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Public callers urge district consolidation and JP cuts; jury approves 2025 audit engagement and authorizes $250,000 demand letter
Summary
Residents urged consolidation of election districts and fewer JPs/constables; the jury approved an engagement letter for Silas Simmons to conduct the 2025 audit (one juror recorded a 'nay' while minutes say 'unanimous') and authorized a demand letter to Jake's HV/AC seeking $250,000.
At its Jan. 27 meeting the Concordia Parish Police Jury heard public comments urging structural changes to local districting and justice offices, then moved on to administrative approvals, including hiring an auditor and authorizing a demand letter seeking $250,000.
Resident Kevin Friloux urged the jury to consider consolidating paired districts (1A&1B, 3A&3B, 4A&4B, 5A&5B) into five single‑member districts, saying the current configuration is "unfair" and may violate the one‑person, one‑vote principle. He estimated the parish could save about $85,000 to $90,000 annually by reducing the number of districts.
Russell Wagoner, Justice of the Peace for District 3, urged the parish to reduce the number of JPs and constables—suggesting northern and southern officers instead of the current count—and said some incumbents have missed required trainings and may be penalized and unable to receive compensation. Wagoner emphasized the importance of training to protect the public and noted uneven caseloads across offices.
On administrative business, jurors moved to approve an engagement letter for Silas Simmons to perform the 2025 audit. The minutes record that Mr. Wilbert Washington voted 'nay' while also stating "motion carried unanimously," creating an internal inconsistency in the record. The jury also entered and exited executive session and later voted to send Jake's HV/AC a demand letter requesting $250,000.
No ordinance numbers, statutes, or detailed contract documents were read into the minutes for the demand letter; the minutes record only the motion authorizing the letter and the amount requested.
