During the regular meeting, the jurors heard from two Justices of the Peace who petitioned the jury to increase their pay for their services to the parish.
Mr. Bill Shelton and Mr. Robert Wright, who represented the 14 Justices of the Peace and Constables in the six districts of the parish, asked the jurors to increase the monthly salaries from $300 to an amount between $480 and $600. Shelton said the last adjustment in pay the officers received was 25 years ago. Mr. Wright alluded that the need for the increase was more like a cost-of-living increase due to the rise of inflation.
Philip Rodgers, Jury President, told the men they would present their request before the Budget Committee and follow its recommendation.
Mr. Eric Hudson, Parish Engineer, showed the jurors a video of the shoulder work being done on Swan Lake Road as part of the Overlay Program.
He also showed a video of the new tanker added to the parish's emergency equipment fleet. The 6,200-gallon tanker, purchased for $21,000, will haul water in an emergency. Officials believe this tanker will save time and money when water is needed in the parish.
Mr. Patrick Jackson, Parish Attorney, spoke on the retirement of Officer Russell Craig, Commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU).
“I want to thank Russell personally for setting up the CVEU and the tremendous work he has done to help with its success for the past 17 years,” Jackson said. He added that Russell and his team had saved taxpayers in the parish millions of dollars in road repairs after drilling in the Haynesville Shale began.
Mr. Jackson was also granted permission from the jury to contact the State Attorney General for specific instructions on the First Responders Ad Valorem Tax Exemption, passed by the legislature and the Citizens of Bossier. “In a reassessment year, if you grant this First Responders exemption, will the rest of the taxpayers have to pay the difference? That’s what I want you to know,” Mr. Jackson said.
In other business, jurors:
Awarded the contract to Blocker Builders, LLC for Project No. 2024-130, South Bossier Highway Department Building, from the bids received on August 27, 2024.
Awarded the contract to Budd’s Construction of Haughton, LLC for Project No. 2024-113, LA 614 Water Distribution Improvements, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded project, from the bids received on August 29, 2024.
Scheduled a public hearing on October 2, 2024, to consider the abandonment of Willow Brook Subdivision, Unit No. 4, a Planned Unit Development, located off Vanceville Road, Police Jury District 5
Tabled agenda item until October 2, 2024, to schedule a public hearing to consider the approval of the application of Jacob Malone, Raley and Associates, Inc., to the Bossier City-Parish MPC for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a certain tract of land being 1.778 acres, more or less, located in Section 14, Township 18 North, Range 12 West, Bossier Parish, LA, (Located at the Southwest Intersection of Hwy 80 and Forest Hills Boulevard), from B-1 (Business, Commercial Office District) to B-3 (General Business District), for a proposed convenience store, fueling station, and car wash.
Condemned the property at 116 Doe Lane in Benton, Tax Assessment No. 164316.
Approved a 1-month extension to the property owner at 189 Hedge Drive, Benton, Tax Assessment No. 105804, to clean up the property before the parish takes any action against said property.
Approved a 90-day extension to the property owner of 264 Hedge Drive, Benton, Tax Assessment No. 103284, to remove an uninhabitable trailer and advised the property owner to report progress with Property Standards each month.
Condemned the property at 1001 Trey Avenue, Benton, Tax Assessment No. 103423.
Condemned the property at 5685 Bellevue Road, Haughton, LA, Tax Assessment No. 120522.
Condemned the property at 130 Rye Circle, Bossier City, LA, Tax Assessment No. 110820.
Approved Change Order No. 1 for Project No. 2023-131, Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 West Central Water System-New Water Well.
Adopted the resolution to authorize the Bossier Parish Police Jury to consent to the assignment by Empresa Operating, LLC (Assignor) to Trinity Oil & Gas Exploration, LLC, of certain rights, title, and interest held by Assignor in certain mineral leases identified in that certain "Lease for Oil, Gas and Other Liquid or Gaseous Minerals" filed in the conveyance records of Bossier Parish, Louisiana, as Registry No. 1316144, and to authorize the Parish Administrator to execute any and all documents, instruments, pleadings or affidavits that may be necessary or convenient to evidence said consent.
Approved the request for a variance of parish regulations to allow the construction of 20 personal storage unit buildings below the road surface level located at Safe Harbor Drive, Benton
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