UPPJ Fires Contractor – No Reason Given

Last week at its monthly meeting, the Union Parish Police Jury fired its ‘Certified Building Official’ [building inspector], Inspections Unlimited, LLC, owned by Chad Parker and others, although the company had been doing a good job.

The firing was without notice to the contractor and with no reason given for the termination, provoking a heated argument among the jurors, some of whom were in the dark about what apparently was a predetermined motion and vote by a majority of the jurors, raising questions as to whether open meeting laws had been violated by use of a ‘walking quorum’.

Louisiana law requires that all public business be conducted in public meetings, with few exceptions. A ‘walking quorum’ is a prohibited method whereby public officials circumvent public discourse and deliberation on a public matter by agreeing on a course of action outside of a public meeting. This is done by officials coming and going from a group or informal gathering and agreeing upon a course of action before the matter at issue is brought into a public meeting. This prevents meaningful public deliberation and discussion and robs the public of its right to open and honest government. It is theft of a public right by public officials.

On motion by Ben Bridges, seconded by Nathan Pilgreen, the jury by a 6 to 2 vote fired Inspections Unlimited, LLC and hired Lagniappe Inspections Services, LLC as the new ‘Certified Building Official’. Lagniappe is owned by Andrew Gadberry, son of Louisiana State District 15 Representative Foy Gadberry of West Monroe.

Jurors Brenda Abercrombie and Jeremy Hobbs voted against this action, demanding explanations from the other jurors as to why this abrupt unannounced termination of a capable and competent company was being summarily terminated with no notice or opportunity to appear and address the matter. Juror A. J. Ford was absent, but the other six jurors; Moses, Bridges, Pilgreen, Holley, Hutto and Wade voted in favor of the action. During the discussion of the motion, President Hutto said he didn’t even know Andrew Gadberry –“wouldn’t know him if he walked into the room’’.

Interestingly, the meeting had opened with President Hutto extending a special welcome to Angie Roberts of U. S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s office. Prior to her job with Senator Cassidy, Ms. Roberts worked for former state representative and senator, Mike Walsworth as his ‘legislative assistant’.

Walsworth now is a local political operative being paid $1,000 per month as a ‘consultant’ by the Town of Farmerville – with your tax dollars- at the request of his business partner, Mayor John Crow; as well as more than $60,000.00 per year by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser – with your tax dollars – to verbally report to him on matters in the area here.

The Gazette has previously reported that Walsworth and Crow own C & W Properties of Louisiana, LLC, a real estate leasing company with business operations in State Representative Foy Gadberry’s West Monroe district. The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office recently reflected that Ms. Roberts was affiliated with C & W Properties and received its mail to her attention at the office address for U. S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s Monroe office where she works. Sources also identify Ms. Roberts as being in a relationship with Representative Foy Gadberry with whom she lives as her domestic partner, following Walsworth’s exit from public office.

Given that the new Certified Building Official for Union Parish is now Andrew Gadberry, chosen moments after President Hutto, although disavowing knowledge of him, had extended a special welcome to Ms. Roberts, apparently there for no other reason than to observe her “in a relationship son in law”, Gadberry receiving the contract, at least raises questions as to the motivation of certain jury members to abruptly, with no reason given, fire one contractor and simultaneously hire another politically connected one.

Noticeably absent from the jury business was any mention of the disappeared Metz Motel, asbestos or potential illegal dumping of debris at its Rodeo Drive/Betty Street trash dump.

In other business, the jury voted to increase your taxes again. The Gazette will link the police jury meeting minutes for August 2024 to this article at fgazette.com.