Road superintendent warns of beaver damage, cites Dodson emergency repairs and pending Sikes decision

Perry Holmes, Winn Parish Road Superintendent, told the Police Jury on March 18 that crews have focused on washouts affecting school bus routes since recent heavy rains and that he and a colleague completed recertification for herbicides and pesticides so the parish can purchase and apply those products. He said equipment repairs are ongoing: a side boom has broken down and one drag-behind is waiting on parts; pothole patching will proceed when weather permits.

Holmes flagged localized issues on specific roads. He described "an extreme beaver problem" on Guy Gaar Road, saying a private trapper had removed two beavers so far and was charging $50 per tail, with photographs provided to parish staff. He also said Mr. Snowden is installing culverts and cleaning ditches to keep bus routes passable. On the Village of Dodson request for Keith Street, Holmes said the work was performed as an emergency response and that "the work has already been done so these people could get in and out of their road." The jury later adopted a resolution to assist Dodson with repairs.

Holmes addressed a separate complaint concerning Caney Street in the Village of Sikes, where damage from loaded log trucks prompted the village to adopt an ordinance banning loaded log trucks; Holmes said the parish held off on repairs while the village considered additional steps and that parish crews will await the village's decision before taking further action. Assistant Road Superintendent Paul Hodnett added that maintenance crews are preparing equipment for spring work and that some repairs await replacement parts.