LIVINGSTON, La. - The Livingston Parish Council had a busy night Thursday, accepting the annual audit, approving tax elections for two fire districts and granting waivers for a pair of new cell towers before things got heated over the ongoing library board controversy.
Auditors from Faulk & Winkler accounting firm in Baton Rouge walked council members through their detailed analysis of the parish's 2024 financial audit, which showed governmental fund revenues dropping to $82.1 million from $104.9 million the previous year. The report will be posted on the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's website once approved.
The audit flagged several problem areas, including inadequate controls over coronavirus recovery funds and issues with monitoring subrecipients of federal grants. Still, the parish maintained healthy cash reserves of $62.5 million, up from $52.4 million in 2023.
Fire District 5 will ask voters Nov. 15 to approve a new 5-mill tax for 20 years to help pay for a new fire station and equipment. Fire Chief Joe Koczrowski told the council his district's newest fire truck is 11 years old and the oldest is 38 years old.
"We need new equipment," Koczrowski said, estimating the tax would generate about $900,000 annually – roughly what a new fire truck costs these days.
Fire District 8 is seeking renewal of an existing tax, though at a higher rate than currently assessed. Parish financial advisor Jim Ryan explained that while the district rolled back its original 15.91-mill approval to 13.11 mills a decade ago, they want the renewal approved at 15 mills since state law prevents them from rolling assessments back up once they're lowered.
The council also approved waivers for two AT&T cell towers after some discussion about setback requirements. The first tower on Nickens Lake off LA 1032 will be 176 feet tall but only 85 feet from the roadway – well short of the ordinance requiring towers be set back their height plus 30 feet.
Council member Lonnie Watts pointed out the discrepancy, but representatives from Baker Donelson law firm assured the council it would be a "zero fall" structure designed to collapse on itself rather than topple over "like a tree." Both tower waivers passed 6-0 with Watts abstaining.
"First responders rely heavily on digital communications, including GPS information to cut down response time," explained Matt Adams, representing AT&T. "It's no longer a luxury. People don't have landlines anymore; they have cell phones."
In other business, the council approved funding to help parish schools with opioid testing and treatment programs, and heard an update on infrastructure projects from Ricky Goff, who warned that road improvements will be costly and take time.
"We'll never catch up, but we certainly want to try to upgrade our roads so we can move traffic," Goff said after Wednesday's Infrastructure Committee meeting. He noted that Walker's LA 447 has the highest traffic volume in the parish.
Director of Public Works Robert Dugas discussed potential widening of LA 16 north from Watson and possibly building a roundabout there, though he stressed these are just concepts until plans are put "on paper."
"I can do two roads right now and eat up our budget for the year," Dugas said, emphasizing rising construction costs. He's required to assess all 1,100 miles of parish roadway, now using new equipment that measures vibration and cracking instead of relying on visual inspections.
But the evening's most contentious moment came when Dean Coates tried to officially terminate four library board members who walked out of their July 15 meeting after being outvoted 5-4 to fire the parish librarian.
"They walked out of the meeting and announced they were resigning," Coates said. "It was an embarrassment to the parish. I think we should accept their resignations."
Not so fast, said Brad Cascio of the 21st Judicial District Attorney's office, serving as legal counsel. State law requires written resignations before seats can be considered vacant, he explained. "Until then, they're just absent from meetings."
That didn't sit well with council member John Wascom, who told Coates he was out of line. "You want to force resignations on members you don't even appoint. There are things going on you don't have a clue about."
Goff jumped in to defend his appointee Patricia Wilson, one of the four who walked out. "She contacted me before and after that meeting to tell me she had not resigned, that she was still a member of the board," he said pointedly.
Lonnie Watts also took issue with Coates's motion, referencing other controversial actions by the remaining library board members. "When they denied public comments, and you know what I'm talking about, that's an embarrassment too."
After the pushback, Erin Sandefur withdrew her second to Coates's motion and Coates pulled it himself, saying he "just wanted to make a point."
Council President Billy Taylor and Ryan Chavers were absent from Thursday's meeting.
