Posted on September 20, 2022 at 12:41 PM by Mary Ann Fussell
How honored I am to travel to Washington DC this week to speak to the military leaders of our great country. With the help of our awesome team, we have put together talking points that effect our parish and I trust we will once again find favor. What we do as a community is so important to the sustainability of Fort Polk. One of my mentors once told me you don’t have to be the smartest person on the team but it is important to be humble enough to know you are not and engage the right people that can make the team the “total package.” You all are vital to the success of this team.
It’s also really amazing that the leaders of this country recognize that we have set the bar when it comes to community support for our Military. One of the hardest working ladies I have ever met who also happens to be a Leesville city council member told me “Mayor you have set the bar so high to be in that seat, I just don’t know who could do all that you do.” Now coming from Mrs. Kennedy who on her birthday volunteered at Byrd Hospital and is a part of countless other boards and does many hours of volunteer work in our community. What she says and does means a lot to me.
This week at DC I intend to among other things remind our Army Leadership of the sacrifices that Vernon Parish has made to support them while also conveying how honored we are to do it. The only successful land acquisition in the country took place right here in Vernon Parish where the training grounds grew by 42,500 acres and made the Army owner of over fifty percent of our parish. This has directly affected our Vernon Parish Police Jury’s property tax revenue and their ability to repair our roads. So, our goal has to be to replace that revenue that they so desperately need by making our city grow.
After a week in DC, I will be off to Baton Rouge for a week to yet again represent our Parish and City. I’m thankful to have your support and I’m thankful that my family understands how important what we do is when I’m gone for extended periods of time. For the first time since I’ve been Mayor, I heard Army Leadership say publicly “that Fort Polk is not only stable but is not on the chopping block” and that my friends is great news for us all!
Being all that we can be and more,
Your Mayor,
Rick Allen