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Reopening Information from Regional Parishes

July 14, 2020

As the lead economic developer for the Capital Region, BRAC has been collecting relevant parish-level information on local guidelines and information helpful to the community as businesses and local governments begin reopening. Below is information from each parish at time of publication.  We will continue to update this brief as more information becomes available. 

Ascension Parish

Ascension Contacts

Ascension Reopening

Ascension Parish is following the guidelines of the Governor and the Open Safely website.  Parish Council meetings will resume in-person May 21.  The City of Gonzales is also holding in-person meetings.  

East Baton Rouge Parish

East Baton Rouge Contact

  • Veneeth Iyengar 
    • Assistant Chief Administrative Officer 
    • City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge 
    • Office of Mayor-President 
    • c: 202.421.1297 
    • t: 225.389.5161 
  • Parish Government:  https://www.brla.gov/  

East Baton Rouge Reopening

All City-Parish buildings—including City Hall and all community centers—will be open to the public with strict protective and physical distancing guidelines effective Wednesday, May 20. 

Screenings will be conducted upon entry to City-Parish buildings. Face coverings or masks are required to enter.  

City-Parish agencies and constitutionally held offices will open, with limitations, on a case by case basis.  

East Baton Rouge Confirmed Reopening Dates

May 18: Baton Rouge City Court (public still encouraged to utilize online and phone services), 19th Judicial District Court (only for emergency matters), Clerk of Court (19th JDC courthouse), and the following BREC facilities: 

  • Baton Rouge Zoo (Public opening May 21) 
  • Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center trails (May 18) 
  • Dog parks (May 18) 
  • Magnolia Mound grounds (May 18) 
  • Public restrooms in community parks (May 18) 
  • Recreation centers in community parks (May 18) 
  • Tennis centers (May 18) 
  • Neighborhood practice fields for individual or same household activities with groups under ten people (Continuous) 
  • Trails and green spaces will remain open as they have throughout the pandemic; golf courses will also remain open (Continuous) 

May 20: Clerk of Court (City Hall), Assessor’s Office, East Baton Rouge District Attorney, East Baton Rouge Public Defender, East Baton Rouge Parish Library (pick up only), Registrar of Voters 

May 26: East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office (public still encouraged to utilize online and phone services) 

Any residents with questions or concerns can call 225-389-3000 or visit http://www.brla.gov 

View Mayor Broome’s executive order 

East Baton Rouge Permitted Events 

Currently, City-Parish is not issuing permits for public events. Once the success and effectiveness of Phase One guidelines in East Baton Rouge Parish have been assessed, permits for public events will be considered beginning June 8, 2020. 

East Feliciana Parish

East Feliciana Contact

  • Joseph “Jody” Moreau 
    • East Feliciana Parish  
    • Parish Manager 
    • OHSEP Director 
    • 225-719-1962 
    • efeoc@outlook.com

East Feliciana Reopening

Phase One reopening is based on the federal guidelines. Local guidance and updates are as follows: 

  • Police Jury and Planning and Zoning meetings have been planned, with ZOOM video conferencing to members that can participate (that have internet) 
  • East Feliciana Chamber of Commerce held a meeting on May 13 at the Jury Building 
  • Parish officials are available to offer guidance on plans for businesses and places of worship 
  • Police Jury and DPW have not closed during this event. Employee schedules have been established to rotate days and follow safety protocols.  

Iberville Parish

Iberville Contacts

Iberville Reopening

Parish is following the guidelines of the Governor and the Open Safely website. 

Council meetings resumed May 19, 2020. 

Livingston Parish

Livingston Contacts

Livingston Reopening

Parish government offices under Layton Ricks Administration reopened on May 4 with the following caveats: 

  • Areas will be limited to 10 people or less 
  • Only one visitor unless necessary 
  • Masks will be worn by employees, and are requested of customers 
  • No more than four people inside the permitting, planning, and environmental offices.  Anyone with children leave them in the hallway 
  • Protective shields will be placed in offices where employees interact with the public 

Local guidance and updates are as follows: 

  • Business reopening should follow guidelines from the Governor and the Open Safely website. 
  • Parish school 12-month employees returned to amended work schedule on May 4 
  • Livingston Parish School board meetings have been held via Zoom and will be visible at www.lpsb.org in accordance with the executive order of the Governor of Louisiana. 
  • Applications for Pre-K and Kindergarten students begins on June 1 
  • Parish Council meetings are now in-person 
  • Currently only allow one person from the public at a time is allowed in the chambers and you must sign up in advance 
  • Beginning Friday, May 15, meetings are held at 25 percent capacity 

Pointe Coupee Parish

Pointe Coupee Contact

  • Les Cantrell 
    • Economic Development Endeavor 
    • Director GPC Chamber of Commerce  
    • P.O. Box 555 
    • New Roads, LA 70760 
    • 225.240.2280 
  • Parish Government:  http://pcparish.org/  

Pointe Coupee Reopening

The parish is following the White House and the State Recommend guidelines. There are seven locations throughout the parish that you can get tested for COVID, in addition to an Arbor Clinic (FQHC) mobile testing unit that moves locations every other day around the parish for COVID testing. 

