Police Jury, school extend pact

CLINTON — The East Feliciana Police Jury unanimously voted Tuesday to extend its contract with the Slaughter Charter School for another two years.

The decision means the school will be able to operate on parish-owned property.

The charter school already has a three-year contract with the Police Jury.

Tuesday’s vote clears the way for the charter school to use the property for five years before it has to find another location.

Parish Manager Judith Kelly said Tuesday there was “no problem” with the parish jury’s decision to extend the contract terms.

Other items coming before the jury included:

JAIL INSURANCE: The jury agreed to continue insurance coverage of the parish jail. Agent Bill Dart said coverage would cost about $1,200 more than last year, but included extra costs to move prisoners in case of a catastrophe.

Insurance coverage includes $5.6 million for the building, $75,000 in contents and $500,000 for extra expenses for moving inmates.

The jury’s total premium is $27,000 for the year, with a $10,000 deductible.

COLLECTING TAXES: Jurors approved and authorized jury President Dennis Aucoin to renew the panel’s contract with the parish School Board to collect parish taxes.

Legal adviser Phil Graham said after the meeting that total sales tax collections had increased since the last tax year by about $500,000 for both
the Police Jury and School Board.

East Feliciana has a 5-cent sales tax, said Graham, with 2 cents going to the School Board and the remainder to parish government.

MEDICAID OFFICE: Jurors agreed to allow the parish Medicaid office to move into the parish Health Unit.

Kelly said the phone, data line, supplies and billing would be handled by the Medicaid employee, and the office would be staffed by one employee.

Kelly said the parish was asked to provide the office space because the state was closing down its Medicaid facility in Clinton.