Homer Council Debates Sewer Project
Tightening, Enforcing Curfew Discussed
To Address Growing Problem With Juveniless
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Homer Town
Council voted to delay for one week making a decision on which direction to
proceed with the sewer plant rehabilitation, after listening to Jim Hagan, engineer with Balar Associates and Gary Beard, president of United
Industries, Inc., discuss the different processes that could be used in the
facility.
The Town was
awarded an LCDBG grant to renovate the wastewater treatment plant last June.
Although plans were to be completed by the end of 2004, the bid process was delayed because LCDBG
officials in Baton Rouge did not believe the Town's water and sewer rates were
sufficient to cover the operation of the plant. Hagan conducted a water/sewer
rate study for FMHa, and the Division of Administration and was able to
convince officials the additional $5 fee would generate more than the rate
increase proposed by FMHa.
Bids were
opened July 12. McInnis Bros. was the low bidder at $866,900, but with only
$730,000 remaining in grant funds, they had a budget shortfall of $135,000.
Hagan looked at ways to save money by rehabilitating the grit removal equipment
and blowers, instead of replacing them.
Beard told the
Council that he, along with his father and brother, designed and constructed
the existing facility for the Town in the mid 1980s. At the time the only money
available was in the Innovative and Alternative Program. The hydraulic mixer
qualified it for the innovative technology. Since then, his company has made
improvements to the process. He proposed the Council consider going with
upgrading the existing equipment which he estimated to cost far less than
$700,000, and said he would guarantee it to meet the Town's needs.
Hagan said,
"We hate to see history repeat itself." He explained the reason Balar decided to convert the present boat clarifier process
to a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was because of the historical performance
of the plant being out of compliance for years. They wanted a process more simple and
economical to operate, one that requires less operation and maintenance, less
moving parts, less equipment less controls and fewer staff.
Anderson's motion to proceed with Balar's
proposal failed by vote of 2-3, with Anderson and Ford voting for and Moore,
Jenkins, and Johnson voting against.
Johnson said he felt they were being rushed into a decision
without adequate information. The
Council voted to meet Monday, August 8 with Beard, Hagan and AWM
representatives to look at both sets of plans, so they can make an intelligent
decision.
Hagan said they
were so far down road, it was not time to conceive
what to do on the project, but time to start building. LCDBG grant funds can
only be used for specified upgrades at the plant. He said the only way the town
is going to dig its way out of financial problems which depends on the high
operational cost of plant, is to change process, or they will continue to have
the same problems.
Arrest Made In Oasis Club Burglary, Fire
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Haynesville
Police Department arrested Salvador Jessie Gonzales, 21, of Springhill on July
5 following a four-month investigation into the early morning burglary and
arson of the Oasis Nightclub on February 19, 2005.
According to Police Chief Anthony Smith, Officer James Bolton
worked with the State Fire Marshal's Office to investigate the crime. Phone
calls made from the building when no one was there led them to Gonzales.
Smith said
Gonzales, who has no previous record, was stranded when others had left with
the keys to his vehicle, which was parked in front of the Oasis. He broke into
the building to use the phone. Once inside, he realized the building was
equipped with surveillance cameras. He then made the decision to steal the gun then attempted to
set the fire, apparently to cover up the
crime.
After officers
picked Gonzales up, he admitted to breaking in, setting the fire and stealing
the gun.
Gonzales was
booked into the Claiborne Detention Center and later released on $2,000 bond.
Smith said the penalty could include restitution for the $80,000 paid out by
the insurance company, in addition to jail time.
Junction City Minister Sentenced For
Theft
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
James Franklin
Brown, 57, of Junction City, Arkansas was sentenced before Union County Circuit
Court Judge Hamilton H. Singleton last Thursday, July 28. As part of a plea
agreement, Brown is to serve three years in a community corrections center,
followed by 17-year suspended imposition of sentence for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 over a two
year period from the Jack Mayfield Memorial Methodist Church he pastored in Huttig, Arkansas.
