New DPPJ Officers Elected at Jan. 17 Meeting

At the regular meeting of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, new officers were elected to serve for 2023. The first set of nominations for President included Ernel Jones and Reggie Roe. Both men have served in this leadership capacity. Votes for both men ended up a tie, resulting in the process to begin again. This time, the two jurors nominated for President were Roe and Rodriguez Ross, with Ross coming out on top.

Vice President candidate nominees were Greg Baker and Kyle Kennington, with Baker winning coming out on top with seven votes to Kennington’s 3. Both officials began their terms at the January 17 meeting.

Also, before President Ernel Jones turned over his seat, he called Juror Jeri Burrell to come forward as he read a Proclamation in her honor presented by the DeSoto Parish Police Jury. In summary, the proclamation announced that she was the first woman juror ever elected to the Jury in addition to being the first African American woman to hold that position. There have been other women appointed to fill vacancies, such as Dolly Moncrief, when her juror husband Jerry passed several years ago. The second elected African American woman juror elected and currently serving is Trina Boyd-Simpson.

Juror James Holmes reported on a letter that the Jury had authorized him to prepare for the President and Administrator’s signatures about oil well production in DeSoto Parish. Holmes stated that the Jury was currently receiving 100% (8 eighths) of royalty payments. He continued that he hoped that this letter would encourage positive interest in other oil and gas companies to drill in DeSoto Parish.

Holmes stated that the repairs needed on the roof at Mundy Landfill and the driveway entrance are still pending. The Jury’s webpage was also discussed with Holmes saying it was a way to post announcements and tax related issues to the public.

Chance McNeely, MPA Partner and Delta Resource Group, said that the Legislature would include lots of tax related topics to come up this year from local government to statewide industry.

He brought up an issue regarding a legal that was not posted in time in The Enterprise. He did not include inquiring whether or not the notice had reached the publication before their classified and legals deadline. The Enterprise office in Mansfield was not notified of this issue, but President Ernel Jones said that he had sent a letter to their owner, The Natchitoches Times, about the problem. The Enterprise is the sole publication in DeSoto Parish and serves as the Parish Journal for all government related entities.