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The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, July 13. Prior to the invocation Parish President Ryan Seal asked or a moment of silence for the Matt Stuart family who recently lost their 17-month-old son and the family of Toye Taylor, first Parish President and civic leader.
The minutes from the July 9, 2026, meeting were approved. The Council then heard from Austin Magee, candidate for Louisiana’s Congressional District 5. Magee shared his qualifications and desires concerning the seat and his plans if elected. A great concern is the proliferation of data centers throughout the United States and his concern that Washington Parish is “ripe for the picking” with its undeveloped land. Currently the United States has 5,400 centers and a much larger land mass China only has 369. He is proposing a ban on such centers being built in the parish. He rhetorically asked, “What is the prize/cost if the US is to win the AI war over China?” He then offered to personally cover the cost of an ordinance concerning this matter.
The Council then moved on to the agenda of ordinances and resolutions. First the Council approved an ordinance establishing “No Thru Truck Routes” on certain parish roads. Public Works Director Alex Sumrall explained that this will apply to Hwy 1073 that connects Highways 16 and 60 that the parish obtained through the Road Transfer Program. This ordinance preserves the road and addresses the safety of residents who live on that road. Trucks will now be required to travel to Enon to the juncture of 16 and 60 instead of cutting through on 1073.
Next the Council adopted a resolution authorizing a workforce development stipend for Washington Parish Government employees who successfully complete the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Training through Geaux Jobs. Parish President Seal explained that 15 of the parish government’s workforce took advantage of the opportunity provided by Geaux Jobs and this ordinance provides them with an award.
Next was the adoption of a resolution to authorize the Parish President to sign an Intergovernmental Agreement with Tangipahoa Parish Government for the rehabilitation of Cecil Painter Road. Director Sumrall explained that this road is in both Washington and Tangipahoa parishes. There is a drainage and culvert issue that splits the parish line. Passing this resolution will enable a partnership with Tangipahoa and the cost will be split between the two parishes.
A resolution authorizing President Seal to execute an agreement with RCL Architecture, LLC was then adopted. This is for schematic site planning and conceptual design services for the Varnado Recreation Center and to utilize Opioid Settlement Funds the project. These funds will help the parish to continue to improve facilities. A master plan will be compiled and the project is expected to be completed in two phases. Financial Director Lacy Burris assured the Council that there is enough money for initial drawings, and this is a good use of the funds.
The Council then adopted a resolution authorizing the President Seal to execute an Entity/State Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) for State Project No. H.015433 / Federal Aid Project No. H015433.
Sumrall explained that the DOTD will replace the George Jenkins Bridge on this road and it is a much-needed project. Finally, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing President Seal to execute an Entity/State Agreement, Funding Commitment Letter, and any related documents with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) for State Project No. H.016879 / Federal Aid Project No. H016879, LA 25. Washington Parish Sidewalk Segment A2.
In Public Participation, Sheriff Jason Smith shared the parish jail reached a record number of inmates with 265 in a facility build for 144. This puts the jail at 121 inmates over capacity. The department also pays for housing of inmates in the Bogalusa jail as well as a facility in Tensas Parish. The Governor signed a capital outlay bill for the purpose of building a new jail with $500,000 immediately available for design and planning along with $27 million for actual construction. This was possible since the parish and other parishes are sharing the load of housing for state inmates who have not been transferred to state facilities due to overcrowding.
Smith projects seven months of planning design and then accessing the 27 million to begin construction. He hopes that by the end of 2029 there will be a new jail facility in the parish. Smith added that emergency preparedness needs to be further addressed at the 911 call center and inmate per diem rates need to be established to maintain the new jail. “However,” Smith said, “the process starts now.” Smith was followed by three other speakers who voiced their concern regarding two solar farm projects that have recently been halted after a 90-day moratorium by the Council. D’Ann Davis from Washington Parish Economic Development gave an update on various projects and opportunities. She was most enthusiastic about the August 20 release of a strategic plan for the parish.
In the President’s Report, Finance Director Lacy Burris shared that the audit is done and sent to the Legislative Auditor. She added that it was clean audit.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall reported that in June workers completed 29 drainage projects, installed seven culverts, bushhogged 96 roads, installed 28 signs and picked up 203 bags of litter. Weather permitting, crews will begin on Zack Magee Road with soil cement and prepping Otis Bickham Road for asphalt. Sumrall assured the President and the Council that bushhogging has been a concern; however, crews are working after hours and weekends to try to catch up. The sidewalk project from Liberty Street to Old Union past Riverside Medical Center is slated to begin September 9 and will be 1.3 miles of new sidewalk. Finally, 8 New Residential and 19 mobile homes were part of 171 permits issued in June.
President Ryan Seal said he is pleased with the movement on the Varnado Recreation Project and looks forward to seeing the Master Plan. He thanked Dr. Mike Strain for providing the Liberty Tree that was planted at the Veteran’s Park on July 1 as well as the Franklinton and Bogalusa High Schools’ ROTCs. Seal was honored to be the Grand Marshal of the Bogalusa July 4 parade and praised the Watermelon Festival and its organizers for a great weekend.
Seal then took a personal moment to address misinformation circulating about solar farms. In 2022, Seal was director of Economic Development when he received a call about solar power. During his tenure he has not recruited any solar company wishing to come to Washington Parish and anyone who says otherwise is a “liar, liar, liar!”
He added that no one knew a lot about it at the time and LSU allowed Experiment Station property to be used. Across the road, landowners (within their rights) sold property for the second solar farm. This was done before the current solar ordinance was in place.
Seal ended with, ‘To say I wronged the parish because I recruited solar is wrong. I am tired of it and come what may, I’ve had enough. Truth has become a casualty, and I want decisions to be based on truth.”
The next Council meeting will be held on July 27.
https://www.era-leader.com/parish-council-meeting-parish-president-denies-ever-recruiting-solar-farms
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