Union Parish Road Work Nears Completion as Jury Considers Additional $500,000 Investment
The Union Parish Police Jury’s 2026 Road Priority List is nearing completion, with the Road Department making significant progress on this year’s scheduled projects.
Road Superintendent Scott Williams reported that crews are currently finishing work on Zion Hill Church Road, Curtis Dean Road, Prentis Pardue Road, Boothville and Moshack. “We will be finished with the road priority list in a few weeks if no issues happen with equipment and weather permits,” Scott said.
During a recent Finance Committee meeting, Juror Russell Wade presented a proposal that could provide an additional $500,000 for road improvements throughout Union Parish.
Wade brought the proposal forward because the Road Department is ahead of schedule on the current priority list and funds remain available in the bank. The proposed $500,000 would be in addition to the road work already completed or scheduled for 2026. Juror Pilgreen had some worries on using those funds, with the fear of the upcoming road tax not being renewed.
Under the proposal, each juror would receive a portion of the funding to be used for road projects within their respective districts. The amounts would be determined based on the total mileage of roads in each district.
The proposed allocations are:
• District 2 – Nathan Pilgreen: 107.4 miles of hard-surface roads and 120.2 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $102,701.73.
• District 3 – Mike Holley: 110.2 miles of hard-surface roads and 68.7 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $93,486.03.
• District 4 – Glenn Hutto: 78.9 miles of hard-surface roads and 34.3 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $63,692.49.
• District 5 – Ben Bridges: 66.1 miles of hard-surface roads and 37 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $63,692.49.
• District 6 – Russell Wade: 64.2 miles of hard-surface roads and 49.1 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $56,438.78.
• District 7 – Jeremy Hobbs: 57.4 miles of hard-surface roads and 20.9 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $45,454.11.
• District 8 – Brenda Abercrombie: 61.2 miles of hard-surface roads and 30.7 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $50,295.43.
• District 9 – A.J. Ford: 35.4 miles of hard-surface roads and 14.7 miles of gravel roads. Proposed allocation: $28,426.79.
Wade also emphasized the importance of the upcoming November 3 tax renewal for the Union Parish Police Jury. He urged Union Parish voters to understand the significance of the proposition, particularly as it relates to continued road funding.
According to Wade, if the tax renewal does not pass, the road projects completed in 2026 would be the last major road work funded for approximately a year or longer. He also warned that a lack of funding would result in job losses within the Road Department. The Police Jury would then have to wait until the tax could be placed back on the ballot, leaving road work at a standstill until the year 2028.
Feral Swine Eradication Program
During the financial discussion, Secretary-Treasurer Paula Strickland also updated jurors on approximately 25 grants associated with a Feral Swine Eradication Program.
Strickland said she is continuing to research the program and determine how it will operate. Based on the information she has received, Union Parish could potentially serve as a pilot parish for the program.
Courthouse Issues Continue
The Union Parish Courthouse continues to experience issues with breakers that operate the newly installed HVAC system. Officials are monitoring the situation as they work to address the electrical concerns.
The courthouse elevator is also currently out of service, raising concerns about upcoming court dates and accessibility for individuals with disabilities who need to reach the second floor.
Opioid Settlement Funds
Strickland also brought information to the Police Jury regarding opioid settlement funding during a recent convention.
She reported that Union Parish currently has approximately $325,000 in opioid-related funding that must be allocated before next year. According to the information she received, there is concern that unused funds could potentially be reclaimed by the state and redirected elsewhere.
Jurors discussed several possible uses for the money, including Drug Court, digital applications that could be developed and used by parish residents, hiring counselors for drug-related programs and providing counseling services at the Union Parish Detention Center.
Officials emphasized that the funds must be used for approved drug- and opioid-related purposes. The Police Jury will continue discussing the options before making a final decision on how the money will be allocated.
Fire Protection Rebates Presented
During the regular Police Jury meeting, numerous local fire departments were represented as 2% Fire Protection Rebate checks were presented.
Union Parish is fortunate to have numerous dedicated fire departments serving communities throughout the parish, with many of those departments operated primarily by volunteers. Their commitment and service remain an important part of keeping Union Parish residents safe.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Union Parish Police Jury will be held Monday, September 14, at 6:00 p.m.