The Police Jury of the Parish of Rapides, State of Louisiana, met in Special Session at its regular meeting place, the Police Jury Room of the Parish Courthouse, 701 Murray Street, Alexandria, Louisiana, on Monday, September 17, 2001, at 3:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time), pursuant to the provisions of a written notice given to each and every member thereof and duly posted in the manner required by law, viz:

Alexandria, Louisiana

August 15, 2001

NOTICE OF SPECIAL POLICE JURY MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of the Police Jury of the Parish of Rapides, State of Louisiana, has been ordered and called and will be held at its regular meeting place, the Police Jury Room of the Parish Courthouse, Alexandria, Louisiana, on Monday, September 17, 2001, at 3:00 p.m. for the following purposes to-wit:

1. Public Hearing for Rapides Parish Police Jury, sitting as the Board of Review, to receive any protests under a Request for Review of property tax assessments timely filed, as advertised.

2. Any other business that may properly come before the Police Jury.

BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT

Angie Richmond, Secretary

There were present: Honorable Scott Perry Jr., President; and Police Jurors Myron K. Lawson, Joe Fuller, Richard L. Nunnally, and Richard W. Billings.

Absent were Police Jurors Donald H. Wilmore, Davron "Bubba" Moreau, Steve P. Bordelon and Ezra Reed.

Also present were Mr. Tim Ware, Treasurer; Mr. Jan Haworth, Economic and Workforce Development Director; Mr. Cecil Raggio, Public Works Director; Ms. Donna Andries, Sales and Use Tax Director; Chief David Peart, Fire District No. 2; Mr. Tom Wells, Legal Counsel; Ms. Candice Saucier, Civil Service Director; and Ms. Angie Richmond, Secretary.

The invocation was given by Mr. Richard Billings.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Richard Nunnally.

The Police Jury of the Parish of Rapides, State of Louisiana, was duly convened as the governing authority of said Parish by Hon. Scott Perry Jr., President, who welcomed all present and then stated that the Police Jury was ready for the transaction of business.

Mr. Ralph Gill, Rapides Parish Tax Assessor, first reviewed he had submitted on September 7, 2001, the certification of the 2001 assessment lists for Rapides Parish: Total Assessed value of all real and personal

property $476,264,539

Assessed value of all homestead exempt

property $142,058,878

Assessed value of all taxable real and

personal property $334,205,661

Public Service assessed value $ 78,570,920

Total assessed value, including homestead

exemption $554,835,459

Total Taxpayer assessed value $412,776,581

The President then opened to receive the protests for those requests for review timely filed:

BPR Energy, Inc., Crowell No. 7 lease, Serial No. 220577 and equipment, Section 7, T1S-R1W, represented by Mr. Daron Fredrickson, of Affiliated Tax Consultants, Ward 4 Out, Assessment No. 190.

Fair Market Value Land Improvement Total

Assessor determined: - $544,373 $544,373

Taxpayer's opinion: - $ 60,875 $ 60,875

Assessment Land Improvement Total

Assessor determined: - $ 81,656 $ 81,656

Taxpayer's opinion - $ 9,131 $ 9,131

protest fair market value as of January 1, 1999 was:

land Improvement Total

- $ 60,875 $ 60,875

(Received 9/10/01)

BPR Energy, Inc., Crowell No. 3 lease, Serial No. 220535 and equipment, Section 3, T1S-R1W, represented by Mr. Daron Fredrickson, of Affiliated Tax Consultants, Ward 4 Out, Assessment No. 191.

Fair Market Value Land Improvement Total

Assessor determined: - $544,166 $544,166

Taxpayer's opinion: - $ 60,875 $ 60,875

Assessment Land Improvement Total

Assessor determined: - $ 81,625 $ 81,625

Taxpayer's opinion - $ 9,131 $ 9,131

protest fair market value as of January 1, 1999 was:

land Improvement Total

- $ 60,875 $ 60,875

(Received 9/10/01)

BPR Energy, Inc., Crosby No. 24 lease, Serial No. 219443 and equipment, Section 24, T1N-R4W, represented by Mr. Daron Fredrickson, of Affiliated Tax Consultants, Ward 6 Out, Assessment No. 50.

Fair Market Value Land Improvement Total

Assessor determined: - $497,026 $497,026

Taxpayer's opinion: - $ 60,875 $ 60,875

Assessment Land Improvement Total

Assessor determined: - $ 74,554 $ 74,554

Taxpayer's opinion - $ 9,131 $ 9,131

protest fair market value as of January 1, 1999 was:

land Improvement Total

- $ 60,875 $ 60,875

(Received 9/10/01)

Mr. Daron Fredrickson, of Affiliated Tax Consultants, asked the Police Jury to consider the acquisition prices of the three wells as contained in the Purchase and Sale Agreements with UPR as fair market value rather than the Oil and Gas Tables Estimates in the Louisiana Tax Commission Rules and Regulations. He noted the taxes were in excess of $30,000 which was extreme on marginal wells at the absolute end of their economic life.

