Office of the President

J. Mitchell Ourso, Jr

Elected as the first Parish President of Iberville Parish under the Home Rule Charter form of government in October of 1997, for an initial two year term.  He was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and again in 2015.  President Ourso is a native of Iberville Parish, son of the late Iberville Parish Sheriff Jessel M. Ourso and Eula Mae Leblanc Ourso, and the eldest of six siblings. He is married to the former Jelina Vaughn and is the father of three children, Jessie, Jessel III, and Gunnar.  A 1971 graduate of Plaquemine High School, Ourso is a former part owner of Black Stallion Trucking Company.

Accomplishments

  • Constructed an award-winning Iberville Veteran’s Memorial, and sponsors an annual ceremony honoring veterans on Veterans Day and the Veterans Honor Guard.
  • In 2008 Hurricane Gustav caused extensive damage to River West Medical Center.  Over the next 6 years Parish President Mitchell Ourso and the Iberville Parish Council worked to return 24 Hour care to Iberville Parish.  In January of 2015 Iberville Parish, in conjunction with Ochsner one of the Nations Top Health Care providers opened the Iberville Ochsner Medical Complex in Plaquemine.  Iberville Ochsner Medical Complex includes a 24/7 emergency department with 24 patient exam/procedure rooms including two trauma rooms equipped to handle a range of emergencies.  The adjoining health center offers same-day appointments in Primary Care, Cardiology and OB/GYN as well as 22 patient exam rooms, Onsite lab services, including Cardiology testing, Radiology services including x-ray, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and mammography.
  • Provided a social worker position at the Parish Health Unit.
  • Completed a $3.5 million renovation and addition to the Parish Maintenance Facility.
  • Instrumental in getting SNF Flopam to locate a $550 million facility to employ 500 people in Iberville Parish.
  • Working to address water quality problems in Iberville waterways through a Tri-Parish Partnership with $831,000 in federal and tri-parish funds.
  • Beginning construction of a North Iberville Community Center in late 2010 or early 2011.
  • Conducted extensive debris cleaning of Bayou Plaquemine and Bayou Grosse Tete
  • Constructed a new $2 million Council on Aging headquarters in Plaquemine.
  • Completed a $12 million road overlay program throughout the parish in 2009
  • Worked diligently and successfully in convincing the executives of Shintech, LLC to locate their $2.5 billion plant in Iberville Parish.
  • Made extensive sewer improvements in the Patreau Lane, north Plaquemine and Bruceville areas
  • Works with the local fire departments and Property Insurance Association of Louisiana and consultants to upgrade the fire ratings in the unincorporated areas, which results in lower insurance rates for residents.
  • Secured central fire dispatching for all ten fire departments through the Parish EOC/911 Center.
  • Implemented a Substance Abuse Program for the parish.
  • Made significant upgrades and constructed additional boat landings in the parish.
  • Has worked diligently to secure funding for upgrades to the Water Districts in an effort to ensure that the water quality and service are continually improving to meet new DHH and EPA regulations.
  • Worked diligently to ensure location of Diamond Plastics in Iberville Parish, as the first business to locate in the newly developed Industrial and Technology Park.
  • Was instrumental in securing total state funding and construction of a new state-of-the-art Health Unit for Iberville Parish.
  • Worked actively with state and local officials to secure funding for the construction of the Mike Zito Multipurpose Center.  This 37,000 sq. foot facility provides a site for a variety of activities for this area.
  • Was instrumental in working with local officials and agencies on the adoption of a parish-wide Strategic Plan and Master Land Use Plan.
  • Worked with Shintech officials to secure a by-pass route for trucks entering and departing Hwy 1148.
  • Constructed a new bridge over Bayou Plaquemine.
  • Constructed Enterprise Boulevard to tie into the new bridge to provide a much needed evacuation route for the residents of that area and economic development opportunities.
  • Constructing the Enterprise Boulevard extension to tie into Tenant Road, which will provide an alternative route through Plaquemine and economic development opportunities.
  • Constantly works to clean up the parish, including litter and debris along our highways and waterways. Implemented the Keep Iberville Beautiful program.
  • Secured funding through the state for the renovation of the Old Fire Station, located on Church Street in Plaquemine, to house the Iberville Parish Tourism Department.
  • Constructed a $1.5 million Visitors Center on I-10 in Grosse Tete as the gateway to the parish.
  • Had a Parish-wide database created for infrastructure inventory on all utilities/roads/drainage and mapping.
  • Initiated a fixed asset program and a consolidated storage facility for the parish.

