By Tiffany Flournoy

HOMER, La. — The Claiborne Parish Police Jury approved a series of infrastructure, financial and community measures during its March 4 meeting, including a $500,000 road maintenance plan, a construction contract exceeding $1.2 million and continued support for a local veterans office.

Jurors unanimously adopted the parish’s 2026 chip-and-seal road program, which will cover more than 23 miles of roadway at an estimated cost of $500,000.

The jury also gave provisional approval to award a $1.201 million construction bid to Benmark Construction Group of Louisiana, pending final authorization from the project architect.

In other business, the Police Jury approved a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs to maintain a veterans services office in the parish administrative building. The parish will contribute $1,400.60 per month — a roughly 10% increase — to support an office that serves 772 veterans and their families and brings more than $6.1 million annually in federal benefits into the parish.

Jurors also unanimously voted to request $300,000 in state funding for improvements to the parish administrative building and courthouse.

The panel approved declaring a former Capital One bank building in Haynesville as surplus property, clearing the way for its sale or other disposition at the request of the parish library board.

Additional approvals included renewing a lease with DART for office space at $350 per month and extending a cooperative agreement with the LSU AgCenter through 2031.

Financial updates presented during the meeting showed mixed trends. January 2026 sales tax collections totaled $60,359, down 12.5% from December but up 11.2% compared to January 2025. The parish reported a cash position of $12.7 million at the end of February, an increase of more than $1 million from the same time last year.

Separately, the Police Jury declined to renew its contract with Hiperweb for the parish road department’s work order system.

Also noted at the meeting — a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases and a decline in flu cases, according to the parish coroner’s report.

The Claiborne Academy Rebels boys basketball team was also honored with jurors declaring March 4 as “CA Rebels Day” following the team’s first MAIS Class 1A state championship victory.

The next Police Jury meeting is scheduled for April 8 at the Police Jury Complex in Homer, 507 West Main Street. The road committee meeting will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the regular meeting at 10 a.m.