Mr. Rick Ducote, Rapides Parish Deputy Tax Assessor, submitted an informational packet on the assessments and pointed out the assessments were made according to the guidelines of the Louisiana Tax Commission. The guidelines for wells begin with a 70% depreciation, with further depreciation of 40% for stripper wells (poor production) or 90% for shut wells (no production). Further, they didn't feel the purchase agreement was representative of fair market value because each of the eight wells sold were given the exact same value.

There being no one else who wished to be heard, the public hearing was then declared closed.

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Richard Billings and Mr. Joe Fuller, to uphold the assessment of Mr. Ralph Gill, Rapides Parish Tax Assessor, on the assessments of BPR Energy Inc. for Ward 4 Out, Assessment No. 190; Ward 4 Out, Assessment No. 191; and Ward 6 Out, Assessment No. 50. On vote the motion carried unanimously.

After unanimous vote the following were placed on the agenda:

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller and Mr. Richard Billings, to authorize the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to hire up to four temporary contract employees to act as youth coaches at the rate between $11.50/hour to $13.50/hour, to be paid out of OEWD Funds as budgeted, as recommended by the OEWD Director. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller and Mr. Richard Billings, to authorize to enter into a contract with LSU-A for performance of services under the Technology LCDBG Grant, to be paid out of the 10% set-aside grant in OEWD Funds, the terms to be negotiated, contingent upon approval of the WIB, as recommended by the OEWD Director, and authorize the President to sign same. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller and Mr. Richard Billings, to authorize to enter into a Local Services Agreement with the Town of Forest Hill to provide for the collection of the Town of Forest Hill's sales and use tax and authorize the President to sign same. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller and Mr. Richard Billings, the following resolution was presented and on vote unanimously adopted:

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, America was suddenly and brutally attacked by foreign terrorists; and,

WHEREAS, these terrorists hijacked and destroyed four civilian aircraft, crashing two of them into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, and a third into the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.; and,

WHEREAS, thousands of innocent Americans were killed and injured as a result of these attacks, including the passengers and crew of the four aircraft, workers in the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon, rescue workers and bystanders; and,

WHEREAS, these cowardly acts were by far the deadliest terrorist attacks ever launched against the United States, and, by targeting symbols of American strength and success, clearly were intended to intimidate our nation and weaken its resolve; and,

WHEREAS, these horrific events have affected all Americans. It is important that we carry on with the regular activities of our lives. Terrorism cannot be allowed to break the spirit of the American people, and the best way to show these cowards that they have truly failed is for the people of the United States and their counties to stand tall and proud;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rapides Parish Police Jury condemns the cowardly and deadly actions of these terrorists;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rapides Parish Police Jury supports the President of the United States, as he works with his national security team to defend against additional attacks, and find the perpetrators to bring them to justice and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rapides Parish Police Jury recommends to its citizens to support relief efforts by giving blood at the nearest available blood donation center.

THUS PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this 17th day of September, 2001.

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller and Mr. Richard Billings, to hire a Case Manager on a temporary basis, as requested by the Workforce Operations Director. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller and Mr. Richard Billings, to create an additional case manager coordinator slot in the WTW/LaJet Office; amend the OEWD organizational chart to reflect the change; and authorize filling of the slot, as recommended by the OEWD Director. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller and Mr. Richard Billings, to create an additional case manager slot in the WTW/LaJet Office; delete the job developer position; amend the OEWD organizational chart to reflect three case manager slots; and authorize filling of the slot, as recommended by the OEWD Director. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Richard Billings, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller, to authorize the transfer of monies for annual leave time for Chief David Peart from 1976 to the Firefighters Retirement Fund. On vote the motion carried.

After unanimous vote the following was placed on the agenda:

On motion by Mr. Richard Nunnally, seconded by Mr. Joe Fuller, to rescind that certain motion of September 10, 2001 relative to a meeting of the Emergency Medical Care Board within sixty days to transfer its records to the Police Jury, because the Police Jury provided the secretarial staff to the Board and has its records already in possession. On vote the motion carried.

The final agenda item was for public comment. Mr. Perry asked if anyone else wished to be heard, to which there was no response.

The Members of the Police Jury, along with its employees and members of the public present sang "Our Country 'Tis of Thee".

There being no further business, the meeting was declared adjourned at 3:26 p.m.

__________________________ __________________________

Angie Richmond, Secretary Scott Perry Jr., President

Rapides Parish Police Jury Rapides Parish Police Jury