Washington Parish President Richard Thomas accepted the official 2015 Washington Parish Free Fair framed poster from Poster Committee Chairperson Kay Bell during Monday night’s parish council meeting.

Bell, who is the 2015 honoree, presented the poster to Thomas, along with Bob Ann Breland, who designed the poster. The poster has jars of tomatoes, green beans and corn displayed on a quilt. It will hang along the walls of the council chambers of the courthouse alongside previous posters.

The 2015 Washington Parish Free Fair is scheduled for Oct. 21-24 at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds in Franklinton.

“I’m honored to have my poster hang here,” Breland said. “I enjoy canning and quilting.”

The council accepted assessment list appraisals for four cell towers. They included two towers for Crown Castle Tower, and one each for Crown Communications and Pinnacle Towers. The values of the assessments are scheduled to be added at a late date.

Also, the council adopted a resolution authorizing the Washington Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to accept the low bid on the Washington Parish Government Facility expansion project. Thomas was also authorized to enter into a contract with the lowest bidder to administer the project. The ordinance involves grant money for the parish from the Office of Emergency Preparedness.

“We applied for this grant five years ago. It will extend the Washington Parish government building and add two more offices in the same building,” Council Chairman Michael Fussell said.

The Washington Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness is on Pearl Street.

Council members heard a presentation from Bishop Rene Soule, executive director of the Northshore Black Elected Official Coalition and Associates. The goal of the NBEOCA is to improve quality of life for individuals on the Northshore.

“We are an organization trying to create partnerships in the parishes we serve,” Soule said. “We try and bring resources and solutions. Folks are hurting. I’m here to beg for your support so we can serve the people of Washington Parish. It’s all about supporting our youth.”

Soule solicited board members’ physical support to possibly volunteer their time to work with youth. He shared with the council various grants that are available to citizens.

Along with Washington Parish, the NBEOCA works with citizens in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and St. Helena parishes.

Kathy Edmonston, a candidate for District 6 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in the Oct. 24 election, addressed the council. District 6 includes Washington Parish.

She said she did not support Common Core standards.

“We need to get back to common sense,” Edmonston said. “I’m for our teachers. Our children are frustrated and medicated. There is hope for the public school system.”