Ouachita Parish Police Jury adopts employee‑clinic and CDL policies, authorizes property sales, confirms hires and approves purchases

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury at its July 7, 2025 meeting adopted multiple administrative measures affecting employee benefits, personnel, property sales and procurement.

The Jury adopted Resolution No. 25‑23 (offered by Toni Bacon and seconded by Michael Thompson) establishing eligibility and funding rates for the newly created OPPJ Employee Health Services Clinic. The resolution specifies eligible users — full‑time OPPJ employees; benefit‑eligible permanent part‑time employees working at least 30 hours/week; eligible spouses covered under the OPPJ health plan; dependent children age 13 and over; and employees of listed agencies if covered under the OPPJ plan (District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender Board, 4th Judicial District Court including court reporters, Registrar of Voters, Monroe/West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau, and West Ouachita Sewerage District No. 5). The Police Jury set a funding rate of $50 per employee per month for listed departments/agencies, and $60 per employee per month for Ouachita Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 to account for additional mandated services (for example, fire annual physicals and cancer screenings).

The Jury also adopted Resolution No. 25‑22 to add a CDL training reimbursement policy to the personnel manual. The policy allows reimbursement for approved CDL training when an employee works in a department requiring a CDL, subject to department head and Police Jury approval, submission of a course completion certificate and proof of license, and an agreement that the employee will repay amounts paid if they fail to satisfactorily complete six months of service after obtaining the license. The policy requires training be scheduled after work hours.

On property matters, the Jury approved language authorizing Acts of Sale for nine adjudicated parcels (Ordinance No. 9522). The minutes list parcel numbers, purchaser names and bid amounts and set public auction dates for July 17, 2025 for the listed properties. The ordinance text requires E&P Consulting, LLC to certify title searches and proof of notice prior to closing and reserves mineral rights to the parish while conveying surface rights.

The Jury ratified a variety of personnel actions that had been approved in committee, including confirmations of several communications officers from probationary to permanent status, substitute appointments and promotions at Green Oaks, the rehire of John Davis as a probationary firefighter (contingent on remaining tests), and the confirmation of Robert Moore to permanent Fire Chief. The Personnel Committee also approved sick‑leave actions and the opening of an IT technician position. All committee actions were ratified by the full Jury without opposition.

Approvals in procurement included authorization to purchase materials to address drainage in front of the Public Works portable pump storage shed and approval to purchase three Ford F‑150 trucks off the state contract from Public Works funds. The Jury accepted a bid for aggregates from Green Dream International LLC and approved a CDL training reimbursement for Rickie Croom. The Mosquito Abatement District chemical bid ratification was also approved.

The Jury approved three beer and liquor license applications (Loch Arbor Village Mart LLC; T & C Mart Ventures LLC dba Town & Country Mart; AB Food Mart LLC) and received a brief update from Representative Pat Moore before adjourning at 6:56 p.m.

Where the minutes report specific dollar figures or dates (for example, the clinic assessment rates and parcel auction dates), the article reproduces those amounts as listed in the official minutes. If a transcript entry did not provide a detail (for example a specific vendor price beyond the listed bids), the minutes label it as not specified. The meeting recorded multiple motions passed "without opposition."