SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA AND WEST FELICIANA
The
W atchman
T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
W e d n e s d ay, A p r i l 22, 2026
$1.00N
Could a citizens advisory committee solve land-use issues? BY JAMES MINTON Contributing writer
The West Feliciana Parish Council is considering a citizens advisory committee to rewrite the parish’s land use ordinance, which has been the subject of dissension since its 2023 adoption. The idea came from Council Member Dwight Pate after Chair Jerry Tanner brought up the or-
WEST FELICIANA PARISH COUNCIL
dinance for a public discussion in the council’s April 13 meeting. The item was on the agenda for discussion only, however. When the previous council adopted the land development regulations, a new zoning map had not been drawn up and approved. Several attempts to approve a new
zoning map since then have been unsuccessful. Tanner, who was not on the council when the ordinance was adopted, said he has several concerns about the regulations, including different minimum lot-size rules based on the location within the parish, the elimination of private
servitudes serving subdivided property and major changes to commercial property. Tanner said the ordinance is needed to protect the parish but “without hurting people of moderate income.” He said the council should repeal the ordinance and start over. A frequent complaint heard in recent discussions is that the regulations make it difficult for land
ä See LAND, page 2G
BIRDING IN THE AGE OF TECH
Residents could see rebates if data center tax bill passes
Modern enthusiasts use sight, sound, apps
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER Contributing writer
BY JAMES MINTON
Contributing writer
West Feliciana Parish’s cash windfall from the expected operation of a large data center could mean tax rebates to parish property owners if a bill currently before the Legislature becomes law. A legislative committee advanced House Bill 466 on a 13-0 vote April 15, setting up the legislation for a vote by the full House. The bill also must pass the Senate to become law. State Rep. Jeremy LaCombe, whose district includes West Feliciana, told the panel that the Hut 8 computer data center now under construction off La. 964, will pay the parish $90 million in lieu of taxes each year, for 15 years. The payments were granted under an agreement reached with the parish government, School Board and sheriff earlier in October. LaCombe said the idea of giving money back to taxpayers is unprecedented in Louisiana because “nobody’s ever had way too much money collected on taxes.” As amended April 15, the legislation would allow the sheriff, School Board and parish government to award percentage rebates of taxes to the property owners each year. The rebates would be in the form of a credit against the next year’s tax liability of each taxpayer, expressed as a percentage of the liability and only against taxes levied by the parish government, School Board and the sheriff’s Law Enforcement District. The law would require the parish president, School Board president and sheriff to hold a meeting by June 30 of each tax year to set the rebate percentage. The law requires the three to set the rate by a unanimous vote. Parish President Kenny Havard, school Superintendent Hollis Milton and Sheriff Bryan Spillman attended the committee hearing but did not address the panel. “That essentially doubles the budget of the parish,” LaCombe said, giving credit to the three officials who negotiated the deal with Hut 8. If approved the first rebates could be issued for 2027. One legislator joked that he had always wanted to move to St. Francisville, while another asked if West Feliciana could donate funds to Terrebonne Parish.
owners to divide their land among their children because of lot-size restrictions. Councilman Tab Ballard recently introduced a proposed ordinance that would create a process for granting variances for lot sizes in such cases, but he pulled the item from the meeting’s agenda. He said later the Planning and
PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Louisiana State Parks Manager Daniel Goyer uses both sound and sight identification during the Spring Bird Walk on April 11 at the Port Hudson Historic Site.
One can be surrounded by diverse flocks of birds, understand their patterns, and hear a chorus or distinct voices but never see them. Louisiana State Parks Manager Daniel Goyer helps park visitors appreciate how bird-watching has evolved to incorporate much more than sight and, yes, there’s an app for that. Goyer led the Spring Bird Walk April 11 at the Port Hudson Historic Site, a significant Civil War landmark also known for its rich history and natural Louisiana State Parks beauty. It is a popular Manager Daniel Goyer uses setting for the eBird app to identify modern a Kentucky Warbler by its birding that song. involves all the senses thanks to centuries of observation and technological advances that catalog breeds, images, migration habits, and real sounds. Participants are taken to a clearing sounded by trees to appreciate what you can experience. “Suddenly, you notice how many different birds there are out in any one spot,” Goyer said. “If you’re not listening for the variations and the differences, you might just sound — just hear birds. You may just hear bird noise, but they’re all making distinct sounds.” The historic battlefield site is alive with diverse avians. Visitors can spot a variety of species, including the Kentucky warbler, eastern bluebird, red-bellied woodpecker, great blue heron, and bald eagles. Port Hudson is also the travelers rest stop for migratory birds making their way to seasonal homes. Bird science and technology form a union that greatly aids modern birding. Apps are being used to catalog, record and track birds. The top birding apps include Merlin Bird ID for AI-powered identification, eBird for tracking sightings, and Audubon Bird Guide for detailed species information. Goyer uses eBird on his smartphone during the bird walk to capture recordings that can identify birds by their unique sound. If sighted, the app also contains pictures of species, sample sounds, and areas where they are often found. There is so much hidden by the trees,
ä See BIRDING, page 2G
Is Home Foundation Library tax renewal coming Clinton sets art, music night April 25 Leila Pitchford AROUND THE FELICIANAS
Early voting for the renewal of the existing 2.5 mill tax for Audubon Reginal Library is May 2-9. The regular election day is May 16. An information flyer is available at the library branches and on its website at www.audubonregional.net. The millage is not a new tax and it is the same amount as passed in 2017, said a library system spokesperson. The tax funds are used to provide ser-
vices at the library’s branches in Jackson, Clinton and Greensburg.
Lane Foundation to host event April 25 The Lane Foundation is holding its first Bourbon, BBQ & Wine event from noon to 4 p.m. April 25 at the Lane Walking Track, on the campus of Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary.
ä See AROUND, page 2G
The Art & Wine Walk will feature artists and venClinton Is Home Founda- dors. A prize package will tion is hosting an Evening be awarded to the winner of Art & Music from 4 to of the art contest. Live music performances 8 p.m. April 25, in Historic will be included. Downtown Clinton. T- s h i r t s and The inaugural event is hosted by the Clinton Is ä See NIGHT, page 2G Home Foundation. Community news report