Madison Parish Police Jury approves consent agenda, authorizes engineering agreement and ditch cleanup

The Madison Parish Police Jury convened April 22 in Tallulah and approved its consent agenda, authorized payment of outstanding invoices as funds allow, unanimously approved a directive to have parish crews clean a ditch on parish right‑of‑way, and approved an engineering services agreement with Volkert.

President Jane Sanders called the meeting to order and said the jury would receive information on applying for Delta Regional Authority (DRA) grants for renovation purposes; the regular session convened at 4:00 p.m. in the Courthouse Building. The roll call showed a full panel present: Jerry Hicks (District 1), Stanley Ogden (District 2), Dave Wilson (District 3), Johnny Hughes (District 4) and Jane Sanders (District 5). Secretary/Treasurer Margarett Dew recorded the attendance.

The jury approved the consent agenda — which included the April 8 minutes, the March Garbage/Sewer Report and the Outstanding Invoice Report — on a motion by Jerry Hicks, seconded by Dave Wilson. The Secretary/Treasurer asked for permission to pay outstanding invoices based on available funds; jurors approved a motion by Johnny Hughes, seconded by Jerry Hicks, authorizing payment of outstanding invoices as funds are or become available. The Secretary's report was approved without discussion.

During the meeting Mr. Hicks moved, with Mr. Ogden seconding, to authorize the Superintendent to instruct his crews to clean a ditch located in parish right‑of‑way; the motion was decided by roll call, with Districts 1 through 5 voting 'yea' and the motion carrying unanimously. The transcript indicates the crews were to clean the ditch and that they would not return to fill it in afterward if it is within the parish right‑of‑way.

Jurors each reported concerns from their districts. The jury then voted to enter into an agreement with Volkert for engineering services on a motion by Johnny Hughes, seconded by Stanley Ogden; the jury also authorized President Jane Sanders to execute the engineering agreement on a motion by Stanley Ogden, seconded by Dave Wilson. The record shows no correspondence or public comments and the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Mr. Hughes.

The minutes were signed by Secretary/Treasurer Margarett Dew and President Jane Sanders. The record does not specify contract amounts, timelines for Volkert's work, or details of the DRA grant application; those items were not included in the transcript.