Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1
Board of Commissioners
Regular Meeting
December 11, 2025
5:00 p.m.
The Board of Commissioners of Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 met
this 11th day of December, 2025, in regular session. Those present were Chairman
E. Ray Glasgow, Vice-Chairman Robbie Lee, Commissioners Herbert Brumfield and
Reginald Foster, Secretary Agnes Prevost, and Fire Chief J. D. Stevens. Absent was
Commissioner Jeff McKneely. Assistant Chief Jason King and Chief of Fire Prevention
C. J. Pardue were also in attendance.
Chairman Glasgow made known that a public hearing would now be held on the Fire
District’s proposed 2026 Operating Budget.
The Chairman recognized Mr. Ray Cutrer, who was appointed by the Town of Amite
City to serve on the Board of Commissioners of Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection
District No. 1 for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2026, replacing Mr. Herbert
Brumfield.
Mr. Cutrer asked about the $950,000 budgeted for Capital Outlay, wherein Chief
Stevens explained that these funds are allocated for the regional training facility in
which a grant had been received from the state to pay for the facility, but that the Fire
District is responsible for 25% of the cost of the project. He also made known that
the funds received from the Cares Act in the amount of approximately $827,000 has
always been earmarked for the project.
Mr. Cutrer expressed that he would like to see more manpower for the district, wherein
Chief Stevens made known that this year an additional firefighter was added to each
shift, increasing manpower from 6 to 7 per shift, and that his plan is to review the
budget again at mid year in 2026 to determine the feasibility of adding one more
firefighter per shift.
There being no one else in attendance who wished to address the Board concerning
the proposed 2026 Operating Budget, a motion was made by Mr. Brumfield, seconded
by Mr. Lee and carried that the public hearing be closed.
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The Chairman called the meeting to order and recognized Mr. Henry Powell of
Cadence Insurance who presented to the Board a proposal for a Dental and Vision
policy to cover employees of the Fire District. He quoted a rate of approximately
$40.00 per employee per month (about $1,000 per month cost to the Fire District).
After some discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Foster and
carried that the Board accept the Dental and Vision proposal presented by Mr. Powell.
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Chief Stevens asked that Mr. Powell explain any retirement option for employees
who are not eligible for the Firefighters Retirement System due to age. Mr. Powell
explained that the only option for those employees is an individual IRA, wherein the
Fire District would contribute to the employees’ salaries and then that amount could be
put into an IRA; further that it would be a taxable event as a deduction, so it would be
an offset, and the maximum amount that can be contributed to the IRA is $8,000 per
year.
No action was taken.
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A motion was made by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Brumfield and carried that the Board
dispense with the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting dated November 13,
2025, and accept them as prepared.
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Mr. Glasgow entertained a motion to pay the current bills in the amount of $67,544.25.
Mr. Lee made a motion to approve payment of the bills. The motion was seconded by
Mr. Brumfield and carried.
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After review of the financial statement, a motion was made by Mr. Lee, seconded by
Mr. Foster
and carried that the financial statement for the month of November, 2025, be
accepted.
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The following Ordinance was then introduced:
BUDGET ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE N0. 01-2025
AN ORDINANCE: adopting an Operating Budget of Revenues and Expenditures, for
the fiscal year beginning January 01, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS of
Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1, in regular session
convened that.
SECTION 1: The attached detailed estimate of
revenues for the fiscal year beginning January 01, 2026 and ending December
31, 2026 be and the same is hereby adopted to serve as an Operating Budget of
Revenues for the District during the same period.
SECTION 2: The attached estimate of expenditures
for the fiscal year beginning January 01, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026, be and
the same is hereby adopted to serve as an Operating Budget of Expenditures for the
District during the same period.
SECTION 3: The adoption of this Operating Budget
of Expenditures be and the same is hereby adopted to serve as an appropriation of
the amount therein set forth within the terms of the budget classification.
SECTION 4: Amounts are available for Expenditures
only to the extent included within the 2026 budget.
PASSED AND ADOPTED AT AMITE, LOUISIANA, on this the
11th day of December, 2025, on a motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Foster and
carried with the following roll call vote:
YEAS: 4 (Glasgow, Brumfield, Lee, Foster)
NAYS: None
ABSENT: 1 (McKneely)
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Fire Chief Stevens made known to the Board that Mr. Milton Cavalier had suggested
a firm for the Fire District’s next audit and that he would like Mr. McKneely’s opinion
before a decision is made by the Board.
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The Fire Chief requested that the Board approve the installation of dash cameras in
the Fire District’s vehicles for safety and protection reasons at a cost of $3,600 per
year for the plan. He made known that the cameras are furnished by the company.
A motion was made by Mr. Foster, seconded by Mr. Brumfield and carried that the
Board approve the placement of dash cameras in the vehicles at a cost of $3,600 per
year.
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There being no further business to come before the Board, a motion was made by Mr.
Foster, seconded by Mr. Brumfield and carried that the meeting be adjourned.
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E. Ray Glasgow Agnes Prevost
Chairman Secretary-Treasurer