The Donaldsonville chief., 1922-04-29
POLICE JURY PROCEEDINGS.
Money Diverted to Pay Levee Patrols
Ordinance Prohibiting Heavy
Trucks on River Road.

MONEY Diverted TO L ay LSVee TatrolS
Ordinance Prohibiting Heavy
Trucks on River Road.
Donaldsonville, La, April %, 1922
A special meeting of the police
jury was held this day, with President
w. B. Stuart presiding and the fol-
lowing members present: G. B. Reuss,
J. Clarence Leblanc, C. H. Landry,
Sr., W. B. Stuart, Lester E. Wright,
j. we Landry and M. S. Eby. Alb
sent-Augustin Corbo, Henry S.
Martin and C. F. Sibley.
On motion Of Mr.. Leblanc, second
ed by Mr.. Wright and carried, the
reading of the minutes of the last
meeting was dispensed with and the
said minutes were order approved.
President Stuart explained that
the object of the meeting was to
make provision for the payment of
guards to be employed to patrol the
levees during the present stage Of
high water, and to adopt an ordi-
nance to protect the gravel road
along the Mississippi on the east bank
thereof from being broken up by
heavy traffic. Mr.. Stuart explained
that the river situation had reached
a point where provision must be made
for placing guards on the leyees to
protect the people living behind them;
that the police jury was without
funds and he did not believe it should
incur debt in the matter. He sug-
gested that part of the money here
tofcre appropriated for cattle dip
ping might be. diverted for use in
protecting the levees in the present
emergency. He said that he had dis
cussed the matter with some of the
largest cattle owners of the parish
and that they had declared them
selves ready to do everything in their
power to assist in carrying on the
dipping work. That a generous sup
ply of cattle dip had been purchased
and was on hand and available for
use.
After a general discussion of the
subject Mr. Reuss offered the fol-
lowing resolution and moved its
adoption:
Whereas, the present high stage of the
water in the Mississippi river has given
rise to a grave situation;~ requiring immedi
ate attention at the hands of the police jury
in providing funds for the payment of
guards to patrol the levees day and night
and
Whereas, the police jury is without funds
to pay the wages of guards, and
Whereas. the police jury is informed that
the legality of it's action in authorizing the
finance committee to borrow fifteen hundred
($1500) dollars to pay for guards to be
the Mississippi river and to issue a certif-
icate of Indebtedness for the said sum pre-
dicated upon a special tax of one-half mill
on the dollar, to be levied all taxable
. Al.
ninth and tenth wards of the parish. which
said action was taken by the police jury at
a special meeting called for that purpose
and held on April %, 1922, upon petitions
signed by several hundred taxpayers of the
fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth. ninth and tenth
wards, has been questioned by some of@ehss
taxpayers who signed the said petitions as
well by others who did not sign.
BE it resolved by the police jury, that
the resolution adopted by the police jury at
the meeting held April %, 1922. aWthoriz-
ing the finance committee to borrow $500
to defray the cost of guards to be placed
on the levees of the parish of Ascension on
the east bank of the Mississippi river pre-
on the dollar. to be levied all property
situated in the fifth. SIXTH seventh. eighth
ninth and tenth wards of the parish of As
| cension. for the year 1922, and to issue a
certificate of Indebtedness to secure said
| loan and to pledge the said one-half mill
tax much thereof as might be ne
cessary for the payment of said certificate
| be and the same is hereby rescinded and
| repealed.
| Be it further resolved that the finance
committee of the police .iHry be and they
| are hereby authorized and'empowered to re.
| call and cancel any certificate of indebted
ness issued by them under the authority Of
| the said resolution of April %, 1922.
Be it further resolved, that three thou
sand (s3ooo) dollars of the sum of ss5ot
appropriated for cattle dipping, at the meet
ing of the police jury held March 20, 1922
| or much thereof; as might be necessary
be and the is hereby diverted for use
| in paying guards to patrol the Ievees of the
! Mississippi river in the parish of Ascension
| on both sides of said river during the pres
ent emergency, said of $4,000 to be al
lotted in the proportion of one-half, or s150t
| to each side of the river
Be it further resolved, that the polio.
| jury will resume the financing of cattle dip
ping as the finances Of the parish
| will permit.
The motion was seconded by Mr.
C. H. Landry, Sr. Roll-call on the
resolution resulted as follows: Ayes
Stuart, Reuss, Leblanc, C. H. Ian
dry, Sr., Wright, j. we Landry and
Eby. Nays-none. And the reso-
luton was declared adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Leblanc second.
ed by Mr.. Eby and carried, Messrs
W. B. Stuart, M. S. Eby, Lester E
Wright and j. we Landry, were ap.
pointed committee of the Police
Jury, to confer with the federal anC
state authorities with view of for
mulating plans to carry on cattle dip
ping in this parish, until the police
jury is able to resume the financing
of the work.
| President Stuart reported thai
several soft spots had developed ir
1.-The gravel road along the river OF
the east bank thereof, and that the!
were being converted into large an'
deep holes and ruts by heavy truck:
and that unless a stop was put tt
this heavy traffic the road would soor
become impossible.