Regular Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2025 7:00 P.M.
Members In Attendance: Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Deneitra Ross Alderman Donald Richard Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
The Town of Richwood met for a Special Meeting held on February 20, 2025, 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 7:05 P.M.
II. Prayer by Mayor Gerald Brown
III. Pledge of Allegiance in unison
IV. Roll Call: (4) Aldermen Present at Roll Call
Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Deneitra Ross Alderman Donald Richard Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
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 a vote was taken to adopt the agenda as presented with the following results: (4) Votes Yes to Adopt the agenda.
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VI. Adoption of January 16, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes
It was motioned by Alderman Deneitra Ross and seconded by Alderman Donald Richard to adopt the January 16, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes as presented.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to adopt the January 16, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes with the following result as follows: (4) Yes Votes to Adopt
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 Janice Fleming to adopt the Financial Reports as presented.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to adopt the Financial Reports as presented with the following result as follows: (4) Yes Votes to Adopt
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VIII. Public Comments as they relate to items on the agenda
Mr. Dee White- addressed the forum and inquired based on the security ordinance stating at establishments where alcohol is stored or sold security is required, if convenience stores are required to have on-site security.
Alderman Janice Fleming- explained the Ordinance in question to Mr. White the ordinance statutes and advised the ordinance indicates if a business where alcohol is kept, and or stored allows consumption of alcohol on the premises then they must have security.
Ms. Sheila Jackson- addressed the forum and conveyed that due to the health, safety, and well-being of the community, she is asking the Mayor and the Board of Alderman to make a decision that puts the well-being of our community first and to dissolve the contract between the Town of Richwood and the Ouachita School Board so that the demolition of the old Richwood High School could go forth.
IX. Mayor s Dialogue
Mayor Gerald Brown- addressed the forum and thanked those who came out to support our Black History Parade last weekend; and all those who participated or were involved in the parade in any way.
Mayor Gerald Brown reminded the forum of upcoming events, which include the Shop Richwood press conference on next Monday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m.
Mayor Gerald Brown advised, that this initiative provides what businesses are here in Richwood and the services those businesses provide while encouraging shopping locally when possible in Richwood.
Mayor Gerald Brown reminded the forum of the upcoming Health & Resource Fair on March 12th from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
X. Adoption of Resolution 2025-01 ( A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for FY2024-2025 Community Development Grant through the State of Louisiana Grant Program)
Mayor Gerald Brown addressed the forum and advised the Board of Aldermen that the grant they would be applying for was specifically for drainage and that he needed their approval to submit this request to the state.
Alderman Janice Fleming inquired of the target area.
Mayor Gerald Brown advised there are some additional things they need to address, however, the target area is Pine Bayou, and to be clear $ 35,000 would not take care of all of this, but we are doing some other grant work to layer with this, but this would be a portion.
It was motioned by Alderman Janice Fleming and seconded by Alderman Deneitra Ross Resolution 2025-0101 ( A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for FY 2024-2025 Community Development Grant through the State of Louisiana Grant Program)
* The record shall reflect a vote that was taken to adopt Resolution 2025-0101 ( A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for FY 2024-2025 Community Development Grant through the State of Louisiana Grant Program) as follows:
(4) Yes Votes to Adopt.
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
XI. Adoption of Resolution 2025-02 ( A Resolution to add a Debt Service, Disaster Recovery Business Continuity, Ethics, and Credit Card Policy to the Town s Policy and Procedure
It was motioned by Alderman Janice Fleming and seconded by Alderman Deneitria Ross to adopt Resolution 2025-02 ( A Resolution to add a Debt Service, Disaster Recovery Business Continuity, Ethics, and Credit Card Policy to the Town s Policy and Procedures.
* The record shall reflect that a vote was taken to adopt Resolution 2025-02 ( A Resolution to add a Debt Service, Disaster Recovery Business Continuity, Ethics, and Credit Card Policy to the Town s Policy and Procedures) with the following results: (4) Votes Yes to adopt.
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
XII. Discussion of Demolition: Property located at 5960 Jackson Street (Green Acres)
Mayor Gerald Brown advised that this is the property they discussed in their last meeting, and the property has been cleaned, and trash has been removed there is still an issue with the structure itself, and tonight we are asking the Board whether to condemn or not condemn, and that is what Code Enforcement is asking to be done.
Mayor Gerald Brown inquired if there were any questions.
With no questions, Mayor Brown advised the forum that the question at hand is if the Board will allow the property located at 5960 to be declared condemned.
