Big Decisions in One Meeting: Split Vote, New VP, and Major Spending Approved!

The Police Jury of the Parish of AVOYELLES met Tuesday, January 13, 2026, for its regular meeting at the Parish Courthouse in Marksville, where jurors conducted annual organizational business, heard departmental reports, and approved several infrastructure and administrative actions.

One of the key items of business was the election of Police Jury officers for 2026. Assistant District Attorney Jenny Donaghey opened the floor for nominations for president, resulting in two candidates.

Darrell Wiley was nominated by Clyde Benson and seconded by Ingrid Wilson. Allen Thomas was nominated by Travis Franks and seconded by Sam Pearce. After nominations were closed by unanimous vote, jurors cast ballots.

Wiley was elected president on a 5–3 vote. Voting in favor were Wiley, Wilson, Jacob Coco, Mark Borrel, and Clyde Benson. Voting against were Pearce, Thomas, and Franks. Thomas received three votes in his bid for the position, while Wiley received five, securing the presidency for another term.

Following the presidential vote, nominations were opened for vice president. Jacob Coco was nominated by Clyde Benson and seconded by Ingrid Wilson. With no additional nominations, the jury voted unanimously to elect Coco as vice president for 2026.

In other business, the jury heard a monthly report from Amy Guidry, operations coordinator for Acadian Ambulance. Guidry reported that Acadian responded to 809 calls in December, including 646 medical and 163 non-medical calls, with an average response time of 15 minutes and 2 seconds. Acadian currently staffs 39 paramedics and EMTs in the parish, operates seven ambulances, two sprint trucks, an Air Med helicopter, and an ambulance bus, and employs 29 AVOYELLES Parish residents with an annual payroll of approximately $2 million.

The jury also approved several infrastructure and equipment-related actions, including authorization to purchase an enclosed trailer for civil works operations at a cost not to exceed $35,000, and the purchase of a pot patcher on state contract not to exceed $120,000. Engineers were authorized to continue applying for grant funding related to road limestone, parish waterworks, and other capital improvements.

Additional actions included approval of bridge inspection and engineering service agreements with Pan American Engineers, the continuation of adjudicated property sales, reappointments to the Bunkie General Hospital Board, and authorization for applications to multiple state grant programs.

The jury also voted to advertise a public hearing scheduled for February 10, 2026, at 4:45 p.m. to receive public comment on limiting the use of Levi Gremillion Road during wet conditions.

The meeting concluded with routine administrative approvals, including payment of parish bills and adjournment following a motion by Allen Thomas, seconded by Ingrid Wilson.

McKinley Keller was noted as absent from the meeting.