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Ascension Parish Council approves bids, canvasses election results and adopts budget amendment
Summary
The Central Parish Council approved multiple contract awards, adopted a budget amendment and other ordinances, canvassed a special election for a lighting district levy, and amended a resolution to allow Entergy franchise funds to cover certain energy infrastructure costs.
The Central Parish Council on July 16 approved several routine measures including contract awards for facility repairs and park renovations, accepted the canvas of a special election for Road Lighting District No. 7, and moved forward a budget amendment and surplus-property ordinance.
Chairman Milosau asked whether members wished to remove any items from the consent agenda; with none raised, Councilman Cullen moved and Mr. Hillensbeck seconded approval of the consent agenda and the motion carried with no objections.
Among individual approvals, the council:
• Approved a bid from Extraordinary Flooring LLC for the Lamar Dixon Expo Center flooring refinish and authorized the parish president to execute the agreement (motion by Mr. Hillensbeck, second by Miss Alonzo).
• Approved a rebid to Bayou Irrigation Inc. for Prairieville Park renovations (motion by Miss Alonzo, second by Miss DeFrancis). Councilman Oliver Joseph asked whether the project would finish the park; parish staff said the project duration is 240 days and likely will complete in April of next year.
• Adopted a resolution canvassing returns from a June special election in Road Lighting District No. 7 concerning a proposed 5-mill ad valorem levy (motion by Mr. Hilmesbeck, second by Mr. Joseph). Parish staff reported 27 votes in favor and 29 against on the canvas presented and the council approved the canvass; staff explained the tax expires at the end of the year and continuing the levy would require placing it on the April 2027 ballot as a continuation rather than a new tax.
• Voted to opt into an expedited temporary housing and sheltering assistance program (packet cites LARS 7 26) after a motion by Miss Alonzo and second by Mr. Joseph.
• Approved an amendment to a resolution directing that Entergy franchise agreement funds be placed into the general fund and reserved for recreation, adding language (proposed by Councilmember PT, seconded by Miss Alonzo) to permit use of those funds for costs associated with upgrades or improvements to energy infrastructure for Ascension Parish government projects.
• Opened and moved forward a public hearing and ordinance to amend the 2026 operating and capital budgets, which listed proposed land purchases and financing for acquisitions; no public speakers addressed the budget amendment.
• Declared miscellaneous movable parish equipment as surplus and authorized its sale or transfer (motion by Miss Alonzo, second by Mr. Cullen).
Most items were approved by voice vote or unanimous consent with no recorded roll-call tallies in the public transcript. The council adjourned after moving the final items on the agenda.
