Board of Commissioners
Regular Meeting
January 9, 2025
5:00 p.m.
The Board of Commissioners of Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 met this 9 th day
of January, 2025, in regular session. Those present were Chairman E. Ray Glasgow, Vice-
Chairman Robbie Lee, Commissioners Herbert Brumfield, Reginald Foster, and Jeff McKneely,
Secretary Agnes Prevost, and Fire Chief J. D. Stevens. Assistant Chief Jason King and Chief of
Fire Prevention C. J. Pardue were also in attendance.
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The Vice-Chairman called the meeting to order and a motion was made by Mr. Brumfield,
seconded by Mr. Foster and carried that the Board dispense with the reading of the minutes of the
previous meeting dated December 12, 2024, and accept them as prepared.
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Mr. McKneely made a motion to approve payment of current bills in the amount of $21,233.91
plus $98,656.25 (chassis and deposit on Custom F350 service unit). Mr. Brumfield seconded the
motion and it so carried.
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After review of the financial statement, a motion was made by Mr. McKneely, seconded by Mr.
Foster and carried that the financial statement for the month of December, 2024, be accepted.
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Vice-Chairman Lee recognized Mr. Jeremy Bearden with Globe Life, who presented to the
Board a supplemental insurance plan that provides coverage for employees and their families. He
made known that the plan pays benefits for hospitalization, emergency visits, surgery, physical
therapy, accidental death, etc. Mr. Bearden advised the Board of the cost for the plan for the
Basic Level 4 proposal.
After some questions and discussion, the Board took the proposal under advisement.
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The Chairman recognized Ms. Samantha Brumfield, Attorney with Edwards and Stevens Law
firm, who presented and read to the Board the following Proces Verbal of the canvass of the
votes cast at the special election held in Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 on
December 7, 2024:
PROCES VERBAL
PROCES VERBAL OF THE CANVASS OF THE VOTES CAST AT THE ELECTION HELD IN
TANGIPAHOA PARISH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 1, ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7,
2024.
BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED that on the 9th day of January, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., at 210
N.E. Central Avenue, Amite, Louisiana, the Board of Commissioners of Tangipahoa Parish Fire
Protection District No. 1 (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Tangipahoa
Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 (the “District”), and being the authority ordering the election held
therein on Saturday, December 7, 2024, did examine and canvass the returns of the election, there having
been submitted at the election the following proposition, to-wit:
PROPOSITION
Shall Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 (the “District”) be authorized to
levy and collect, in the area newly annexed by the District on June 24, 2024, the
following taxes currently being levied in the District for the terms and purposes
previously approved by voters: (i) ½% sales and use tax (estimated to generate $62,000
annually) approved on July 19, 2003 commencing on April 1, 2025 and continuing in
perpetuity for providing a retirement system for District employees, hiring additional
firefighters and general operation of the District; (ii) 10 mill ad valorem tax (estimated to
generate $33,000 annually) approved on March 24, 2018 commencing in 2025 through
2028 for purchasing fire protection equipment, maintaining and operating the District’s
fire protection facilities and equipment, paying the cost of obtaining water and for
salaries of District employees; and (iii) 10 mill ad valorem tax (estimated to generate
$33,000 annually) approved on April 27, 2024 commencing in 2025 through 2033 for
purchasing fire equipment, maintaining and operating the District’s fire protection
facilities and equipment, obtaining water, paying salaries, providing retirement for
employees and enhancing Emergency Medical Services by improving manpower?
There was found by said count and canvass that the following votes had been cast at the said
special election IN FAVOR OF and AGAINST, respectively, the proposition as hereinabove set forth at
the following polling place, to-wit:
PRECINCT POLLING PLACE FOR AGAINST
00/011 Roseland Elementary School, 12516 Time Avenue, Roseland. 63 7
ABSENTEE 25 2
The polling place above specified being the only polling place designated at which to hold the
election, it was therefore shown that there was a total of 88 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition and
a total of 9 votes cast AGAINST the Proposition, as hereinabove set forth, and that there was a majority
of 88 votes cast IN FAVOR OF the Proposition as hereinabove set forth.
The foregoing election was authorized by a Resolution adopted on August 8, 2024 by the
Governing Authority and notice therefore was duly given by the Notice of Special Election attached
hereto as Exhibit A. Said Notice of Special Election was published on October 10, 2024, October 17,
2024, October 24, 2024 and October 31, 2024 in the Tangi Times, as set forth in the proof of publications
attached hereto as Exhibit B.
