 mph speed limit on Stagecoach Road in Districts 4A and 4B.

Votes at a glance (selected outcomes)

- Motion to authorize drafting a notice of cancellation to Live Oak Environmental LLC: motion moved and carried (no final termination vote recorded at meeting). - Adopt Ordinance No. 3 of 2025 (amending heavy‑haul permit rules): adopted by roll call. - Update Ordinance No. 5 of 2023 (excessive damage): adopted by roll call. - Authorize application for FTA programs (Council on Aging): approved. - Authorize real estate transfer with J. Michael Knight for Stonewall compactor road: approved. - Accept financial report as of 08/31/2025: approved. - Authorize three‑year Thomson Reuters agreement for owner‑location services (~$293/month): approved.

Next steps: The parish administrator and legal counsel will proceed with drafting the cancellation notice to Live Oak and administer ordinance enforcement changes; several items require follow‑up administratively (security schedules for permits, engineer evaluations and any further agreements to replace Live Oak’s marketing services).