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Johnny Dollar Since the first week of July, The Gazette has brought to the public’s attention governmental waste, violation of environmental laws, conflicts of interest of public officials and what clearly appears to be a violation of law in the use of public funds to benefit private property owners. A study of our police jury and town officials leaves a …

Johnny Dollar Despite several requests by The Gazette to the Town of Farmerville – its Mayor and Council Members – no one is talking about the illegal demolition of the Metz Motel.Illegal for failing to follow the town’s ordinances on demolition and removal of blighted property and in the process recovering that cost from the property demolished.Illegal for failure to …

Johnny Dollar A big shout out and thank you to Stephanie Hermann in connection with her tireless efforts to help develop one of her conservation passions – Turtle Bay Landing Launch and Paddle Trail on Lake D’Arbonne! Well done Stephanie and all the others involved, where credit is given on Turtle Bay’s Face Book post, reprinted here:Turtle Bay Landing What …

By Julie O’DonoghueLouisiana Illuminator Reprinted with permission from the Louisiana Illuminator NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Supreme Court expressed extreme displeasure with Sen. Alan Seabaugh for leveraging his role as a state lawmaker to prolong an automobile accident lawsuit for years. But the justices didn’t appear convinced the law allowing legislators who are attorneys, like Seabaugh, to delay court proceedings …

Johnny Dollar What happens when local government becomes ineffective due to high taxes stifling economic development; inability of elected officials to work together toward common goals; duplicitous and wasteful costs; politicians putting their personal interests, bias and prejudices ahead of the public good – and any number of other reasons?The Louisiana Constitution provides a method for restructuring local government and …

Johnny Dollar Even though a community is overtaxed, sometimes consultants are a necessary expense. Sometimes they are also a waste of money and a racket to rip off taxpayers. For example, if specialized knowledge is needed to determine what to do to a municipal sewage treatment plant to get it into environmental compliance, one would hire a person with expertise …

The mayor and council members voted August 12, 2024, to increase taxes without further voter approval and adopted increased reassessments resulting in increased taxes to town property owners. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year from the increased millage is $285,271.12 and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is …

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 …

Farmerville Town Hall, 1024 Sterlington Hwy, Farmerville, LA 71241 Recent reporting by the Gazette has addressed the Town of Farmerville’s environmental indifference [improper asbestos disposal], drinking water quality issues, partially treated and on occasion, raw sewage being released into the ephemeral stream flowing from the town sewage treatment plant into Lake D’Arbonne. Repeated efforts by the Gazette to interview Mayor …

Qualifying for public office for the upcoming November 5, 2024, election ended on July 19, 2024. The Louisiana Secretary of State records reflect the following information as to individuals who qualified as candidates for local public offices in Union Parish:Town of FarmervilleMayor: Gerome Nations, Democrat, 714 W. Bayou St. Farmerville, LA 71241, (318) 547-5277, Male, gnation823@gmail.com; John Crow, Independent, 204 …