DeSoto Parish jurors approve fund transfers for new jail, back 4-H arena grant application and amend road budgets

DeSoto Parish Police Jury jurors on the evening's agenda approved a series of funding and infrastructure measures, including transfers to finance construction of a new jail, authorization of cooperative agreements related to a sheriff's office and detention facility, and approval of local road and airport capital items.

The Budget and Finance Committee voted to transfer $1,000,000 from the jail fund and $5,600,000 from landfill tipping fees into the parish construction facility fund to cover costs associated with building a new jail. Parish staff explained the funding would come from existing local revenue sources and a bond issue coordinated with the sheriff's office. "This is all money that we have in house," a staff speaker said when describing sources of funding, adding that the transfers would not require new taxes. Committee members also heard that the detention facility construction estimate is about $26,000,000 while the sheriff's office portion is expected to be between $8,000,000 and $10,000,000; the sheriff intends to build and donate his facility to the police jury under a cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA).

In Buildings & Properties, jurors adopted an updated CEA with the sheriff that authorizes the sheriff to construct the sheriff's office and detention facility on jury property and to transfer the completed building to the jury for maintenance upon completion. A committee member summarized the arrangement: the sheriff will fund and build his office, then donate the structure to the police jury, which requires a CEA to permit work on jury-owned land.

On the administrative side, jurors authorized a public hearing to receive comments on the intent to abandon any interest the police jury may have in a portion of Azalea Lane off Highway 171 and set the hearing for Oct. 21, 2024, at 5:02 p.m. The jury also approved routine appointments and motions, including acceptance of Stacey Alexander Henderson's resignation from the Ambulance/EMS District Board and the intended appointment of Mark Cannella to that board (the appointee was not present at the meeting).

The jury approved several energy- and land-use items: two separate resolutions authorizing the president to sign assignments of oil and gas mineral leases (one transferring leases involving Chesapeake entities and another to Marlin Exploration LLC), and a right-of-way agreement with Vital Biomethane LLC for a pipeline. Those motions passed unanimously or by voice vote as recorded in committee.

Roads and equipment: jurors amended the road contract labor line by $600,000 to complete the 2024 overlay list in the three-year asphalt program and amended the capital roads budget by $100,000 to purchase a tack trailer and skid-steer attachment. Committee discussion noted that recent equipment losses and contractor needs increased costs and that purchasing a tack trailer could reduce reliance on outside contractors. A juror referenced an insurance estimate to replace four burned trucks and said a full tac truck replacement could cost about $233,000.

Grants and local projects: jurors added and approved an administrative item authorizing the parish administrator to draft a letter of support to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Equine Promotion Board for a grant application to build a covered arena to complement the DeSoto Parish 4-H program. Staff reported that the Equine Promotion board has $500,000 available in grants this cycle and that the letter of support and application would be submitted if the parish elects to pursue the opportunity; matching-fund requirements were not yet specified, and staff said outside parties associated with 4-H may contribute to construction.

Airport and other committee business: the Airport & Animal Control committee approved a five-year capital improvement plan for the CE Rusty Williams Airport (2025—29) and adjourned. Other committees approved personnel and policy changes, including a bylaw amendment regarding packet distribution and the hiring of compactor site operator floaters funded by a $12,000 solid-waste budget amendment.

Votes at a glance: - Authorize public hearing to consider abandoning parish interest in portion of Azalea Lane (item 1, administrative): approved (motion passed; roll indicated approval) [provenance: SEG 056—2; SEG 063—6]. - Authorize staff/jurors to participate in Northwest Louisiana Veterans Day parade (item 2): approved (SEG 080—2). - Accept Ambulance/EMS resignation and appoint Mark Cannella (item 3): approved (SEG 091—9). - Authorize resolution approving assignment of certain mineral leases (items 4 and 6): approved (SEG 122—1; SEG 199—2). - Approve CPI-based contract increase for Delta Resource Group (item 5): approved; percentage not specified on record (staff estimated about 5—6%) (SEG 172—98). - Authorize right-of-way agreement with Vital Biomethane LLC for pipeline (item 7): approved (SEG 214'26). - Authorize parish administrator to draft letter of support for Equine Promotion grant ($500,000 available): approved (item 8, SEG 232'99). - Earmark $2,000,000 in royalties for economic development and authorize treasurer to invest excess: approved (SEG 341'51). - Transfer $1,000,000 from jail fund and $5,600,000 from tipping fees to construction facility fund for new jail: approved (SEG 372—99). - Adopt updated CEA with sheriff for sheriff's office and detention facility: approved (SEG 510—40). - Amend road contract labor line by $600,000 and amend capital road budget $100,000 for tack trailer: approved (SEG 691—81). - Cooperative paving agreement with City of Mansfield for Adams Road and tree-cutting budget amendment to $50,000: approved (SEG 782—98).

What to watch next: the public hearing on the proposed abandonment of Azalea Lane, the parish decision whether to pursue the Equine Promotion grant (letter of support was authorized), and next steps in the cooperative endeavor agreement implementation for the sheriff's facility. Several items referenced estimates or staff projections (CPI increase, equipment costs, construction cost estimates) that staff said they would confirm or update in future meetings.

Sources and provenance: this article is based on committee reports, motions, discussions and roll calls recorded in the meeting transcript (timeline entries and segment provenance noted in the meeting timeline).