Regional police jury meeting scheduled for Aug. 30 in Houma

Elected representatives from nine parishes are making plans. As members of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana Regions 1 and 2, those individuals will conduct their annual business meeting at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center on Aug. 30.

During the one-day session, delegates are expected to draft a number of resolutions to be passed along to state legislators and federal agencies, elect new organizational officers and establish standing committees for the coming year.

PJAL President Gerald “Mike” McLeod, a police juror from Beauregard Parish and National Association of Counties Transportation Committee member, is scheduled to address the session.

“We are all sharing the same goals of trying to get more employment in our state, get our infrastructure in better shape,” McLeod said.

The PJAL leader said securing infrastructure financing means police jurors must combine efforts and make sure federal highway funds are not side-tracked by state officials.

“Federal money all comes in one package to the state,” McLeod said. “Although we are pushing for the feds to allocate a portion of that money to come directly to parishes and counties, what happens is it comes to the state and might not get divided out to local government. We want to make sure parishes get their share.”

McLeod said he is in hopes police jurors will be able to secure an enforceable mandate regarding distribution of transportation and other federal funds.

“I’m looking forward to [the meeting],” Terrebonne Parish Council Chairwoman Arlanda Williams said. “It is a good time to get together with people of the region, because we all share the same issues.”

The regional meeting includes representatives from Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James and Terrebonne parishes.

Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet is regional president for the organization. Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph serves as vice president.

Elected standing committee members include for the Agriculture Committee Lindel Toups and Phillip Gouaux of Lafourche Parish and James Brazan of St. James Parish.

The Emergency Preparedness committee includes Williams along with Keith Hinkley who is a councilman from Plaquemines Parish. This committee has one vacancy to be filled.

Drainage Committee members are Randolph joined by Michael Delatte representing Lafourche Parish and Ralph Patin of St. James Parish.

The Highways Committee is comprised of Gouaux and Hinkley with an additional position open.

The Resolutions Committee members are John Young of Jefferson Parish and Charles Ketchens of St. James Parish.

This committee also has one vacancy.