Police Jury Meeting Notes: March 1, 2023

Bossier Parish Police Jury members heard Wednesday that delays in construction of the new Bossier Parish central library due to adverse weather conditions and delivery of materials have pushed the anticipated completion date to July.

Mark Prevot of Prevot Design Services told the jury that despite the delays, the project "...overall is in good health."

Supply difficulties include roofing materials and supplies for work on the building's interior. Supply problems were the primary cause for the issues facing the contractor, Prevot said.

Prevot presented the jury with change orders requesting additional days due to the problems, and pointed out the project is under its projected budget. Originally, construction costs were anticipated to be just over $10 million, but costs are estimated to run $9.267 million.

Jury members also learned the parish is entering the final phase of asphalt road repairs and construction funded by money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Parish Engineer Eric Hudson  said work on Smith Rd. has begun and bids will soon be let on remaining roads that were damaged by historic floods in 2015 and 2016. FEMA funds of more than $30 million have been dedicated to repairing and reconstructing parish asphalt roads.

Also during Wednesday's meeting, police jury members:

• Agreed to change the name of Town Lake Boulevard to Innovation Drive as an extension of the existing Innovation Drive, located in Section 11, Township 18 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish.
• Tabled the application of Tristan Larson, The Larson Group, to the Bossier City-Parish MPC, for a Conditional Use Approval for a personal storage/warehouse facility to be located at 4900 Benton Road, Bossier City.
• Scheduled a public hearing on April 5 to consider the application of Ryan Estess, Raley and  Associates, Inc., to change the zoning classification on two certain tracts of land, being 100.854 acres, more or less, located in Section 35, Township 19 North, Range 12 West, Bossier Parish, from R-A, Residence-Agricultural District, to R-LD, Residential, Low Density District, for a residential subdivision. (Winfield Road Residential Subdivision.)
• Scheduled a public hearing on April 5 to consider the application of Michael Kelsch, Raley and Associates, Inc., for a Conditional Use Approval for an apartment complex, The Ascent on 80, located at 4570 Highway 80, Haughton; south side of Highway 80, southwest of Wafer Road.
• Completed 30-day review of property located at 119 Ashwood Drive, Haughton and agreed to a 30-day extension.
• Accepted reports on meetings of the Road/Subdivision Regulations Committee, the Policy and Procedures Committee, and the meeting of the Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 Board of Appeals.
• Accepted recommendation of the Library Control Board to offer Felesha Sweeney the position of Director of Bossier Parish Libraries.
• Approved the application of Donald Bassell, Eyal Nuchamovitz, and Arie Kotler for a 2023 Bossier Parish beer/liquor license at Dixie Mart #7283, 5315 Hwy 80, Haughton, subject to approval by the Health Department. (Approved by the Sheriff’s Office.)
• Approved the application of Donald Bassell, Eyal Nuchamovitz, and Arie Kotler for a 2023 Bossier Parish beer/liquor license at Dixie Mart #7277, 7770 Dogwood Trail, Haughton, subject to approval by the Health Department. (Approved by the Sheriff’s Office.)
• Accepted a proposal by David W. Volentine, MAI, on behalf of Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier, for appraisal review services for a sewer line from Deen Point Road to Parks Road (Contract B).
• Accepted a proposal by Robert L. Russell, MAI, on behalf of Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier, for appraisal review services for a sewer line from Deen Point Road to Parks Road (Contract B).
• Accepted a proposal by Robert L. Russell, MAI, on behalf of Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier, for appraisal review services for Highway 80 Sewer Extension to Highway 157/Creekside subdivision (Contract C).
• Approved a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement by and between the State of Louisiana, Division of Administration, and the Bossier Parish Police Jury in connection with funding through the Water Sector Program for Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier water, sewer, and/or storm water infrastructure projects.
• Approved Final Change Order No. 2 for Project No. 2022-100, Bay Hills main entrance improvements.
• Approved Final Change Order No. 1 for Project No. 2022-126, Sligo Road extension improvements.
• Approved Certificate of Substantial Completion for Project No. 2022-126, Sligo Road extension improvements.
• Approved a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement by and between the City of Bossier City and the Parish of Bossier for improvements to Old Brownlee Road.
• Agreed to extend the six-month moratorium issued by the Bossier Parish Police Jury on September 7, 2022, per Ordinance No. 4910, placing a moratorium on solar farms in Bossier Parish for an additional six months.
• Approved Change Order No. 2 for the Bossier Parish Libraries – New Central Library project.
• Approved a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement by and between the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry and the Bossier Parish Police Jury to lease office space located at the Courthouse Annex Building, 200 Burt Boulevard, Benton, to LDAF.
• Tabled discussion on expenditure of discretionary funds for an economic study for a rodeo arena.