Police Jury Meeting Notes: November 3, 2021

Technology for Rural America (TFRA), a company with expertise in broadband services, will be retained to consult with the Bossier Parish Police Jury and help identify potential broadband service providers for parish residents in underserved areas.

Jury members unanimously agreed to enter into a contract for up to 60 days with the company, whose founder is the retired president of CenturyLink. Parish Administrator Bill Altimus said the team at TFRA worked with former president Glen Post and have expertise in the field.

“They are all very knowledgeable on communications, broadband in particular,” Altimus said. “We have numerous proposals from numerous companies that want to do things in the parish, ranging from wireless to fiber. These people have the expertise to evaluate these proposals. They will be a great value to us.”

Altimus said the TFLA plan is divided into phases which should take about 90 days to complete. Those phases include establishing a communication plan for the jury’s Broadband Action Team, establishing network strategy, expediting the funding process and evaluating potential service providers.

Finally, TFLA will help make the final selections and facilitate negotiations for mutual accountability agreements between the parish and those selected service providers. TFLA will also perform quality control duties by reviewing the work of providers.

“This is a month-to-month deal, not long term,” Altimus said “I do believe this is the path forward for us.”

Jury member Philip Rodgers, chairman of the jury’s Broadband Action Team, agreed the company would be the best avenue to help determine providers and areas of coverage.

“It’s (evaluating providers) not our expertise. We need someone to evaluate all these plans,” Rodgers said. “These people are in this business and will help us spend the money in the right way.”

Also during Wednesday’s meeting, police jury members:

• Agreed to table until Nov. 17 approval of the site plan for Swan Lake commercial subdivision, Unit No. 2, being a resubdivision of Lot 2, Swan Lake commercial subdivision, Unit No. 1, located in Section 26, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish. (Located on the corner of Swan Lake Rd. and Duckwater Landing)
• Approved plat of the proposed development of Edgewater Pass subdivision, located in Section 22, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish, contingent on agreement on sidewalk. (Located off Legacy Elementary Dr.)
• Approved application of Sanjeev Wahi to the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission, for a Conditional Use Approval for the sale of high and low content alcohol for off-premise consumption at a proposed convenience store located in Section 26, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish. (Located on the southwest corner of Swan Lake Rd. and Duckwater Landing)
• Approved plat of the proposed development of Turtle Creek subdivision, Unit No. 3, located in Sections 2 and 11, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish. (Located off West Lakeshore Dr. behind Turtle Creek subdivision, Unit No. 2)
• Scheduled a public hearing on December 1 to consider reducing the speed limit on Myers Rd., located in Section 27, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish, from 25 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour.
• Scheduled a public hearing on December 1 to consider approval of the plat of the proposed development of Henry’s Way subdivision, located in Section 10, Township 18 North, Range 12 West, Bossier Parish. (Located off Adner Rd.)
• Scheduled a public hearing December 1 to consider the application of C.A. Bass, LLC, to the Haughton Metropolitan Planning Commission for a Conditional Use Approval for a proposed 300-foot telecommunication tower located in Section 8, Township 18 North, Range 11 West, Bossier Parish.
• Agreed to condemnation of property located at 3402 Pinehaven Circle, Haughton.
• Granted a 30-day extension on property located at 115 Flagg Drive, Haughton.
• Approved applications for renewal of Bossier Parish beer/liquor licenses for 2022. (approved by the Sheriff and the health department.)
• Approved applications for renewal of Bossier Parish beer/liquor licenses for 2022, subject to approval by the health department. (approved by the Sheriff’s Department.)
• Adopted a resolution approving the holding of an election in Northeast Bossier Parish Fire Protection District No. 5 of the Parish of Bossier, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, March 26, 2022, to authorize the continuation of a special tax therein.
• Appointed Jerry Greer to the East Central Bossier Parish Fire District No. 1 Board of Commissioners to fill a vacancy created by the death of Grady Lee, term to expire December 31, 2022.
• Ratified acceptance of a proposal from Arpeggio for professional services relevant to revisions to the Bossier Parish noise ordinance.
• Approved a joint cooperative endeavor agreement between the city of Bossier City and the parish of Bossier in connection with the care and housing of stray animals.
• Declared various highway equipment items and parish vehicles as surplus, to be sold at auction, date of auction to be determined at a later date.
• Declared various Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier vehicles as surplus, to be sold at auction, date of auction to be determined at a later date.
• Approved change order No. 2 for Project No. 2021-116, proposed street improvements, DR 4263 PW 910 paved roads, Task Order No. 4.
• Set a public hearing for Dec. 1 on approval of plat for Hanson-Kosier partition.
• Agreed to withdraw a 60-day moratorium on fracking operations within prescribed distance of subdivisions in the parish.