October 6, 1992
THE PARISH BOARD OF VERNON PARISH LOUISIANA, CONVENED IN SPECIAL SESSION ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1992, AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE BOARD ROOM OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 201 BELVIEW ROAD, LEESVILLE, LA President McRae called the meeting to order and on roll call the following members were present:
WALLACE MCRAE, PRESIDENT
BETTY WESTERCHIL, VICE PRESIDENT
GERALD BURNS
ALVIN C. DOWDEN, JR.
PHILIP GUNN
MARK SMITH
T.B. PORTER
CAROLYN WILLIAMS
ARVIL HARVEY
MURPHY O'BANION
B.R. HARVEY
BENARD MCKEE
There was also present Mr. Sammy L. Hinson, Secretary of the Board.
The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr. Arvil Harvey, Ward Three.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Mr. Philip L. Gunn, Ward One.
Superintendent Hinson read the attached Call Notice:
attach
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mr. Arvil Harvey, the Board voted to approve and dispense with the reading of the minutes of October 1, 1992.
On motion of Mr. Porter, seconded by Mrs. Westerchil, the Board voted to declare the month of October as Alpha Delta Kappa Month.
On motion of Mr. Burns, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to approve the proposed Sales Tax Collection Rules and Regulations as presented by Sandy Perkins, Sales Tax Manager.
(Rules and Regulations are kept on file in the Sales Tax Office)
At this time President McRae announced that the floor was open for any discussion on the proposed reapportionment plan public hearing.
Mr. Allen Bradley addressed the Board, stating that he represented certain residents of Ward Four (Pickering). Mr. Bradley said that his clients opposed the reapportionment plan proposed by the Board because it did not equally represent the population of Ward Four. Mr. Bradley introduced Mr. Glenn Koepp, attorney also representing certain citizens of Ward Four. Mr. Koepp introduced a plan that he said would show that a balanced reapportionment plan could be established which would give a more equal representation of one-man one-vote, as required by the U.S. Justice Department.
Several citizens expressed their opinions of opposition to the proposed plan.
Motion was made by Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Burns, that the Board add a member to Ward 4 (Pickering) establishing a thirteen (13) member Board.
An amendment by Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Burns, was made that if another member was added to the Board, that the present Board would agree to a reduced salary so that no additional tax dollars would be spent for Board member salaries. The amendment passed.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion by Mr. O'Banion, to add a member to Ward 4. Roll call vote was taken:
YEA NAY
GERALD BURNS X
ALVIN DOWDEN X
PHILIP GUNN X
MARK SMITH X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
CAROLYN WILLIAMS X
T.B. PORTER X
ARVIL HARVEY X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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The motion failed.
Mr. O'Banion requested a recess.
President McRae called the meeting back to order.
Motion was made by Mr. B.R. Harvey to adopt the proposed reapportionment plan as presented.
An amendment was made by Mr. Burns to shift Prescient 4-3 into the metropolitan part of Leesville and prescients 4-1, 4-1A, and 4-3B into Ward 4, Pickering.
Mr. O'Banion voiced his resentment of this amendment.
The amendment did not receive a second.
Motion was made by Mr. B.R. Harvey, seconded by Mr. T.B. Porter, that the Board adopt the proposed reapportionment plan.
An amendment was made by Mrs. Westerchil, seconded by Mr. Burns, that the Board adopt the proposed plan as presented except that Ward (1) One and Ward (4) Four would be combined and these wards would run at-large establishing one district, keeping the minority district as outlined in the proposed plan.
An amendment was made by Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. Burns, that the Board include all members to run at-large except the minority district outlined in the proposed plan.
President McRae called for roll call vote:
YEA NAY
GERALD BURNS X
ALVIN C. DOWDEN X
PHILIP GUNN X
MARK SMITH X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
CAROLYN WILLIAMS X
T.B. PORTER X
ARVIL HARVEY X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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The amendment passed.
Mrs. Westerchil withdrew her amendment.
Mr. B.R. Harvey's motion to adopt proposed plan, seconded by Mr. Porter, changed to read (due to the passed amendment by Mr. O'Banion to have all members run at-large, except the minority district) to adopt the proposed plan having all members run at-large, except the outlined minority district.
President McRae called for a roll call vote:
YEA NAY
GERALD BURNS X
ALVIN C. DOWDEN X
PHILIP GUNN X
MARK SMITH X
BETTY WESTERCHIL X
CAROLYN WILLIAMS X
T.B. PORTER X
ARVIL HARVEY X
MURPHY O'BANION X
B.R. HARVEY X
WALLACE MCRAE X
BENARD MCKEE X
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The motion passed.
In other business, Mr. Smith stated that he would like to clarify a matter concerning his statements at the September 3, 1992 school board meeting relative to the West Louisiana Forestry Festival fair. Mr. Smith said that he did not intend for his remarks to be taken as criticism of the fair, he stated that his intent was to state that he felt that students should be in the classroom on a school day and that Fair Day could be held on Saturday.
On motion of Mr. O'Banion, seconded by Mr. McKee, the Board voted to resolve itself into a claims committee and approve the claims.
On motion of Mr. Dowden, seconded by Mrs. Williams, that the Board authorize the President and Secretary to pay claims as approved by the claims committee.
There being no further business, on motion of Mr. Gunn, seconded by Mr. O'Banion, the Board voted to adjourn.
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WALLACE MCRAE, PRESIDENT
ATTEST:
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SAMMY L. HINSON, SECRETARY
OCTOBER 6, 1992