Courthouse security tightened

Security is being tightened at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin. But some Parish Council members had questions Wednesday about the new safety setup.
The council passed an ordinance in May establishing a two-member Courthouse Security Commission empowered to require people entering the courthouse to undergo “a physical search, and/or search utilizing metal detectors/x-ray devices.”
In December 2022, an inmate shot himself to death with a gun taken from a deputy on the courthouse’s sixth floor courtroom area in December 2022. But the ordinance was motivated more by concern about recent violent incidents around the country and the relatively easy access to the courthouse in Franklin.
Now, Homeland Security Director Jimmy Broussard told the council Wednesday, courthouse employees have electronic cards that will allow them to enter employee entrances. A magnetometer is now ready to screen members of the public as they enter the courthouse.
Councilman Patrick Hebert of Berwick wanted to know why metal detectors would continue to be used both at the courthouse entrance and on the sixth floor, which he said would be a duplication of expense.
For Councilman Dean Adams of Morgan City, the question wasn’t where, but who.
Adams said he understood the purpose was to have everyone entering the building, employees included, screened with metal detectors, and the system being contemplated now “is not securing the building.”
Broussard noted that employees go through background checks and drug screenings before they’re hired.
Councilman J Ina of Franklin said the matter is best left to the expertise in the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Mark Duhon of Amelia agreed.
Also Wednesday:
—By an 8-2 vote, the council passed ordinances rolling forward property tax rates.
This is a reassessment year, and the Louisiana Constitution requires property tax rates to be reduced so that an increase in assessed valuation doesn’t result in additional revenue. Local governments can return the property tax rates to their pre-reassessment levels, but rolling the rates forward again requires a two-thirds vote.
The resulting rates will be 5.72 mills for the St. Mary Parish Library, to be levied in the parish except for Morgan City; 7.60 mills for “parochial purposes” outside the municipalities; and 3.80 mills for the criminal justice system inside municipalities.
The rates would have been reduced by 0.3-0.6 mills each without the council vote to roll them forward.
A mill is 1/10th cent of tax applied to each dollar of assessed valuation. Residential property is assessed on 10% of its market value as determined by the parish assessor. Louisiana’s Homestead Exemption protects the first $75,000 of a primary home’s market value from parish taxation.
—The council approved Hebert’s appointment of District Judge Ed Leonard to the newly formed Charter Review Commission, which met for the first time July 17. The next meeting will be 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at the courthouse and will be livestreamed.
It’s the second appointment for a Leonard this year. The judge administered the oath of office for his wife, Bonnie Leonard, after she was appointed April 23 to an interim seat on the Morgan City Council.
—The council appointed four new members to the board of Fire Protection District No. 7, which serves Bayou Vista.
Four board members resigned June 12, citing a lack of cooperation from parish government and ethical concerns about the operation of the Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department.
Appointed Wednesday were Martin DeHart, Alvin J. Metrejean Jr., Jeremy Price and Joseph Adydan.
Another appointment placed Thane Aucoin in the board of Hospital Service District No. 2, which owns Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City.
—Ina’s long-sought goal of a study of parish employee compensation and parish government organization may be closer to reality. Economic Development Director Evan Boudreaux agreed to apply for a grant that could study those two facets of parish government as well as a strategic plan.
—The council passed a resolution of respect for Franklin City Councilman Larry Guilbeau, who died June 21.