Cottonport approves litter enforcement agreement, police appointment

The Cottonport Town Council approved an agreement allowing parish litter enforcement within town limits and named an assistant police chief during its Oct. 14 meeting.

The litter agreement authorizes Avoyelles Parish Police Jury Litter Abatement Officer Barry Lemoine to enforce parish litter ordinances in Cottonport. The measure passed 4-0, with Councilman Kenneth Friels abstaining because of a conflict of interest.

On the recommendation of Interim Police Chief Felicia Benjamin, the council unanimously appointed Officer Jennifer Spillman as assistant chief of police, effective immediately. Members also accepted Detective Jordan Santoya’s resignation, effective Sept. 15, and approved changing Officer Vincent Jochum’s status from full time to part time.

The council approved resolutions for the fiscal year 2027 Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Clearance Program and selected Pan American Engineers, LLC, to provide technical assistance, grant administration and related professional services.

Both resolutions passed 4-0, with Friels abstaining. The minutes noted Friels believed the proposed $84,000 local match could be used for fire hydrants.

In other business, members unanimously accepted a $6,672 quote from Southern Coatings, LLC, to clean the town’s ground storage tank in Plaucheville. The minutes noted the tank had been cited in a recent audit.

Division A district judge candidate Alissa Piazza Tassin also addressed the council about her candidacy.

Mayor Terry Jeansonne was absent. Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Francisco presided.