W. Feliciana mulls 4-day work week
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ST. FRANCISVILLE — Parish Manager Ambrose Sims told the West Feliciana Parish Police Jury on Tuesday he is leaning toward instituting a four-day work week for parish workers to save fuel and electricity costs.
Jury President Billy Shoemake, responding to a question on whether the jury could vote on the matter, replied, “We don’t have to vote. It’s an administrative matter. It’s his call.”
Sims said he has calculated that the jury possibly could save $10,000 per month in fuel and electricity costs if employees worked four 10-hour days rather than five eight-hour days, although he acknowledged operating costs are determined by many variables.
“We’d have to make sure we provide the same level of services,” he said, adding that a new telephone system will be installed in the next few weeks to direct callers to “a cell phone or radio” in case of emergencies.
Jurors voted 4-3 after a lengthy debate to raise the fees for installing water meters by $300 each. The cost for a three-quarter-inch meter will now be $600, and the price for installing a 1-inch meter will be $700.
Jurors Ken Dawson, Shoemake, Randy Stevens and John Roach supported the increase, which Utilities Director John Hashagen said is necessary to offset increased material and labor costs.
John Cobb, Lea Williams and Otis Wilson voted against the increases.
The jury agreed to advertise for people interested in filling three vacancies on the parish Port Commission. Members Harry Short and Kevin Couhig resigned to avoid having to meet new state financial disclosure laws and Elvis Calhoun resigned earlier for health reasons.
The jury will ask applicants to state their qualifications for the posts.
Tourist Commission Director Kitty Martin also reported that one member of the tourism panel resigned.
In other action, the jury:
Jury President Billy Shoemake, responding to a question on whether the jury could vote on the matter, replied, “We don’t have to vote. It’s an administrative matter. It’s his call.”
Sims said he has calculated that the jury possibly could save $10,000 per month in fuel and electricity costs if employees worked four 10-hour days rather than five eight-hour days, although he acknowledged operating costs are determined by many variables.
“We’d have to make sure we provide the same level of services,” he said, adding that a new telephone system will be installed in the next few weeks to direct callers to “a cell phone or radio” in case of emergencies.
Jurors voted 4-3 after a lengthy debate to raise the fees for installing water meters by $300 each. The cost for a three-quarter-inch meter will now be $600, and the price for installing a 1-inch meter will be $700.
Jurors Ken Dawson, Shoemake, Randy Stevens and John Roach supported the increase, which Utilities Director John Hashagen said is necessary to offset increased material and labor costs.
John Cobb, Lea Williams and Otis Wilson voted against the increases.
The jury agreed to advertise for people interested in filling three vacancies on the parish Port Commission. Members Harry Short and Kevin Couhig resigned to avoid having to meet new state financial disclosure laws and Elvis Calhoun resigned earlier for health reasons.
The jury will ask applicants to state their qualifications for the posts.
Tourist Commission Director Kitty Martin also reported that one member of the tourism panel resigned.
In other action, the jury:
- Set a 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 hearing for taxpayers to protest their 2008 property tax assessments.
- Heard a report from Department of Environmental Quality officials about the possible effects of West Feliciana and many other parishes being recommended for inclusion in the area that is out of attainment with federal air quality standards. West Feliciana has not been included in the five-parish “non-attainment area” for ozone pollution, but the federal standards have changed.
- Heard that recent Mississippi River flooding slowed construction of over-water work trestles needed to build the John James Audubon Bridge, but the contractor picked up the pace of work on approach roads and smaller, conventional bridges on roads leading to the river crossing.
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