Personal Recognition & Memberships

  • Received the 2005 Louisiana Public Health Association Public Service Award
  • Member of Iberville Parish Chamber of Commerce Executive Board
  • Graduate of the 2001 CABL (Council for A Better Louisiana) Louisiana Leadership Class
  • Member of the five-parish Ozone Task Force for Baton Rouge non-attainment
  • National Guard Minute Man Award

Awards

  • EOC/911
  • 2000 DPW Drainage  Award – Police Jury Association
  • 2000-2010 GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
  • 2005-2011 GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
  • 2001 Recognition for Early Implementation of Governmental Accounting Standard 34 from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board

Duties of the President

  • Acts as Chief Executive Officer of Parish Government;
  • Exercises general executive and administrative authority over all departments, offices and agencies of parish government, except as otherwise provided by the Home Rule Charter;
  • Sees that all laws, provisions of the Home Rule Charter and acts of the Council, subject to the President’s direction and supervision, are faithfully executed;
  • Hires and suspends or removes for just cause any parish government employees and appointive administrative officers provided for, by or under the Home Rule Charter, except as otherwise provided by the Charter;
  • Prepares and submits the annual operating budget and five-year capital improvement budget to the Council;
  • Signs contracts for projects, equipment, professional services and materials and supplies specifically identified by ordinance.
  • Submits to the Council and makes available to the public a complete report on the finances and administrative activities of parish government as of the end of the fiscal year;
  • Makes such other reports as the Council may reasonably request to enable the Council to conduct its functions;
  • Attends all meetings of the Council and keeps the Council fully advised as to the financial condition and future needs of parish government and makes recommendations to the Council concerning the affairs of parish government;
  • Performs other duties as specified in the Home Rule Charter or may be required by the Council, not inconsistent with the Charter. 

Executive Staff



Edward “Lucky” Songy

Chief Administrative Officer

esongy@ibervilleparish.com


23405 Church Street
P.O. Box 389
Plaquemine, LA 70765-0389

Phone
(225) 687-5190

Fax
(225) 687-5250

 

 

 

DEPARTMENTAL LISTINGS

 




Gail Salvadras
Safety
Mosquito Abatement

225-776-5665

Charlene Siplin
Council on Aging
Human Resources

225-772-1773

 




Clint Moore
Emergency Preparedness

225-317-4555

Alison Alvarado

Animal Control

225-692-1377

 

 





Randall Dunn
Finance

225-776-5921

Mark Migliacio
Utilities

225-776-3053

 





Joshua Johnson
Mike Zito Multipurpose Center

Civic Center

North Iberville Community Center

Point Pleasant Community Center

225-692-1436

Brian Romero
Permits and Inspections

225-776-0064

 

 



Monica Edmond
Social Services

225-401-5325

David Hall
Sales and Use Tax

225-776-1831

 



Brandon Mellieon
Sanitation

225-685-7284

Organizational Chart

Contact Us

P.  (225) 687-5190
F.  (225) 687-5250

Address
Iberville Parish President’s Office
58050 Meriam Street
Plaquemine, LA  70765

Mailing Address
J. Mitchell Ourso, Jr.
Iberville Parish President
P.O. Box 389
Plaquemine, LA  70765-0389

Parish Contact

Office of the President

P. (225) 687-5190

Address
Iberville Parish President’s Office
23405 Church Street
Plaquemine, LA  70764

Mailing Address
J. Mitchell Ourso, Jr.
Iberville Parish President
P.O. Box 389
Plaquemine, LA  70765-0389