By Carolyn Roy
carolyn@natchitochestimes.com
Members of the City Council had remarkable attendance records during 2017 according to records prepared by City Clerk Stacy McQueary. Of the 24 meetings in 2017, Mayor Lee Posey missed only one meeting, in April. Councilperson Eddie Harrington missed only one meeting, in September and Sylvia Morrow missed only one meeting, in November. Councilpersons Lawrence Batiste, Dale Nielsen and Councilman-at-Large Don Mims had perfect attendance. Councilpersons are paid $695 per month.
At the Parish Council meetings, Parish President Rick Nowlin was present for every one of the 12 regular meetings. Council members who attended every meeting included Pat Ward-Hoover, Chris Paige and Rodney Bedgood. Doug deGraffenried missed the August meeting and Russell Rachal missed the December meeting. Parish Council members receive $500 monthly. The attendance records were prepared by Council Clerk Sheryl Frederick.
According to Natchitoches Parish School Board attendance records, four members had perfect attendance at the monthly board meetings usually held on the first Thursday, as did Supt. Dale Skinner. Those members were President Ralph Wilson, Rhonda Guidroz, Tommy Melder and Russ Danzy. Board member, the late Joella Wilson Collins, had perfect attendance from January until her death in August. Wilson-Collins’ daughter, Katrina Wilson Willis, missed no meetings from her appointment in September through December. Records show that Eugean Garner missed the February meeting; Carroll Daniels missed the January, March and May meetings; Harry Graham missed the February and March meetings; Mike Hilton missed in May, July and November; Emile Metoyer missed in September; and Steven Harris missed in March and July.
School Board members make $650 per meeting with the president receiving an additional $50 monthly. Kanika Revels, secretary to Supt. Skinner, responded to the request for school board attendance.