Barksdale exit project moving along
04/05/2018
Parish Administrator Bill
Altimus told Bossier Parish Police Jury members Wednesday that funding for the
proposed $90 million entrance to Barksdale Air Force Base off I-20 and I-220
passed the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget earlier this week.
Now the project heads to the
state Bond Commission. Barring unanticipated stumbling blocks, funds could be
finalized by the end of this year and contracts could be issued by 2019.
Both Bossier City and Bossier
Parish will be participating in the project to the tune of $3 million each. That
money will be paid over a 12-year period. The Northwest Louisiana Council of
Governments/MPO will pay $12 million.
“For us and for Barksdale,
this is really a win-win situation,” Police Jury President Glenn Benton said.
Also Wednesday, speed limit
signs have been posted for some time along the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway from
Jimmy Davis Bridge south to the parkway’s intersection with La. Hwy. 71 at
Sligo Rd., but now the 50 miles-per-hour limit is official.
Jury members voted
unanimously to officially establish the speed limit, a move that continues a
policy on all parish roads with speed limits above 25 mph.
Parish Engineer Butch Ford
said Wednesday’s vote was merely a housekeeping measure.
“It has been a policy to have
the police jury, by ordinance, establish speed limits on all parish roads. We
were checking the speed limits in the parish and noticed we did not specify by
ordinance an ART speed limit,” Ford said. “This takes care of that.”
No new or additional signage will be placed
along the roughly three-mile stretch of parkway.
In other action Wednesday,
police jury members:
· Presented a resolution of
appreciation to Luke Turner who retired from the parish communications (911)
board of directors.
· Saw Dr. Shelly Barrett of
NLCOG and State Police Capt. Steve Robinson present the Safety Spotlight Award
to the parish Emergency Medical Services.
· Denied an application of
SmallCo Properties to the city-parish Metropolitan Planning Commission to
change zoning classification on a plot of land from Residence-Agricultural
District to General Business District.
· Scheduled a public hearing
for May 3 to consider approval of the LTP Timberquest Fund, LP, minor plat.
· Voted to condemn properties
on Pease Rd. in Haughton and Parish Camp Rd., also in Haughton. Granted a
two-week extension for property on Longhorn Dr. in Bossier City.
· Approved appropriating
$50,000 from capital projects fund to support the 2018 Miss USA and Miss Teen
USA pageants that will be held in Shreveport/Bossier.
· Adopted a proclamation
proclaiming week of April 2-April 6 as National Community Development Week.
· Approved a request from
Evergreen Life Services for a letter of no objection to the sale of alcohol and
beer at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, Red River Room, for a special Evergreen 10th
annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner on May 10.
· Approved agreement between
state of Louisiana and Bossier Parish Police Jury to implement a grant under
the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program through the
Restore Louisiana Infrastructure.
·
Approved
a proposal of Denmon Engineering Co. for evaluation of existing wastewater
facilities in several subdivisions for the parish’s Consolidated
Waterworks/Sewerage Dist. 1.
·
Approved
a short form of agreement between owner and engineer for professional services
between Coyle Engineering Co., Inc. and the Bossier Parish Police Jury for
construction plans and specifications for paving, drainage, water and sewer
improvements for Commerce Dr. extension, phase III.
·
Heard a
report that said Bossier Parish’s current population is 128,658.
Police Jury member Wanda
Bennett, who retired as director of the parish 911 system, presents Luke Turner
a plaque of appreciation for his service on the communications district board
of directors. Turner announced he was stepping down from the board.
Dr. Shelly Barrett (third
from left), Transportation Safety Coalition Coordinator for the Northwest
Louisiana Council of Governments, joined (left) La. State Trooper Frank, Child
Protection instructor and coordinator, and Capt. Steve Robinson, Troop G
Commander, at Wednesday’s police jury meeting to present the Safety Spotlight
Award to Bossier Parish Emergency Medical Services.
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