Claiborne Electric Fires General Manager
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne
Electric's Board of Directors voted unanimously to terminate General Manager
and CEO Jerry Williams, effective immediately, at a special called board
meeting held Tuesday, July 26. This decision came just one month after the
Board evaluated Williams' job performance, told him he was doing a good job,
and voted to give him a $5,000 pay raise, bumping his annual salary to
$125,000. Williams served as general
manager since 1988.
According to
Joey White, spokesperson for the Claiborne Electric, the resolution adopted by
the Board last week stated Williams' actions "have damaged the assets and
property of the Co-op, have been injurious to its relationship with employees,
and due to his various acts of insubordination and failure to follow specific
instructions of the Board of Directors." Contacted at his home, Williams
said "he and his family were devastated."
Renaissance Project Expected To Boost
Local Economy
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Louisiana
Region "Project Renaissance" (LRPR) was envisioned by Bishop Thomas
L. Hoyt, Jr., President of the National Council of Churches USA and Bishop of
the Fourth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME)
over Louisiana and Mississippi. This project is expected to be the hub of
regional economic and community development for all North Central Louisiana. It
will serve as a model for other depressed rural areas that need revitalization,
by providing jobs.
According to
Project Director David Robison, the site on Lyons Hill selected for the initial
project was once the site of the former CME College established in 1879. The
college was an outstanding educational facility and attracted many noted
professors and lecturers, such as George Washington Carver. The 80 acres is
presently owned by the CME Church.
Depending on
the funding, the project should be completed in five years. Funding for the
project will come from private sources as well as governmental agencies such as
HUD. The first phase of the Project Renaissance will include a 2,500 seat
arena/multipurpose building named for former State Representative Pinkie C.
Wilkerson, a brick manufacturing facility, a Power Academy for youth cadets,
and elderly housing.
Duck Willis: Kids Need Positive Role
Models
BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal
Take one part
military drill instructor and add one part football coach, then throw in a dash
of loving father figure and what do you get? You might get Duck Willis, owner
of Duck's Kar Care in Homer. But today, Saturday,
Duck (who says he's been called Donald Duck, Daffy Duck, Disco Duck, and Shucky Duck) is giving his time to 14 boys from 5 to 18
years of age.
As Willis tells
it, he had a "born-again" experience recently and feels led to help
direct youngsters, especially young boys, who lack direction in their lives.
For several Saturdays the young people have been gathering at Duck's Kar Care. Why? To help others.
The boys are to
be there by 8 a.m. "If they're late, they have to do push-ups," says
Willis. On this particular Saturday morning, boys—one, maybe two together—walk
from all parts of town to Willis' place of business. At times, a car stops and
one or two boys get out. The car drives away as Duck waves to the departing
mother.
Homer Housing Authority Director Resigns
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Homer Housing Authority Rosie Kelly submitted
her resignation at the July 25 meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Kelly was
hired in November 2003 and has agreed to continue to work part-time at the
Board's discretion until they decide to advertise for the position. At the June
meeting, Kelly informed commissioners that HUD operating funds for the
2005-2006 year had been cut approximately 27%_that is a reduction of about
$3,500 per month. She asked commissioners to look for ways to increase income
and reduce spending.
Parish Health Unit To
Offer "Free" Immunizations
Beat
the Back-To-School Rush!! The Claibome Parish Health
Unit will be extending regular business hours on August 4, 5, and 6 to offer
immunizations at no cost to local school children. The health unit will be
offering free shots from 2 PM until 8 PM on Thursday, August 4, until 5 PM on
Friday, August 5, and from 10 AM-4 PM. on Saturday, August 6. No appointment is
necessary and no fees will be charged. This gives parents the opportunity to
update their children's shots before the beginning of school. For more
information, call 927-6127.
Notice To
Central Claiborne Water Customers
Effective
immediately, all water bills must be paid by the 15th of each month. Customers
will not receive any other notices of disconnection. A reconnection fee of $30
will be charged to all accounts that are disconnected. All water bills must be
paid in full. For information, call the water office at 927-3083.
