Parish council members listens as Sheriff Jason Smith explained the dire conditions of the parish’s overcrowded jail and need for the satelite site in Varnado.

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Packed meeting covers funding shifts, new ordinances, and community concerns over jail site

CARIE EDWARDS

CORRESPONDENT TO THE DAILY NEWS 

The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, June 23, 2025, for a packed agenda that included amending the 2025 budget, introducing new ordinances, addressing community concerns about a proposed satellite jail, and recognizing the contributions of a beloved local resident. The session reflected the ongoing challenge of balancing fiscal management, public safety, and the needs of Washington Parish residents.

The meeting began with the adoption of Ordinance No. 25-757, which amended the 2025 Annual Operating Budget. Finance Director Donna Graham explained that the budget adjustments included a $75,000 allocation from the state for the Pregnancy Crisis Center, $250,000 for infrastructure improvements-including covered generator shelters on Pearl Street and the parish landfill-as well as enhancements to pump and recreational facilities. Due to falling sales tax revenue, the council approved a $200,000 transfer from the general fund tothe criminal justice fund. The Capital Projects fund received a significant boost of $1.9 million from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development through the road transfer program, while the Elevation fund gained an additional $1.7 million for ongoing flood mitigation and elevation efforts.

Parish President Ryan Seal reported that the budget remains in good shape, particularly with the newly adopted amendments. He stated that unless something drastic occurs, the amended budget should carry the parish through the end of the year. The transportation department shared that it had maintained eleven locations and completed vegetation spraying around bridges and culverts on sixteen roads. Crews also collected 304 bags of trash on 29 roads. The permit department issued 123 permits during the month of June alone, bringing the total number of permits issued so far in 2025 to 971. Segment A of the parish’s sidewalk construction has been completed. Sections D and E are still in progress, and additional sidewalk construction is set to begin on the opposite side of the road leading to the Washington Parish Fairgrounds. Work also continues to the Varnado Recreation Center, where the parish is repairing basketball courts, installing new playground equipment, and constructing a new baseball fence.

The council introduced five ordinances for future discussion. Ordinance No. 25-758 would establish new guidelines for the installation and maintenance of drainage culverts on private property. Ordinance No. 25-759 proposes revised permitting requirements for logging operations within the parish. Ordinance No. 25-760 would authorize debris and material removal through a master cooperative endeavor agreement, while Ordinance No. 25-761 would allow the parish president to enter into a prepositioned contract for disaster recovery consulting services.

One of the most impassioned moments of the meeting came when Mr. Bill Lewis and Washington Parish School Board President Lesley McKinley addressed the council on behalf of the concerned citizens of Angie and Varnado. The group voiced strong opposition to the sheriff’s plan to utilize a parish-owned facility in Varnado as a temporary satellite jail. Lewis and McKinley stated that despite attending multiple council meetings and making their views known, they felt ignored. They argued that placing a jail across from homes in their community was unacceptable, and they urged council members to personally visit the site. McKinley emphasized that while those incarcerated have broken the law, they are still citizens who deserve better conditions. The group expressed worries over public safety, declining property value, operating costs, and the fear that the facility would become permanent. They also raised concerns about the source of funding for daily operations and the potential that immigrants could be housed there.

In response, Sheriff Jason Smith offered a candid explanation of the situation, stating that he agreed with many of the residents’ points. He explained that the main jail is severely overcrowded, with 39 women currently being held in the former booking room which no longer has a working air conditioner. Smith says he does not want a jail in Varnado either, but he is working with what was handed to him-land and a facility purchased under the previous sheriff’s administration. While he stressed that this would only be a temporary solution, he acknowledged the concern that the facility might function “too well,” and that people may argue a new jail isn’t needed. However, Smith remains committed to building a permanent jail in the center of the parish. He shared that Senator Beth Mizell recently secured $150,000 in state funding to help purchase land for a new facility. He further clarified that the Washington Parish Jail is not authorized to house ICE or federal detainees-only pretrial inmates and DOC prisoners awaiting transfer. He encouraged any resident who was skeptical about the situation to take a tour of the existing jail and see the conditions firsthand. Smith added that he is working with the district attorney and the courts to speed up the judicial process, especially in light of new state laws requiring inmates to serve 85% of their sentences, which has further strained jail capacity.

Also during the meeting, the council voted to continue the appeal process related to Permit No. 2024-12-1938, which concerns the planning commission’s decision to grant conditional use for Jefferson Compound/JDC Enterprises, LLC. The appeal, filed by the Forest Hills Property Owners Association and Kent Satterlee, was postponed until November due to a pending civil trial related to the case.

The council approved several key resolutions as well. Resolution No. 25-1406 appointed Christopher McClellan to fill the vacancy of Constable for Ward 6, District 1, following the June 6 resignation of Donald Mizell. Under Louisiana law, a special election is not required, and McClellan will serve the remainder of the term ending December 31, 2026. Resolution No. 25-1407 approved the lowest bid of $2,898,000 for asphalt overlay work, which will allow the parish to pave approximately 32 roads-completing all scheduled road resurfacing projects for the year. Resolution No. 25-1408 authorizes the parish to use opioid settlement litigation funds to cover the cost of autopsies related to overdose deaths. Since last fall, the district attorney has required full autopsies in such cases, significantly increasing expenses. The parish currently pays approximately $3,500 per autopsy. This measure will help ease the financial burden on the general fund and municipalities.

The council closed the meeting with a heartfelt remembrance of Mrs. Tanda Schilling, a cherished and outstanding member of the community who recently lost her battle with cancer. Council members asked the public to keep her family in their prayers and noted the positive impact she had on those around her.