April 6, 2026
The Pointe Coupee Fire Districts Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, at the Parish Council Meeting Room in New Roads, Louisiana.
President Martin Frey called the meeting to order and directed Secretary Mellisa Smith to call the roll:
PRESENT:
OTHERS Messrs. Robert Allen, Martin Frey, Dillon Lacour,
Charles Landry, Nicholas Victorian and Mrs.
Robin Variest.
PRESENT: Messrs. Henry Olinde, Paul Pinsonat, Pedro
Leonard, Evan Doucet, Richard Manske, Stephen
Dabadie, and Mrs. Mellisa Smith.
ABSENT: Mr. Larry Harlaux.
APPROVE MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2026 MEETING
Motion by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Victorian:
RESOLVED, That the minutes of March 2, 2026, regular meeting of the Fire Districts Board of Commissioners be adopted as presented and be published with the necessary corrections.
Unanimously carried.
CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Motion by Mr. Landry and seconded by Mr. Allen:
RESOLVED, That the agenda be amended to include the following:
Discussion – Uniform line-item classifications on Financial Reports.
The Chairman called for a roll call vote that resulted as follows:
YEAS: Messrs. Allen, Frey, Lacour, Landry, Victorian and Mrs. Variest.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Mr. Harlaux.
On a vote of 6-0-1, the motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
DISCUSSION – PER DIEM FOR RECENTLY APPOINTED AT-LARGE COMMISSIONERS
President Frey informed the board that he spoke with Parish Council Chairman Dustin Boudreaux about who is responsible for paying the new At-Large Commissioners per diem. Attorney Henry Olinde suggested that unless the parish ordinance specifically requires Pointe Coupee fire districts to fund the extra commissioners, the fire districts have no obligation to provide this funding. After further discussion, the board and fire chiefs decided against paying the additional commissioners and directed Attorney Olinde to inform Mr. Boudreaux of their decision.
DISCUSSION & CONSIDERATION TO LEASE-PURCHASE A PUMPER TRUCK & EQUIPMENT
Chief Paul Pinsonat submitted a lease purchase agreement to finance a Commercial Pumper Truck and Equipment for approval. After some discussion, a motion was offered.
Motion by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mrs. Variest:
RESOLVED, that President Martin Frey be authorized to sign the lease purchase agreement on behalf of Pointe Coupee Fire Protection District No. 4 for the purpose of financing a Commercial Pumper Truck and Equipment.
Unanimously carried.
A motion was offered by Mr. Landry and seconded by Mr. Victorian:
A RESOLUTION REGARDING A LEASE-PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE
PURPOSE OF FINANCING A “COMMERCIAL PUMPER TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT’
WHEREAS, Fire Protection District No. 4 of the Parish of Pointe Coupee desires to enter into that certain Lease-Purchase Agreement No. 11481 by and between Fire Protection District No. 4 of the Parish of Pointe Coupee and Government Capital Corporation, for the purpose of financing a “Commercial Pumper Truck and Equipment”. The District desires to designate this Agreement as a “qualified tax-exempt obligation” of the District for the purposes of Section 265 (b) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The District desires to designate Fire Chief as an authorized signer of the Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 4 OF THE PARISH OF POINTE COUPEE:
Section 1. That Fire Protection District No. 4 of the Parish of Pointe Coupee enters into a Lease-Purchase Agreement with Government Capital Corporation for the purpose of financing a “Commercial Pumper Truck and Equipment”.
Section 2. That the Lease-Purchase Agreement No. 11481 by and between Fire Protection District No. 4 of the Parish of Pointe Coupee and Government Capital Corporation is designated by the District as a “qualified tax-exempt obligation” for the purposes of Section 265 (b) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Section 3. That Fire Protection District No. 4 of the Parish of Pointe Coupee will designate Fire Chief or the Fire Chief’s designee, as an authorized signer of the Lease-Purchase Agreement No. 11481 dated as of April 20, 2026, by and between Fire Protection District No. 4 of the Parish of Pointe Coupee and GCC as well as any other ancillary exhibit, certificate, or documentation needed for the Agreement.
Section 4. The District will use finance agreement proceeds for reimbursement of expenditures related to the Property, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 5 1.150-2, as promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Unanimously carried.
CONSIDERATION OF DOWNPAYMENT APPROVAL IN CONNECTION WITH TRUCK PURCHASE
Chief Pedro Leonard informed the board that Government Capital Corporation requires a downpayment of $145,000.00 to finalize the purchase and financing of the 2025 HME Custom Pumper. He said their accounting personnel confirmed the funds are available, but payment needs board approval. After some discussion, the following motion was offered.
A motion was offered by Mr. Allen and seconded by Mr. Landry:
RESOLVED, that the request by Pointe Coupee Parish Fire Protection District No. 5 for a downpayment of $145,000.00 to Government Capital Corporation, to purchase and finance a 2025 HME Custom Pumper, be approved.
Unanimously carried.
DISCUSSION – PARISH WIDE BURN BAN POLICY
Richard Manske of Fire District No. 3 stated that their district has spoken with Parish President Major Thibaut about creating a parish-wide burn ban policy for use during droughts. Recently, parish fire departments have responded to fires caused by dry conditions. Further discussion on this issue is planned for the next Fire Chief’s Meeting.
BUDGET & FIRE CHIEF’S REPORTS FIRE DISTRICTS NO. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Mr. Allen, representing Fire District No. 1, reported that truck maintenance is complete, hose and pump testing are scheduled, and financial reports have been emailed to the board.
Fire Chief Waldrop of Fire District No. 2 was unable to attend the meeting.
Richard Manske of Fire District No. 3 issued the financial report and reported on various calls the department received. He also reported that Acadian Ambulance members were temporarily housed at their station, and a class was conducted with Girl Scouts.
Fire Chief Paul Pinsonat with Fire District No. 4 issued the financial report and reported on various calls the department received. He also noted that hose and pump testing is complete.
Fire Chief Pedro Leonard with Fire District No. 5 reported on various calls the department received and issued the financial report. He also reported that the ladder truck is being repaired again, hose testing complete, and the information for rating was submitted on March 10, 2026.
Motion by Mr. Allen seconded by Mr. Victorian:
RESOLVED, That the Budget and Fire Chief’s Reports be accepted as presented.
Unanimously carried.
OPEN DISCUSSION
Fire Chiefs reported that the parish’s E911 Call Center recently implemented a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system; however, the fire districts’ Fire Works System was not notified of this update. This oversight affects only reporting processes and does not affect emergency response calls. The fire districts and E911 are currently working to resolve the issue.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Mr. Landry and seconded by Mr. Lacour, the meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
_____________________________
Martin Frey, President cost $420
