By John Summers | WBR Independent | April 30, 2026
PORT ALLEN — West Baton Rouge Parish residents will have a say on whether to keep funding their local public health unit after the Parish Council voted Thursday to call a special election on a property tax renewal — one of several action items the council took up at its April 23 regular meeting.
The council also moved to pursue a federal flood control grant that could send significant dollars toward a drainage problem that has repeatedly cost Choctaw Road property owners.
Health unit millage heading to voters
The 1.75-mill Public Health Unit property tax has funded parish health operations for years. Thursday’s vote sets up a renewal election — the council approved a resolution calling a special election to ask voters to extend it for another 10 years. An election date had not been set as of the meeting.
The vote was unanimous. Motion by Councilman Walker, seconded by Councilman Joseph.
Parish going after flood control money
For property owners near Choctaw Road who have filed flood claims more than once, Thursday’s vote could eventually mean relief.
The council authorized Parish President Jason Manola to submit a pre-application to the Louisiana DOTD Statewide Flood Control Program — a 90/10 cost-share program where the state and federal government pick up 90 percent of project costs. The parish’s share would be 10 percent.
The application would target a diversion ditch and culvert project in the Choctaw Road and South Labove area, with two repetitive-loss properties as part of the package. Public Works Director Brandon Bourgoyne said the program has been favoring west-bank applicants — which he said puts WBR in a strong position. If approved, the parish would have four years to complete construction.
Motion by Councilman Allain, seconded by Councilman Gordon.
Road projects moving forward
Bourgoyne also provided updates on two CRPC projects. The Emily Drive lane extension project hit a milestone Tuesday when 95% preliminary plans were submitted. Bourgoyne credited CRPC’s Hardy for drainage modeling work on the project. The next step is receiving comments back before advancing to 95% final plans.
The Rosedale Road and Lobdell Avenue intersection improvement project is still waiting on an H number from DOTD. CRPC is working on submitting that to DOTD.
Court Street sidewalk finally breaking ground
After months of planning, construction on the Court Street multi-use path and sidewalk project was set to begin Monday, April 28. The council approved Change Order No. 1 — an assembly period extension that gave the contractor time to get organized after signing the contract in late February.
Motion by Councilman Hotard, seconded by Councilman Gordon.
Minor subdivision rules get a rewrite
A new set of minor subdivision regulations passed unanimously after the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. The changes clarify that minor subdivisions are allowed in Agricultural and RSF-3 zoning districts, require access roads to connect to public roads rather than branch off larger subdivisions, and reduce the required apron length from 50 feet to 30 feet. Family partition language was also updated to broaden who can receive land transfers.
The changes grew out of a specific case — a landowner who came before the council without a workable solution under the old rules. Council Chairman Carey Denstel credited Councilman Brady Hotard with doing significant work to get the ordinance where it needed to be.
Motion by Councilman Allain, seconded by Councilwoman Andre.
Finance report: general fund running ahead
Finance Director Chance Stephens was out Thursday, so Parish Chief of Administration Phillip Bourgoyne stepped in to deliver the quarterly financial report.
The general fund is at 32 percent of annual revenue through the first three months — above the 25 percent benchmark for that point in the year, though down from 37 percent at the same time last year. Bourgoyne said the difference comes down to a one-time $200,000 garbage utility transfer the parish received in 2025 that did not repeat this year.
On the spending side, operating expenses are running at 26.47 percent — slightly above last year’s 25.29 percent at the same point — driven by $2.6 million in capital outlay already spent in the first quarter. Last year, the parish had spent only $200,000 in capital projects at the same stage.
“It’s running good. It looks great,” Bourgoyne said of the general fund.
Pickleball courts already a hit
The pickleball courts at Alexander Park haven’t had their official ribbon cutting yet — screens and finishing touches are still being installed — but that hasn’t stopped people from showing up.
Council Chairman Carey Denstel told the council he had received videos showing nearly every court full on a Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. He said he passed another video — showing the courts full around 6 p.m. on another day — to Councilman Hotard, whose district includes the park.
“It is taking off,” Denstel said.
The formal ribbon cutting is expected in the coming weeks.
Choctaw Bridge — still waiting
Bourgoyne said he contacted DOTD Executive Director Archie Chaisson III on Monday to check on the Choctaw Bridge project. As of Thursday’s meeting, the parish still had not received a formal decision. Bourgoyne said he would follow up the following Monday.
Subdivision plats
The council denied a preliminary plat for Pete Rolen — tabled from the March 26 meeting — after the original submission did not meet requirements. A revised plat for the same property, submitted by Rolen under the newly adopted minor subdivision ordinance, was approved with waivers. Two preliminary plats for Choctaw Bayou Rentals LLC covering agricultural land on Rosedale Road were approved with waivers. A final plat for Patty L. Tompley was approved with waivers. The two lots already appear as separate parcels on the parish assessor’s records, but no official plat had ever formally documented the division. Both lots came in slightly under the minimum square footage requirement, requiring waivers.
Staff recognition
Councilman Joseph publicly thanked Council Clerk Michelle Tullier, noting that a vendor at a recent state conference had singled her out for praise in front of representatives from other parishes. Another council member added that the parish’s software system had been presented at the conference as a model for others — crediting Tullier’s work.
Legislative update
A council representative tracking the state legislative session flagged House Bill 664 by Rep. LaCombe, which would raise the maximum fine for parish ordinance violations from $500 to $1,500 statewide — the first increase since the 1980s. Current law also allows up to 30 days in the parish jail for violations. West Baton Rouge Parish currently operates under the $500 cap. The representative said most legislative action typically picks up in the final week of session and that the council would continue monitoring relevant bills.
Next meetings and deadlines
Council Clerk Michelle Tullier reminded elected officials that the financial disclosure deadline is May 15. The Planning and Zoning Commission meets Monday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m. The council’s next regular meeting is Wednesday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m. at the WBR Governmental Building, 880 N. Alexander Ave., Port Allen.
Two rezoning requests introduced at the April 9 meeting are scheduled for public hearings at the May 14 meeting. TMI Enterprises LLC is seeking to rezone approximately 84 acres from Agricultural to I-2 Moderate Industrial. BSC Industries LLC is seeking to rezone approximately 2.93 acres at 4021 Highway 1 South, Port Allen, from Agricultural and C-1.2 to C-1.4. Residents wishing to comment may do so at the May 14 public hearings.
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