Parish Council hires grant writer for recreation districts; River litter laws to be reviewed

FRANKLINTON -- The Washington Parish Council approved earlier this week an ordinance to hire Larry Kinlaw & Associates to help write grants for the parish’s newly-created recreational districts.

The company will provide informational services for the new districts in searching for grant opportunities, said Council Member Aubrey Posey, who introduced the ordinance.

According to the ordinance, the parish will contract Larry Kinlaw & Associates from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2009, at a monthly fee of $400, plus an hourly rate of $60 per hour for grant writing fees and $30 per hour for research, travel and other services.

Posey said Kinlaw also helps with grant writing for the Washington Parish Fair Association and the Washington Parish School Board.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, parish leaders said the dry weather has been good for road construction, allowing workers to finish an 11-mile road paving project.

In other projects, construction has begun on the parish animal shelter at Rayburn Correctional Center, officials said.

Near the end of the meeting, the council hinted that stronger anti-litter laws concerning the Bogue Chitto River could be brought up soon.

Council President Charles Nassauer said he heard complaints over Father’s Day about trash in the river, likely in the areas of canoeing and tubing rental businesses. He asked staff members to pull up the existing laws concerning such matters for council members to review. The next parish council meeting will be July 13.