* The record shall reflect that a vote was taken to declare the property located at 5960 Jackson Street (Green Acres) condemned as follows: (3) votes Yes and (1) No vote (to Condemn the property located at 5960 Jackson Street.
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland No
XIII. Discussion of Shop Richwood
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the forum that this would occur on Monday, February 24, at 10:00 a.m. at the Richwood Multi-Purpose Center.
XIV. Discussion of Police Technical upgrades
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the forum that the Police Department is currently on what is called a legacy system; the system is extremely old and susceptible, and if something happens no one will be able to service the system.
The new system will allow us to operate on the same systems as the Parish and Monroe City where information can be shared and accessed.
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the initial $ 15,000 amount is a one-time payment and the amount of $1050 would be the amount paid yearly going forward.
It was motioned by Alderman Wysinger Cleveland and seconded by Alderman Donald Richard to adopt the Police Technical upgrades.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to proceed with the Police Department Technical upgrades as follows: (4) Votes Yes to Proceed
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
XV. Kevin Jackson: Discussion of Club Onyx Security
Mr. Kevin Jackson (318 Security)- addressed the forum and provided updated information that he will not be providing security for Club Onyx
Mr. Anthony Anderson ( Club Onyx)- addressed the forum and indicated it was not that he did not want to pay Mr. Jackson with 318 Security, his concern was that he advised Mr. Jackson that he would only be open for 2 hours and would only need his firm to work 2 Hours, but Mr. Jackson required payment for 4 hours.
Alderman Janice Fleming & Alderman Deneitra Ross- explained to Mr. Anderson there is a basic time block of service that is agreed upon and must be adhered to as the minimum contracted hours of service when a company provides the service; if you are open 2 hours rather than the contracted minimum 4 hours, that does not alleviate the responsibility of the contracted party to pay the provider of the security service the contracted amount.
Mr. Anthony Anderson indicated to the Board that he felt the requirement to pay for a block time even if you are not open for the entire time was not fair, and Mr. Jackson s security company is currently the only security firm that has been approved by Chief Cleveland to provide security in Richwood at this time.
Chief Johnny Cleveland- addressed the forum and advised the forum that the other security firms had not provided the necessary paperwork at this time to be approved to provide security.
XVI. Grow NELA:
Rob Cleveland (CEO of Grow NELA)- addressed the forum and introduced himself and his Brandon Welch.
Rob Cleveland advised that Grow NELA is the Economic Development Organization and primarily serves two purposes, first new business attraction, secondly, they work with existing businesses and site development.
It was discussed that the requirements for a certified site also included the amount of land required.
XVII. Discussion of Old Richwood School Building
Reverand Harold McCoy -addressed the Board and stated that he was here tonight to provide information regarding a request from the Ouachita Parish School Board to resend the cooperative endeavor agreement on the old Richwood High School.
Alderman Janice Fleming asked Reverand McCoy if resending the cooperative endeavor agreement to allow the demolition of the old Richwood High School building affected the old fieldhouse/ park area as well, and
was something else going on.
Reverand Harold McCoy- advised no, the fieldhouse would not, he would do everything in his power to prevent this, and the reason for pursuing an end to the Cooperative Endeavour Agreement was in the interest of the people and nothing else.
It was motioned by Alderman Donald Richard and seconded by Alderman Deneitria Ross to vote to resend the Cooperative Endeavour Agreement.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to resend the Cooperative Endeavour Agreement on the old Richwood High School building located on Brown Road between Ouachita Parish School Board and the Town of Richwood with the following results: (3) Yes and (1) No Vote to resend.
Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Deneitra Ross Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland No
XVIII. Dr. Jones Update on Grant
Dr. Jones -advised he was glad to be back, the last time he was here they were preparing to talk about submitting two grants, they were successful in submitting the grants, and they had the opportunity to assess the infrastructure, look at the pump stations and lift stations, as well as an opportunity to go out to the detention center, looked at their pump systems, had an opportunity to assess a lot of the sewer pipes. The staff here had the opportunity to go out into the community and get information on what they would like to see; those grants were submitted, the strategic planning grant and the infrastructure grant.
The critical infrastructure grant in full transparency included the high school and the school board and based on the decision made tonight, that still can happen.
Plan B, Option B, maybe there is an alternative facility in the area, maybe there s an alternative facility in the boundaries of the area that can possibly be used as well. So, that s where we are, we are about 30 days out as stated 60 to 90 days for the Delta Regional Authority Strategic Planning Grant, as well as the Critical Infrastructure Grant. We should be hearing something back in the next 30 to 45 days.
XIX. Adjournment
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m.
