NATCHEZ — While the Concordia Parish Police Jury opposes zoning the parish, jurors made a request to be more involved in controlling growth.

Parish planner Oliver Shulz brought up growth control by suggesting zoning.

Juror Randy Temple said that’s not the right solution.

“I don’t think zoning is what we want,” Temple said.

President Melvin Ferrington also said that’s not favorable.

Temple said he would rather just be in the know.

“The developers are coming out and we don’t know they exist until they come in to get a building permit,” he said.

When developers come into the area, they have to submit their plans to DHH, Schulz explained.

Temple suggested that the building permit process be amended so the jury gets the developer’s plans when they are submitted to DHH.

“We kind of want to be included in the loop,” Temple said.

The jury decided to have Schulz look into that process.

In other business:

4A request made by the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office to waive building permit fees for construction on the building by the courthouse and on U.S. 84 was granted.

The sheriff’s office also requested that two electrical outlets be installed in the Doty Road Community Center and also that they be able to use one dump truck to move unwanted material from the U.S. 84 construction site.

Both were approved by the jury.

4Loren Lampert addressed the jury about his candidacy for the third circuit court of appeals.

“I’m truly the man for this job, and I won’t let you down,” Lampert said.

4The jury moved to pay Bryant Hammett and Associates $228.13 for the of system bridge inspection and also $490.01 for general work.

4A motion was made and passed by the jury to pay Davenport, Files & Kelly $6,663.76 for legal services.

4The jury agreed to increase the salary of employees whose salary did not increase to the $6.55 minimum wage. This is retroactive to July 24, 2008.

4An occupational and liquor license was approved for Will’s Place on Bayou Drive in Ferriday.

4Three transfers were approved including a $2,000 move from the highway maintenance fund to the general fund, a $5,000 transfer from the drainage maintenance fund to the general fund and a $48,000 transfer from the sales tax fund to the solid waste fund.

4The Concordia Parish School Board requested that the road maintenance crew fill potholes in the parking lot at Monterey High School.

The school board, in its written request, said they would reimburse the jury for materials used, Ferrington said.

The request was honored by the police jury.