Cameron Parish police jury approves appointments, grant applications and several contract actions; Black Lake cleanup tabled

The Cameron Parish Police Jury on Sept. 3, 2024, adopted routine minutes and approved a package of appointments, sponsorships and administrative authorizations affecting parish services and projects. The jury also authorized grant applications and signed authority for several agreements while tabling one environmental cleanup contract pending further review.

The actions began with routine business: the jury removed agenda item 27, adopted the August minutes and approved a consent batch of items (alpha through 8). The body then confirmed multiple appointments, including Todd Connor to District 6 and Melissa Bonson to Recreation District No. 9; the jury also appointed Colton Sander to the Hackberry Fire District and reappointed the District 1 incumbent when the term had expired.

Financial and administrative approvals included acceptance of the parish fiscal year audit for the year ending Dec. 31, 2023, and authorization for the parish administrator to sign documents related to insurance renewals. The jury approved paying dues of $3,569.30 to the Southwest Louisiana Regional Planning Commission and a $5,000 sponsorship for the 2025 Louisiana Farm Wildlife Festival; a committee member said, "We normally give $5,000 each year to the Louisiana Farm Wildlife Festival."

On infrastructure and emergency management the jury approved a variance and authority to apply for a coastal use permit for public restrooms on the Creole Nature Trail in Holly Beach, approved a change order increasing the OEP Pavilion contract by $2,725 to relocate a generator package, and approved an 18-day time extension for the North Cameron EOC contract. A motion to accept the OEP Pavilion as substantially complete was raised but tabled to the next meeting.

The jury adopted a resolution authorizing the president to file an application with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for rural public transit funding on behalf of the Council on Aging, and it granted authority to apply for state capital outlay funds and to have the administrator sign required documents. The body also authorized advertising a proposed speed-limit reduction on Paris Road (Road 643/Jim Gray Road in Hackberry) from 25 mph to 15 mph.

In a fiscal and governance item the jury approved a resolution ordering an election so the Grand Lake Recreation District may seek voter approval to raise its ad valorem property tax from 4.3 mills to 9.3 mills to operate and maintain district facilities. The jury also adopted a resolution appointing a treasurer to collect an occupational tax beginning July 1, 2025.

The jury granted the president authority to sign an oil-and-gas and mineral lease for property in Big Lake. A proposed contract with ICON Environmental for cleanup of Black Lake (Greg Miller) was discussed but tabled until the next meeting pending legal approval. The jury approved right-of-way documents for Jeff Davis Electric Company as cleared by legal counsel and approved acceptance of hazard-mitigation elevation work for the parish health unit.

Other items: the jury authorized the OEP director (named in the meeting) to sign an intergovernmental agreement with neighboring parishes for a mobile unit (trailer), proclaimed September 2024 as Library Card Sign-Up Month in Cameron Parish and authorized advertising to fill a vacant administrative assistant position. The body reviewed and accepted monthly financial statements and approved payment of bills.

The meeting included an executive session to discuss ongoing litigation; jurors said there were no new developments and no formal action was taken afterward. Several items were handled by unanimous voice vote; where roll-call tallies were not stated in the transcript the record shows motions were seconded and carried or tabled as noted.

The jury tabled the Black Lake cleanup contract and the OEP Pavilion substantial-completion acceptance until the next meeting for further review or additional legal clearance.