The Livingston Parish Council covered many diverse topics during their meeting on September 24, 2026 including ordinances prohibiting flock cameras, establishing power plant regulations, and adopting a social media policy among other things.
Flock Camera Ordinance Unanimously Approved
The council unanimously approved an ordinance prohibiting private security/surveillance cameras in Parish-maintained rights-of-way, which had been a topic of much discussion in a previous council meeting where the ordinance was sent back to the committee for further clarification.
The council explained that existing private security devices, as well as systems installed in parish-maintained rights-of-way prior to September 24, 2026, will be grandfathered and permitted to remain under the ordinance. Additionally, the cameras that are grandfathered in will be able to continue to have maintenance performed on them and replacements are allowed in the event that those cameras are downed.
The council included an additional amendment that any cameras installed before September 24, 2026 shall report installation date, company name, and quantity of cameras to the parish permit office for record-keeping and community safety.
Ordinance to Regulate Power Plants Approved
The council also approved Councilwoman Erin Sandefur’s proposed ordinance to establish power plant (Electricity Generation Plant) regulations and to require special use permits for all power plants and to limit power plants to I-2 (Heavy Industrial) zoning classification.
This ordinance was also discussed in detail at a previous meeting of the Livingston Parish Planning and Zoning Commission, and as Councilwoman Sandefur stated, seeks to “put reasonable protections in place before one of these projects comes before us rather than waiting until the application is filed and then trying to determine what protections we should have had.”
Brian Clemmons with the Livingston Parish Planning and Zoning Commission noted that “we want to transform this parish… to be a little bit more,” but caution is still needed with heavy industry, adding that he’d “like to see this [ordinance] pass.”
Ultimately, the ordinance, along with amendments to clarify and specify the language, passed with only Councilman Lonnie Watts voting against it.
Council Moves Forward With Social Media Policy
The social media policy introduced by Councilman John Mangus at a previous council meeting was presented to the council for their approval at this meeting.
The policy now reads that the Livingston Parish Council expects “all Livingston Parish Council appointed board members, when confronting residents or constituents on social media platforms, to be respectful, courteous, and professional just as they would in person.”
The policy, as it was presented, still contained the word “employee” instead of “appointee,” which some community members took issue with. Others expressed concerns that their right to free speech may be hindered by such a policy, while another highlighted that what constitutes "respectful, courteous, and professional” behavior can be debated based on perspectives.
The council approved amending the policy to remove the word “employee” and then unanimously approved putting the policy in place.
Crossing Guard Katy Wells Honored with Day of Remembrance
A resolution was brought before the council asking to proclaim October 16, 2026, as “Mrs. Katy Wells Day” in Livingston Parish in honor of Mrs. Katy Wells, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver, and in recognition of her birthday on October 18th.
Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) expressed their desire to use this day to promote safe and responsible decisions throughout the community by spreading the message “Choose Safety for Mrs. Katy.”
The Principal of Seventh Ward Elementary, Laura Dunlap, came before the council to note that “we didn’t want to just remember Mrs. Katy once. We wanted her life to be honored in more than one day, one vigil, or one ceremony. We wanted her memory to live on.”
“Mrs. Katy Wells was a champion, an advocate, and someone who dedicated nearly 40 years of her life to keeping the children safe,” Dunlap added. “She took her responsibilities seriously. She understood that being a crossing guard was about more than directing traffic – it was about protecting children, watching over families, and making sure that our students made it safely to school and home each day.”
The council voted swiftly and unanimously to adopt the resolution to officially declare October 16th as “Mrs. Katy Wells Day.”