THEREFORE, the Board of Commissioners of Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1
(the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection
District No. 1 (the “District”), does hereby declare and proclaim in open and public session that the
Proposition, as hereinabove set forth, was duly PASSED in the District on Saturday, December 7, 2024,
and that the results of said election be promulgated by the Secretary of State and by the Clerk of Court in
the manner required by law.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Amite, Louisiana, on this, the 9th day of January, 2025.
S/Agnes Prevost S/E. Ray Glasgow
Secretary-Treasurer Chairman
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Ms. Brumfield also presented the following Resolutions which were adopted by the Board:
TANGIPAHOA PARISH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 1
The following Resolution was offered by Mr. Jeff McKneely and seconded by
Mr. Robbie Lee:
RESOLUTION NO. 01-25
A Resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the
special election held in the Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 (the
“District”) on Saturday, December 7, 2024, to authorize the levy and collection of
all taxes currently being levied and collected within the District.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection
District No. 1 (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Tangipahoa
Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 (the “District”), as follows:
SECTION 1. That the Governing Authority does now proceed in open and public
session to examine the official certified tabulations of votes cast at the special election held in the
District on Saturday, December 7, 2024 (the “Election”), said tabulations having been prepared
and certified by the election officials serving at the designated polling place, and the Governing
Authority does now further proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of
the Election.
SECTION 2. That a Proces Verbal of the canvass of the returns of the Election shall be
made and that a certified copy thereof shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, who shall record the same in her office; that another certified copy thereof shall be
forwarded to the Clerk of Court and ex-officio Recorder of Mortgages in and for the Parish of
Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana, who shall record the same in the Mortgage Records of the Parish
of Tangipahoa, State of Louisiana; and that another copy thereof shall be retained in the archives
of the Governing Authority.
SECTION 3. That the result of the Election shall be promulgated by publication in the
manner provided by law, after receipt from the Secretary of State’s office of the actual cost of
holding the Election, as required by La. R.S. 18:1292(B)(2).
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: 5 (E. Ray Glasgow, Jeff McKneely, Herbert Brumfield, Robbie Lee, Reginald
Foster)
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
And the Resolution was declared adopted on this, the 9th day of January, 2025.
S/Agnes Prevost S/E. Ray Glasgow
Secretary-Treasurer Chairman
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TANGIPAHOA PARISH FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 1
The following Resolution was offered by Mr. Robbie Lee and seconded by Mr. Reginald
Foster:
RESOLUTION NO. 02-2025
A Resolution directing the levy and collection of the following taxes currently
being levied and collected in the Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1
(the “District”): (i) ½% sales and use tax commencing on April 1, 2025 and
continuing in perpetuity for the purpose of providing a retirement system for
District employees, hiring additional firefighters and general operation of the
District; (ii) the 10 mill, 10-year ad valorem tax beginning with the year 2025 and
ending with the year 2028 for the purpose of purchasing fire protection
equipment, maintaining and operating the District’s fire protection facilities and
equipment, paying the cost of obtaining water and for salaries of District
employees; and (iii) the 10 mill, 10-year ad valorem tax beginning with the year
2025 and ending with the year 2033 for the purpose of purchasing fire equipment,
maintaining and operating the District’s fire protection facilities and equipment,
obtaining water, paying salaries, providing retirement for employees and
enhancing Emergency Medical Services by improving manpower, in the newly annexed area (the Town of Roseland) of the District.
WHEREAS, under the provisions of Article VI, Section 30 of the Louisiana Constitution
of 1974, as amended, La. R.S. 40:1501, La. R.S. 40:1501.1, La. R.S. 40:1501.5 and other
constitutional and statutory authority, including an election held in the area newly annexed by
Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 (the “District”) on Saturday, December 7,
2024, the Board of Commissioners of Tangipahoa Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 (the
“Governing Authority”), as the governing authority of the District, desires to levy and collect
the taxes as authorized at the election by virtue of the favorable passage of the proposition
attached hereto as Schedule A setting forth the rate and duration of the taxes; and
WHEREAS, in compliance with the provisions of said authority and other applicable
constitutional and statutory authority, an election was held in the area newly annexed by the
District (the Town of Roseland) on Saturday, December 7, 2024, to authorize the levy and
collection of the taxes, it is now the desire of the District to levy the taxes and to provide for the
collection thereof and other matters in connection therewith as hereinafter provided in this
Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Governing Authority, that:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to the authority of an election held in the area newly annexed by
the District on Saturday, December 7, 2024, there be and there is hereby levied within the entire
geographic boundaries of the District for the purposes stated in the proposition attached hereto as
Schedule A, the following taxes: (i) ½% sales and use tax commencing on April 1, 2025 and
continuing in perpetuity for the purpose of providing a retirement system for District employees,
hiring additional firefighters and general operation of the District; (ii) the 10 mill, 10-year ad
valorem tax beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2028 for the purpose of
purchasing fire protection equipment, maintaining and operating the District’s fire protection
facilities and equipment, paying the cost of obtaining water and for salaries of District
employees; and (iii) the 10 mill, 10-year ad valorem tax beginning with the year 2025 and ending
with the year 2033 for the purpose of purchasing fire equipment, maintaining and operating the
District’s fire protection facilities and equipment, obtaining water, paying salaries, providing
retirement for employees and enhancing Emergency Medical Services by improving manpower,
in the newly annexed area (the Town of Roseland) of the District, all in the manner and subject
to the provisions and terms of those portions of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
1950, as amended, applicable to property taxes levied by the District.
