LIVINGSTON, La. - Tensions flared once again at the Livingston Parish Council meeting Thursday night, continuing a trend of controversy and division that has marked recent sessions.
For the second consecutive meeting, a dispute broke out among council members, this time over the authority of Council Chairman Billy Taylor to appoint non-council members to advisory committees. The debate was sparked by Councilman Ryan Chavers, who questioned whether the appointments were permissible under the parish’s governing rules, and even an attorney general’s opinion did not fully resolve the matter.
Chavers cited past council actions and statements from Councilman John Wascom to support his argument. However, Wascom disputed Chavers’ claims, and the issue soon drew in several other council members.
A recent opinion from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, dated July 24, addressed the legality of non-council appointments. It concluded that there is no legal prohibition against such appointments to advisory committees, emphasizing that the committees’ recommendations are not binding and that non-council members would not have any voting power on ordinances or resolutions.
The opinion stated in part, “The committees established by the Council are advisory in nature and their recommendations are not binding on the Council … We find no prohibition in the Charter, or elsewhere in the law, to the appointment of non-council members to the Council’s committees.”
The council paused the meeting with a 20-minute executive session in which two lawsuits were discussed. However, no action was taken during the closed-door session, in compliance with state law that requires all formal action to be taken in open session.
The first matter was the 5th District Livingston Parish Concerned Citizens Association v. Livingston Parish Government, which alleged that parish leaders failed to follow the law when approving a controversial subdivision known as Deer Run. The lawsuit seeks to have the subdivision’s approval revoked.
In open session following the closed-door session, the council voted unanimously to enter into settlement negotiations on the Deer Run litigation. According to commentary during the voting process, the settlement process would be between the 5th District Livingston Parish Concerned Citizens Association and Livingston Parish Travelers, which is the parish's surety bond provider.
The News has reached out to Parish Council Attorney Chris Moody to inquire on the potential outcomes of the settlement.
In the second case, the council voted 8-0 with Councilman Lonnie Watts abstaining to defend against a federal lawsuit filed by New Cingular Wireless (doing business as AT&T Mobility). The nature of the lawsuit remains unclear. However, the parish recently approved AT&T’s request for setback waivers for two proposed cell towers, while rejecting a third due to potential conflicts with the parish’s master plan.
Walley Avara, the parish’s representative to Capital Area Roads and Bridges District (CARB-D), gave a presentation on ongoing efforts to identify a location for a new Mississippi River bridge. Avara said the list of 32 potential sites has been narrowed to three.
Mario Durbie also provided a detailed slide presentation on the parish’s Drainage Master Plan.
A zoning ordinance that would allow a developer to move 10 mobile homes onto five acres off J.C. Stewart Lane drew vocal opposition from nearby residents. Earl Deville told the council the road is too narrow to accommodate increased traffic and said the developer had already poured concrete pads despite the absence of formal approval.
“You can stop this,” Deville urged the council, adding that the developer was focused solely on profits and not community impact.
Councilman Ricky Goff expressed support for the residents but ultimately made the motion to approve the ordinance, which passed narrowly on a 5-4 vote.
Councilman Joe Erdy, whose district includes the area in question, voiced frustration: “We’ve got to stop this. We zoned the parish and now we’re coming back every month making requests for exception. It’s got to stop.”
The council also voted to add several roads to the parish’s Priority Road list. Those include:
In John Mangus’s district: Holly Ridge Drive, Greenwood Drive, Havenwood Drive, and Jimmy Drive
In Billy Taylor’s district: Susie Circle North
In Lonnie Watts’s district: Redbud Drive, Bracken Lane, Edgewood Circle, Alderly Lane, and Sylvan Court
