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Plain Dealing aldermen unanimously approve appointments, signer changes and routine town business
Summary
At its Jan. 7 meeting the Board of Aldermen of the Town of Plain Dealing unanimously approved a slate of administrative resolutions: appointing Sheila Player to Alderman District 1, confirming Rolandria McCauley as town clerk and tax collector, authorizing new account signers, hiring a full‑time police officer, and engaging an auditor; an ordinance to raise water and sewer rates was introduced for later consideration.
The Board of Aldermen of the Town of Plain Dealing voted unanimously on Jan. 7 to approve a series of administrative resolutions and routine items, including an appointment to fill a vacant alderman seat, several account signer authorizations, a personnel hire and authorization of an auditor.
Most notably, the board appointed Sheila Player to serve as Alderman for District 1 until an election can be held. Jeff Benson nominated Player and Shanithia Gay nominated Shavonda Gay; Player received the majority and the board approved the appointment without public comment.
The board also approved the mayor's recommendations to appoint Rolandria McCauley as town clerk (Resolution No. 2, 2025) and as tax collector (Resolution No. 3, 2025). The minutes list McCauley at roll call and also record the council vote confirming her appointment; the minutes do not explain that overlap.
Douglas C. Dominick was approved as town attorney under Resolution No. 4 (2025). The council further removed former Mayor Shavonda Gay as an authorized signer on all town accounts (Resolution No. 5) and authorized Mayor James Cook (Resolution No. 6), Town Clerk Rolandria McCauley (Resolution No. 7) and the newly appointed mayor pro tem (Resolution No. 9) as signers on bank and town financial accounts. The council selected Jeff Benson as mayor pro tem under Resolution No. 8 (2025).
On personnel, the board approved the police chief's recommendation to hire Jeremy Carter as a full‑time police officer at a starting wage of $13.00 per hour to replace Megan Thomas; the motion passed unanimously. Chief Ronnie Murray had submitted the department report noting 271 calls in December 2024 and 4,260 calls for the full 2024 calendar year, an increase of 907 calls over 2023.
The board engaged CPA firm Cook and Morehart to conduct the town audit and perform a statewide agreed‑upon procedure for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2024 (Resolution No. 10, 2025). The board also approved final payment to Teal Jones‑Plain Dealing LLC in connection with a previously executed water/sewer agreement and restrictive covenant recorded May 5, 2023 (Instrument #1311731) under Resolution No. 11 (2025).
Separately, the council passed a resolution to designate an official depository and authorize signatories for LCDBG funds and related request‑for‑payment procedures. A motion to approve January community center rentals also passed.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution No. 1 (2025) — appoint Sheila Player, Alderman District 1: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 2 (2025) — appoint Rolandria McCauley, Town Clerk: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 3 (2025) — appoint Rolandria McCauley, Tax Collector: approved (mover: Emily Jennings; seconder: Shanithia Gay). - Resolution No. 4 (2025) — appoint Douglas C. Dominick, Town Attorney: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 5 (2025) — remove former Mayor Shavonda Gay as authorized signer: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 6 (2025) — authorize Mayor James Cook as signer: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 7 (2025) — authorize Town Clerk Rolandria McCauley as signer: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 8 (2025) — appoint Jeff Benson as mayor pro tem: approved (mover: Emily Jennings; seconder: Lous Welch). - Resolution No. 9 (2025) — authorize mayor pro tem as signer: approved (mover: Emily Jennings; seconder: Shanithia Gay). - Hire Jeremy Carter (police officer): approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 10 (2025) — engage Cook and Morehart as auditor: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - Resolution No. 11 (2025) — final payment to Teal Jones‑Plain Dealing LLC (water/sewer agreement): approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings). - LCDBG signatory/depository resolution: approved (mover: Jeff Benson; seconder: Emily Jennings).
The meeting closed with council remarks: newly appointed Alderman Sheila Player said she was glad to serve the community; Shanithia Gay requested prayer for her daughter; Emily Jennings noted cleanup efforts. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Notes on sources and limits: the minutes record actions and votes but do not list any public comments or provide detailed financial figures for the introduced water/sewer ordinance; specific new rates were not stated in the minutes.