SECTION 2. That the taxes described in Section 1 above shall be levied, assessed,
imposed, collected, paid and enforced according to law.
SECTION 3. The obligations and rights of taxpayers in connection with the taxes levied
hereby shall be as provided by the provisions of law applicable to taxes levied by the District.
SECTION 4. If any one or more of the provisions of this Resolution shall for any reason
be held to be illegal or invalid, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this
Resolution, but this Resolution shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provisions
had not been contained herein. Any constitutional or statutory provision enacted after the date of this
Resolution which validates or makes legal any provision of this Resolution which would not
otherwise be valid or legal, shall be deemed to apply to this Resolution.
SECTION 5. Upon adoption, this Resolution shall be published in full in one (1) issue of
the Tangi Times and shall be recorded in the mortgage records of the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk of
Court.
SECTION 6. The Chairman of the Governing Authority be and he is hereby authorized,
empowered and directed to take any and all such action as may be necessary to carry into effect
the provisions of this Resolution.
SECTION 7. This Resolution shall immediately take effect upon adoption.
This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: 5 (E. Ray Glasgow, Jeff McKneely, Herbert Brumfield, Robbie Lee, Reginald
Foster)
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
And the Resolution was declared adopted on this, the 9th day of January, 2025.
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Chief Stevens requested that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.
A motion was made by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. McKneely and unanimously carried that the
Board go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters.
When Executive Session was over, a motion was made by Mr. McKneely, seconded by Mr.
Brumfield and unanimously carried that the Board meeting be reconvened.
The Chairman announced that no action was taken in Executive Session.
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Chief Stevens recommended that the following programs be implemented for employees and for
pre-employment purposes:
1) Employee Assistance Program – Hidalgo Health Assistance, Baton Rouge –
Employees, their spouses, and children are entitled to 8 counseling sessions annually. The
sessions can cover mental health, marriage, finances, and other types of counseling at a
cost of $3,000 per year.
2) Matrix Exam and Fit-for-Duty Mental Health Evaluation – The Matrix Exam will be
given after an offer of employment. This exam is used to determine if the employee is
susceptible to mental health or behavior issues. The cost of the exam is $375 each time
the Fire District uses it. The fit-for-duty mental health evaluation is used if we suspect
there is a mental health issue. The employee must attend and have a one-on-one
discussion with a psychologist. The doctor will determine if the employee is mentally fit
to return to work and will then send the results to the Fire District. The cost to the Fire
District is $1,200 for each use.
3) Fit-For-Duty Physical Exam – Delta Physical Therapy in Hammond – This physical
exam will be given after an offer of employment or after major surgery, illness, or injury.
It aims to determine if the new employee has any pre-existing injuries before putting
them through rookie school. In the case of an employee surgery, illness, or injury, the Fire
District can require the exam before the employee returns to work. This will ensure that
the employee is physically ready to return to duty.
After some discussion, a motion was made by Mr. McKneely, seconded by Mr. Lee and carried
that the above Fire Chief’s recommendations be accepted and adopted by the Board.
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The Fire Chief then made known to the Board that one of the Fire District’s employees, Trevor
Hebert, is now a Paramedic, which is a big asset to the department. He requested that the Board
approve $6,000 per year ($500 per month) as Incentive Pay for this employee.
Whereupon, a motion was made by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mr. Brumfield and carried that the
Board approve $6,000 per year ($500 per month) Incentive Pay for Trevor Hebert.
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There being no further business to come before the Board, a motion was made by Mr. Lee,
seconded by Mr. Brumfield and carried that the meeting be adjourned.
_____________________ _______________________
E. Ray Glasgow Agnes Prevost
Chairman Secretary-Treasurer