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DeSoto Parish roads committee rejects motion to repair private driveway on Highway 84 after legal concerns
Summary
The roads committee voted down a motion to authorize repairs at 2375 Highway 84 after members disagreed whether the parish has authority under state law to repair private driveways within a public right of way; the vote followed a heated procedural exchange and a 4–1 outcome against the motion.
The DeSoto Parish roads committee voted on and rejected a proposal to obtain a DOTD permit and carry out repairs to a private driveway at 2375 Highway 84 after members disagreed over whether the parish has legal authority to make such repairs.
Committee discussion centered on whether the repairs would serve a public purpose and whether statute limits parish expenditures to repairs of damage caused by the public entity. A staff member summarized the legal test, saying, "Specifically, under title uh 1236, it authorizes police jury to expend for such purposes any funds made available to them for road purposes, including private driveways within the right of way...only when repair was damage done by the public." That legal reading prompted concern among several members.
Several committee members pushed for a quick resolution. Mr. Fuller asked to end debate and move to a vote, but others sought more clarity. Mr. Jones said he had contacted the state maintenance director and that the state had given a "thumbs up" for work on the location, but other members said they had no documentation of state approval.
When the committee voted after a procedural "call for the question," several members said they could not support anything they believed to be unlawful. Mr. Holmes said, "I can't vote for anything illegal. I vote no." The motion failed with recorded votes showing four members voting no and one voting yes.
The committee did not adopt a dollar limit or return-frequency policy for repairs to private driveways during this meeting. Members asked staff to bring clearer legal guidance and any written approval from the state before reconsideration.
What happens next: The committee recorded the defeat of the motion and did not vote to authorize immediate repairs; members requested documentation of DOTD's position and direction on limits for private-driveway work before taking further action.
