Horticulture Commission public meetings in 2023
3 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Horticulture Commission
The Horticulture Commission will hold adjudicatory hearings for two contested cases (23-HORT-011 and 23-HORT-015) involving Eddie Jones and Tristen Hoover. The meeting also includes approval of prior minutes and a director's report.
- Adjudicatory hearing: Case 23-HORT-011 (Eddie Jones)
- Adjudicatory hearing: Case 23-HORT-015 (Tristen Hoover)
- Approval of minutes from June 29, 2023
- Director's Report
The Commission found two business owners in violation of licensing and advertising laws. Both individuals were fined for operating as arborists without proper licenses. The board also established a new three-meeting-per-year schedule for 2024.
- Approved minutes from June 29, 2023 (unanimous)
- Found Eddie Jones (Eddie’s Tractor & Stump Grinding) in violation of licensing and advertising laws (unanimous)
- Approved $1,500 fine for Eddie Jones (unanimous)
- Found Tristen Hoover (Driven Tree Service) in violation of licensing and advertising laws (unanimous)
- Approved $1,000 fine for Tristen Hoover (unanimous)
- Set 2024 meeting dates for February 29, July 25, and November 21
Horticulture Commission
The Horticulture Commission will consider reinstatement requests for four licensees (landscape irrigation contractors, landscape horticulture, arborist) and hold adjudicatory hearings on four contested and stipulated cases. The meeting also includes approval of prior minutes, a director's report, and public comments.
- Reinstatement request: Charles M. Mullin Jr. – Landscape Irrigation Contractor
- Reinstatement request: Dustin Mince – Landscape Horticulture
- Reinstatement request: Christopher Dickson – Landscape Irrigation Contractor
- Reinstatement request: Chris Culotta – Arborist
- Adjudicatory hearings: Case 23-HORT-005 (Samuel Armenio), Case 23-HORT-011 (Eddie Jones), Case 23-HORT-007 (Donald Thomas), Case 23-HORT-013 (Lorenzo Gonzalez)
The Commission approved the reinstatement of four professional licenses and accepted stipulations for three cases involving unlicensed activity, each resulting in a $1,500 penalty. The board also received reports on P. ramorum detections and a new USDA survey for Cotton Seed Bug.
- Approved reinstatement of Charles Mullin Jr.'s landscape irrigation contractor license (unanimous)
- Approved reinstatement of Dustin Mince's landscape horticulturist license (unanimous)
- Approved reinstatement of Christopher Dickson's landscape irrigation contractor license (unanimous)
- Approved reinstatement of Chris Culotta's arborist license (unanimous)
- Accepted $1,500 penalty stipulation for Samual Armenio (unanimous)
- Accepted $1,500 penalty stipulation for Donald Thomas (unanimous)
- Accepted $1,500 penalty stipulation for Lorenzo Gonzalez (unanimous)
- Continued Eddie Jones case to the next hearing date
Horticulture Commission
The Horticulture Commission of Louisiana will meet to conduct adjudicatory hearings and review a reinstatement request. The body will also receive an update on professional licensure public outreach.
- Reinstatement request for Thomas Louis Garner, Sr. (Arborist)
- Adjudicatory hearing: Case 22-008 (Nathanael Scales d/b/a Garden Doctors, LLC)
- Adjudicatory hearing: Case 23-HORT-001 (Alton Dillon)
- Adjudicatory hearing: Case 23-HORT-002 (Treveion Thomas d/b/a Most Affordable Landscaping)
- Adjudicatory hearings for Kerry Gautreaux, Samual Armenio, and Heriberto Rubio
The Commission approved the reinstatement of one arborist license and issued fines totaling $6,500 to four individuals for practicing without licenses or violating stop orders. Two other licensing cases were continued to the next meeting.
- Approved arborist license reinstatement for Thomas Garner Sr. pending CEU course (unanimous)
- Fined Heriberto Rubio $1,500 for unlicensed landscape horticulture work; $1,000 suspended if exam is passed within 30 days (unanimous)
- Accepted stipulation and $1,500 penalty for Treveion Thomas (unanimous)
- Accepted stipulation and $2,000 penalty for Nathanael Scales (unanimous)
- Accepted stipulation and $1,500 penalty for Kerry Gautreaux (unanimous)
- Continued Alton Dillon case to next hearing date
- Continued Samual Armenio case to next hearing date
- Approved minutes from December 15, 2022 hearing (unanimous)