Minutes of the Board of Commissioners of Gravity Drainage District No. 4 of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana,
held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the regular meeting place, Amite City Hall, Amite, Louisiana.
The Board of Commissioners of Gravity Drainage District No. 4 of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana met on the
above date in regular session and was called to order by the President, Mrs. Lori B. Petitto, at 4:30 p.m.
o’clock with the following members present:
Present: Lori B. Petitto, Lafete Tucker, Kyle Warren, James C. Ricks, Lionel Sutton
Absent: None
The president called on Mr. Lafete Tucker to voice the invocation and the pledge.
The roll call showed a quorum to be present. Whereupon a motion was made by Mr. Warren duly seconded by
Mr. Tucker and unanimously carried that the reading of the minutes of the last regular meeting, dated
December 15, 2025, be dispensed with and that they be adopted as of record and published in the official
journal.
The secretary presented bills in the amount of $8588.46 for canal maintenance, material, supplies, contract
labor, printing, etc. Whereupon a motion was made by Mr. Sutton duly seconded by Mr. Tucker and
unanimously carried that the payment of the bills be authorized and approved.
The financial report on the general condition of the district was given, and a motion was made by Mrs. Petitto
duly seconded by Mr. Sutton and unanimously carried that the report of the treasurer be approved and
accepted.
In attendance for public comment: Calvin Batiste, Joshua Johnson, and crew members, LaDarius Gordon,
Dedrick Briggs, Reginald Muse
Mr. Calvin Batiste was in attendance and made known to the board that several areas in town need assistance.
Mr. Mark Kolwe had previously reached out to Mrs. Lori Petitto as well concerning those areas to be discussed
at the next regular meeting, as follows:
Intersection of South Third Street and South Richardson Street
Intersection of West Pine Street and Richardson Street
Intersection of North Duncan Avenue and Camille Street, eastward to Hardy Street
Daniel Street area
These locations have limbs and debris in the canal blocking water flow.
Board member, Mr. Lionel Sutton mentioned Muse Drive ditch also being blocked. Therefore, the president
instructed LaDarius Gordon and his crew to follow up at the abovementioned locations. Mrs. Lori Petitto will
contact Mr. Mark Kolwe to inquire about town equipment being used to come around to pick up debris on the
side of the road after clean-up efforts. Gravity Drainage District No. 4 has never been responsible for hauling
away debris.
Mr. Joshua Johnson was in attendance and made known to the board that he needs a culvert installed at his
property located in Velma, off Bickham Chapel Road. Mr. Johnson was informed that he is responsible for
purchasing a culvert, and upon receiving culvert measurements, the board will later discuss bidding out this
culvert installation.
Upon Mrs. Petitto receiving a call from Ms. Gwynette Kent Dixon about cleaning out the canal in Fluker, the
contract labor crew was instructed to add this area to their list of duties.
Safety meeting highlights were discussed for those who were absent at the December meeting.
LaDarius Gordon and his crew were instructed to attend meetings at least every other month to make reports
on completed jobs and discuss new job locations. An enlarged map will also be given to Mr. Gordon as well to
better navigate location sites.
No further business appearing, on motion by Mr. Warren duly seconded by Mr. Tucker and unanimously
carried, the board adjourned.
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Lori B. Petitto, President
Attest:
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Mary Lynn Thompson, Secretary