Editor's Note: This story was delayed while WBR Independent assisted in coordinating community support for local veteran Theodore Melancon. The council vote took place January 22, 2026.
January 22 meeting also brings new bridge requirements, water quality notice for Erwinville area
PORT ALLEN, LA — The West Baton Rouge Parish Council covered a full agenda at its January 22 meeting, receiving the annual State of the Parish report, approving a 4.7% employee pay increase, adopting new bridge construction standards, and tightening rules on abandoned vehicles — all while keeping an eye on approaching winter weather.
State of the Parish and Year-End Financials
Parish President Jason Manola delivered his annual State of the Parish address, citing $37.3 million in grant funding, the fire department's Class III rating, and the ambulance service's first full year of operations among 2025 highlights. Director of Finance Chance Stephens followed with a year-end financial report showing the parish finished under budget on expenses across all major funds.
During public comments, resident Anthony Summers pressed the administration to publish ambulance service performance data — including response times, call volumes, and operating costs — on the parish website rather than relying on verbal reports at council meetings.
"We hear a lot of 'we're doing this,' but show me," Summers said. "I'm a taxpayer."
The administration did not directly respond to the request during the meeting.
For a detailed fact-check of Manola's claims, including what checks out and what lacks documentation, see Fact-Check: Manola's State of the Parish Leaves Out Key Context.
Parish Employees Get 4.7% Pay Bump
The council unanimously approved a cost-of-living and step increase totaling 4.7% for all parish employees. The raise includes a 2.6% adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index and an additional 2% step increase — the same structure used last year.
Fire department employees receive the 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment immediately, with their 2% step increase applied on their individual anniversary dates.
Stephens estimated the total fiscal impact at roughly $762,000 in additional salary expense, noting the parish had budgeted for a 5% increase, putting the actual number slightly under projections.
A representative from the West Baton Rouge Parish Police thanked the council on behalf of all parish employees before adjournment.
New Bridge Standards Adopted
The council unanimously approved new bridge construction standards after a public hearing, codifying requirements for both public and private roadway bridges in the parish.
Section 70-5 establishes standards for bridges on public roads or roads that may eventually be donated to the parish, such as those in new subdivisions. Section 70-6 covers private residential subdivisions, setting minimum width requirements, railing specifications, and load-bearing design standards.
Private bridges must be posted with their load capacity and include maintenance documentation — a requirement driven by the reality that the parish cannot maintain bridges it doesn't own.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 7-0 at its Tuesday meeting prior to the council vote.
Councilman Atley Walker highlighted language in the ordinance that automatically references the most recent version of LADOTD standards and specifications, eliminating the need for the council to amend the ordinance each time state standards are updated. Director of Public Works Brandon Bourgoyne credited the provision to practical thinking: "I was really just trying to limit how many times I have to come up and talk about this."
Junk Vehicle Rules Strengthened, Compliance Window Doubled
The council approved an updated abandoned and junk vehicle ordinance that adds a formal definition for "inoperable vehicles," establishes fencing requirements for stored vehicles, and streamlines the enforcement process.
During the hearing, the parish's code enforcement team recommended extending the compliance window from 15 to 30 days, reasoning that relocating heavy equipment and vehicles should allow more time than the 15-day window currently given for grass violations. The council adopted the change, amending lines 76 and 81 of the ordinance before final approval.
Water Quality Notice for Erwinville Area — No Action Required
Director of Utilities Adrian Genre informed the council that several water samples from the West Baton Rouge District 4 system — covering the Erwinville and Winterville areas north of Calumet Road and south of Albroff Lane — came back slightly below the required 0.5 milligrams per liter chlorine residual.
One sample was flagged in November and two in December, all taken at state sample sites. Genre noted that the November reading came from a tap at the far end of the line on Rosedale Road near Erwinville — a dead-end line where low chlorine readings are common.
"It's no action required by the public. It's no boil advisory and no preventative action is required by residents at all," Genre said. "It's strictly a public notification rule."
The parish tests daily and has not found issues since the flagged samples. A detailed public notice is posted on the parish website and will be included as an insert in utility bills going out the following Monday. Genre specifically alerted Councilman Crowe and Councilwoman Andre, whose districts cover the affected area, to expect constituent calls once the notices arrive.
Highway 415 Design Moving Forward
Director of Public Works Brandon Bourgoyne provided a brief update on the Highway 415 project following a lengthy DOTD meeting earlier that day. The 30% revised design submittal is targeted for March 5, though the DOTD project manager has pushed for a more aggressive timeline.
The environmental reevaluation process is being kick-started, with an exhibit already prepared that needs minor adjustments before submission. DOTD is also bringing on a separate company for public outreach, with plans to notify anyone within a one-mile radius of the project corridor and hold informational meetings with layout exhibits.
Other Business
Fire District Boundary Change: The council also voted to eliminate industrial area exclusions from the parish fire district. That item involves significant legal and financial questions and will be covered in a separate report.
Sales Tax Adjustment: The council approved the annual district sales tax percentage adjustment for 2026, which decreases by 0.12% — a roughly $13,000 reduction in collections compared to last year. The parish-wide sales tax percentage is adjusted every 10 years and was not affected.
Delinquent Tax Report: Director of Revenue and Taxation Melanie David presented the annual delinquent sales tax report, encouraging council members to review the details and contact her office with any questions.
Roads and Drainage Update: Chief of Administration Phillip Bourgoyne reported on recent department activity, including ditch work along Flynn Road, American Way, Section Road, Plantation Avenue, and Southern Pacific, along with tree cleanup on Section Road. Drainage crews dug ditches along the service road going south at Silverstone, Phillips Canal across from Walmart, River Road near Old Duval School, and several other locations including Montrachet, Mulatta Bend, Sinclair (across from Brusly High School), Rosedale Road, and along the railroad tracks near South Riverview.
Winter Weather Monitoring: Manola reported the administration held a 9 a.m. conference call that morning with another scheduled for the following day to track approaching winter weather. OHSEP Director Deano Moran and his staff were credited with keeping citizens informed. "In a winter weather event like this, they're the hardest to predict," Manola said. "So it could change at any given time."
Ordinances Introduced: Two ordinances were introduced for public hearing on February 26: one clarifying minor subdivision regulations under the Unified Development Code, and a rezoning request from Woodrow Wilson Construction LLC for a 0.97-acre tract at 3784 Metro Drive in Port Allen from Agriculture to I-1 Light Industrial with a line area waiver.
Next Meeting: The next parish council meeting is tonight, February 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the WBR Governmental Building, 880 N. Alexander Avenue, Port Allen.
Disclosure: Anthony Summers, quoted in public comments, is the brother of WBR Independent editor John Summers. His remarks were made during the open public comment period of the meeting and are part of the public record.
