Regular Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2026
7:00 P.M.
Members In Attendance:
Alderman Simeon Profit,
Alderman Janice Fleming
Alderman Deneitra Ross
Alderman Donald Richard
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
The Town of Richwood met for a Regular Meeting held January 15, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. at the Richwood Multi-Purpose Center, 2710 Martin Luther King Drive, Richwood, Louisiana to consider the following business:
I. Meeting Called to Order 7:04 P.M.
II. Prayer by Mayor Brown
III. Pledge of Allegiance in unison
IV. Roll Call: All (5) Aldermen Present at Roll Call
V. Adoption of the Agenda:
It was motioned by Alderman Deneitra Ross and seconded by Alderman Donald Richard to adopt the agenda as presented.
- The record shall reflect that a vote was taken to adopt the agenda as presented with the following results: (5) Votes Yes to Adopt the agenda.
Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VI. Adoption of Regular Meeting Minutes January 15, 2026
It was moved by Alderman Deneitra Ross and seconded by Alderman Simeon Profit to adopt the January 15, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes.
- The record shall reflect that a vote was taken to adopt the January 15, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes with the following results: (5) Yes Votes to adopt.
Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VII. Adoption of Financial Reports
It was motioned by Alderman Deneitra Ross and seconded by Alderman Donald Richard to adopt the Financial Reports as presented.
- The record shall reflect that a vote was taken to adopt the Financial Reports as presented, with the following result as follows: (4) Yes Votes to Adopt and (1) No vote. Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland No
VIII. Public Comments as they relate to items on the agenda.
Ms. Rose Moore- addressed the forum and advised that she is experiencing a sewer leak on Russ Street and requested assistance from the Board.
“Ms. Moore was informed that the location in question falls outside Richwood city limits and is under Parish jurisdiction. She was advised to contact the Parish directly for further assistance.”
IX. Mayor s Dialogue: Mayor Gerald Brown advised the forum of the following updates.
Mayor Gerald Brown-advised the forum of the upcoming District C Meeting at North Delta on March 5, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., which will include the Bills being presented in the Legislature, and let Ms. Woods know if you want to attend.
Northern Exposure will be held on May 5, 2026. The deadline for registration is April 30th.
Mayor Gerald Brown stated there has been a lot of discussion about Elementary Consolidation, and we know we have three elementary schools in our area, being Swayze, Shady Grove, and Robinson.
Mayor Brown advised that the plan is for Swayze to close, as the school is around 86 years old, and their enrollment is down to around 90, I think. So the decision is to close Swayze.
The lower elementary school, which is grades K-2, is going to be at Shady Grove, and the upper grades, 3-5 will be at Robinson Elementary, this will last for the next couple of years, because the new school will not be built or ready to be moved into until 2028. There was a report on the news that the school would be out in West Ouachita, which was an erroneous report. It will be between Family Dollar and Richwood Middle School.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- interrupted and stated, one, two, three, elementary, junior high, and high school.
Mayor Gerald Brown asked, can I finish? Again, for the next 2 years, they will follow the pattern I just discussed, and then the upper elementary is going to be at the new school, and at that point, Robinson also is going to close. They are working on a plan now what they are going to do with those facilities.
Mayor Gerald Brown asked if there were any questions, comments, or concerns?
Ms. Rose Moore- stated she went to Swayze; I graduated from Swayze. I went to the original Richwood. What are y all going to do with that?
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated that it is not really a question for me; that is a question for the Ouachita Parish School Board.
Ms. Rose Moore- asked why y all want to blend Swayze?
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated again that is not a question for me.
Ms. Rose Moore- commented, you re announcing it, but can’t answer any questions.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, I am giving you the information that was given to me; that s a question for the Ouachita Parish School Board.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland commented, what happened though? Did they have to come by strong will through the town of Richwood?
Mayor Gerald Brown answered, absolutely not.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- stated, that s because the school is not in Richwood, that s why.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, we don t have any auspices over the school system.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland -commented, no we don t we lost the school years ago.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, even when the old Richwood was here, the Town of Richwood hd no control over the school.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- commented, what I am saying, here though by the Dollar Store there is a sign that says we stop there. We get no tax base from the elementary school, going all the way back to the U-Pull It place. We just gone come real, Richwood is not in the town of Richwood, and Ouachita Parish can do whatever the hell they want to do, because it don t make no sense putting those elementary kids next to middle schools and high school.
Mayor Gerald Brown- stated, watch your language, or I am going to have to ask you to leave.
The Black Heritage Parade will take place Saturday, February 21st. The lineup begins at 11:00 a.m and the Parade begins at 12:00 p.m. also as part of that experience, there will be having The Music Marker Dedication on Saturday, February 21st at 11:15 a.m. at the Richwood Multipurpose Center.
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the forum that Household hazardous waste disposal will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center (501 Mane St.) in West Monroe, LA. The event, presented by Ouachita Green, is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m..
Mayor Gerald Brown extended his deepest gratitude to the Richwood Police Department, Public Works Department, and town staff for their unwavering dedication. Despite many of our team members facing power outages at their own homes, they selflessly reported and came to work to ensure the safety and recovery of the Town of Richwood during the recent ice storm.”
X. Tim Green Discussion of FY:2024-2025 Audit
Mr. Tim Green reviewed the FY 2024-2025 Audit results and findings with the forum advised Richwood received a clean audit.
Mr. Tim Green went over specific audit items and suggestions to update operation procedures.
XI. Discussion on Emergency Disaster Relief Resources
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland – inquired as to what Emergency Disaster assistance was received for Richwood, and what was the hold up with the Food Bank here?
Mayor Gerald Brown stated he could provide information on the Food Bank. explained that we previously operated our food bank distribution in partnership with Christ Association, led by the late Mr. Mike Caster. Following his passing, it became necessary to establish a new partnership to sustain our operations. After evaluating several options including one agency that was unable to move forward we are pleased to announce our new partnership with Hampco, which allows us to continue to operate distribution.
Mayor Gerald Brown- also advised the forum that through the snowstorm emergency operation, we partnered with other agencies to feed residents who did not have food or power, and it did not cost us any money.
Mayor Gerald Brown- provided the following contact information of partnering agencies who are helping with disaster relief
Samaritan First, Minute Man Response phone number 214-585-2411, Louisiana Southern Baptist, and FEMA through their website damage.la.gov.
XII. Discussion of Code Enforcement
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- addressed the Code Enforcer and stated, last month I know last month we we spoke about some tags, and you said you were going to get those tags for us this month. I was waiting on them last month, and I said, well I guess we gone get them this month.
The Code Enforcer Officer (Ms. Johnson) responded, . during that course of time we had a storm, we had no employees, and we had to deal with what we had going on up here. The mail was delayed, but I did get it. I spoke with the police department, and we re going to get out there next week.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- commented, I already knew that because most of the landowners already jumping on me anyway, cause they saying, you started this at the town hall, I m going to do what I gotta do anyway to pull Richwood up, so take it or leave it. I m good with y all informing them what I m doing, because I think it s time to clean up Richwood, this storm showed a lot of disasters in this little town, and it s time for us to just do better, if we don t want to do better, we can leave it just like it is, I m fine with it, I don t care, I don t live down here anyway.
XIII. Introduction of Ordinance 2026-01 (An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2020-01, Amending the Pay Date of Aldermen from Monthly to Twice a Month.
XIV. Adjournment: It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Deneitra Ross to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 8:03 P.M.