All parish meetings have been on Zoom to this point. The Parish Government plans to have its first in-person meeting June 11. The Courthouse will open in a limited fashion June 1 and open to regular hours June 30. 

Three out of four day cares are now open.  

ed.director@yahoo.com 

St. Helena Parish

St. Helena Contact

St. Helena Reopening

In response to Governor John Bel Edwards’ Phase 1 announcement, the St. Helena Parish Police Jury will be implementing the following guidelines, effective Monday, May 18, 2020 to reopen Parish facilities to citizens. The changes and updated guidelines are listed below: 

  1. Proper social distancing will always be maintained  
  2. All employees are required to wear masks and have their temperature taken daily
  3. Employees must frequently disinfect work areas 
  4. Use hand sanitizer and wash hands often
  5. All individuals seeking assistance must call to schedule an appointment prior to services being rendered.
  6. All individuals seeking assistance will be pre-screened prior to services being rendered. ANYONE REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE PRE-SCREENING REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ENTRANCE INTO BUILDING AND SERVICES WILL BE DENIED!
  7. Pre-screening requires, but is not limited to, a temperature check, an oral questionnaire, and ask check. Those without a mask will be provided a mask while supplies last
  8. At this time, there will be no Special Event Permits issued

The St. Helena Parish Police Jury may issue further guidelines regarding this matter as necessary to address the circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

If you are requesting to be placed on the agenda, please send an email to: msbrown@sthelenaparish.la.gov. The request must be submitted in writing and received no later than 12:00 pm on the Thursday prior to each meeting. Police Jury meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, beginning at 6:00 pm. At this time, Police Jury meetings will be closed to the public (until further notice), but will be live streamed from the Police Jury Facebook page St. Helena Parish and Zoom (login information will be provided). 

West Baton Rouge Parish

West Baton Rouge Contact

West Baton Rouge Reopening

Beginning May 18, the West Baton Rouge Parish Admin Building at 880 North Alexander Ave, Port Allen will be open to the public during normal business hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. 

Beginning May 18, the West Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse will be open to the public during normal business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. 

The public will only be allowed entrance thru the front doors of the Admin Building and the Courthouse facing LA1. 

A screening station will be set up to check temperatures and ask a series of questions regarding any potential exposure to the COVID-19 Virus. 

The public will be required to wear a protective mask and only a certain number will be allowed in the building at one time in order to make sure social distancing is maintained. 

WBR Parish business is encouraged to be conducted online, by phone, or by using the drive-thru window whenever possible. 

WBR Parish Community Centers, playgrounds, splash pads, William and Lee Swimming Pool and WBR fitness equipment will remain closed. 

Tennis Courts and Baseball Fields will be allowed minimum access and must be scheduled through the Recreation Department.  No tournaments, games or scrimmage games will be allowed.  Parents must remain in their vehicles and not be allowed to congregate around the field.  Coaches and players are advised to practice social distancing. 

West Feliciana Parish

West Feliciana Contact

West Feliciana Reopening

ALL VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS* should continue to shelter at home.  Anyone 65 and older is strongly recommended to shelter at home. It is also highly recommended that anyone with underlying medical conditions continue to shelter at home. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home.  Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents. 

ALL INDIVIDUALS, WHEN IN PUBLIC (e.g., parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), should maximize physical distance from others (minimum 6 feet).  Social settings of more than 10 people, where appropriate distancing may not be practical, should be avoided unless precautionary measures are observed. 

AVOID SOCIALIZING in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing (e.g., receptions, trade shows). 

MINIMIZE NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel. 

*All retail stores, banks, restaurants, museums, libraries, churches and all public buildings shall post a warning sign stating: 

WARNING: 

It is highly recommended that individuals over the age of 65 and anyone with underlying medical  

conditions should continue to shelter at home. 

  • All retail stores and restaurants maintain no more than 25% occupancy and wear proper PPE at all times 
  • All museums and libraries can reopen at 25% occupancy 
  • Sole proprietors can safely return to work following all social distancing guidelines recommended by the CDC 
  • Churches and places of worship may open while continuing to follow the CDC social distancing guidelines. It is highly recommended that individuals over the age of 65 and anyone with underlying medical conditions should continue to shelter at home. 
  • Outdoor sports will be allowed to resume so long as no more than four (4) participants are playing together at one time. 
  • Nursing Homes and Day Care Centers shall continue to follow LDH and CDC Guidelines. 
  • River Boat Cruises remain closed until further notice. 
Russell Richardson

Russell Richardson serves as senior vice president of business development at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. In this role, he works collaboratively with economic development professionals and the business community to lead and manage economic development efforts in the Capital Region.

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