Police Jury Meeting Notes-December 20, 2023

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Doug Rimmer conducted a special ceremony to congratulate three jurors for their outstanding service to the residents of Bossier Parish. Mr. Charles Gray from District 9, Mr. Mac Plummer from District 12, and Mr. Jerome Darby from District 10 were presented with plaques to honor their contributions. This was the final meeting for the three jury members who lost their seats or voluntarily retired.

Mr. Rimmer expressed his gratitude to the men for their dedication to service. He also thanked Mr. Darby for his influence and steady guidance as a police juror. "It was because of Mr. Darby that I wanted to be a part of this service," said Rimmer. He further stated that it had been a pleasure working with everyone and contributing to the progress of their parish.

During the ceremony, Mr. Darby was honored for his 40-year service on the police jury, making him one of the longest-serving members of the police jury in the state. Mr. Darby said before he graduated college, his focus would be to serve his community. “When my brother Jeff and I were at Louisiana Tech, I said was going to come back and serve my community and serve people. I don’t consider myself to be a democrat or a republican, as a politician, but a servant of the citizens and the people of this parish,” said Darby. He said the key to his longevity on the jury was through the relationships he built with his fellow jurors. “It hasn’t been about whether we agree or disagree, but it’s been about relationships, and that’s how we got the job done,” said Darby.

Additionally, Mr. Gray served as a juror for District 9 for four years, while Mr. Plummer served as a juror for District 12 for 13 years.

The Bossier Parish Police Jurors awarded three bids to the Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage Districts No.1 and District No. 2.  

• Awarded bid for Project No. 2023-128, Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 – Contract II – Water Sector Water Distribution Improvements Country Place on Ward Lan.  received on December 14, 2023.
• Awarded bid for Project No. 2003-131, Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 2– ARPA West Central System – New Water Wells – Contract I, in accordance with bids received on December 7, 2023.
• Awarded bid for Project No. 2023-135, Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 2 – ARPA West Central Water System – Raw Water Lines – Contract II, in accordance with bids received on December 14, 2023.  

Public hearings

 Jurors approved the applications:

• of Thomas Pulley to the Benton MPC to change the zoning classification of a tract of land from Residential Agricultural District to Family Residence District, located off Oak Leaf Circle.
• of Ryan Estess, Raley and Associates to the Benton MPC for approval of a minor plat of land for Red Oak Estates located off Oak Leaf Circle.
• of Brennan Smith to the Benton MPC for approval of the minor plat of land for the proposed development of Bay Hills North
  
• of Richard Kenner to the Haughton MPC for approval of the plat of land for the proposed development of Buzzard Roost Subdivision, located off Koran Doyline Road .
• of Ryan Estess, Raley and Associates to the Haughton MPC for approval of the plat for the proposed development of Oliver Hills Subdivision, located off Oliver Road .
• of Randall L. Hilton to the Benton MPC for approval of a minor plat for Stevens Subdivision, located East of Sirman Road and North of Highway 162 .
• of Randall L. Hilton to the Benton Metropolitan Planning Commission for approval of a minor plat for the proposed development of Henderson Subdivision, located off Old Plain Dealing Road and Cedar Farm Lane.
  
• of Frank Kelly to the Benton Metropolitan Planning Commission for approval of a minor plat of land for the proposed development of Bundy Family Subdivision, located off Deen Point Road.
  
• Approved the adoption of the Bossier Parish Police Jury 2023 amended budget.

 Public hearings to be scheduled:

•  Approved scheduling a public hearing on February 7, 2024, to consider approval for the proposed development of The Parc Subdivision, located off Kingston Road.
• Approved scheduling a public hearing on February 7, 2024, to consider approval for the proposed development of Canal Place. 
• Approved scheduling a public hearing on February 7, 2024, to consider the approval of the proposed development of James E. Burt Jr. Subdivision, Fifth Filing, of the Rayburn Green Subdivision.  
  
• Approved scheduling a public hearing on February 7, 2024, to consider the approval of the proposed development of Nash Subdivision, off Butler Hill Road.
• Approved scheduling a public hearing on February 7, 2024, to consider approving the proposed development of Rayburn Green Subdivision.  
  
• Approved the scheduling of a public hearing on January 10, 2024, to consider the adoption of an ordinance that will amend Chapter 94, Article II, Utility Lines, and Pipelines, Sections 94-42 and 94-48 of the Bossier Parish Code of Ordinances, to make certain changes in requirements for utility installations on parish roads, and in the requirements of persons desiring permits.
• Approved the scheduling of a public hearing on January 10, 2024, to consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapter 94, Article II, Utility Lines, and Pipelines, of the Bossier Parish Code of Ordinances, to add Section 94-53 Annual Logging Access Permit.

Other business jurors considered:

• Approved the Professional Services Contract with Ginger Adam Corley for governmental relations for 2024.  
• Approved amending the contract with The Roosevelt Group for professional and advocacy services to begin on January 1, 2024.  
• Approved the amendment of the agreement with Rainwater Consulting.
• Approved the adoption of a resolution to authorize the Bossier Parish Police Jury to acquire and expropriate all parcels, tracts, and properties required for the Sligo Road Extension to LA Hwy 527 Project.
• Approved the appointment for Bossier Parish Communications District No. 1 for a four-year term to expire on December 31, 2027.
• Approved the reappointment of Mr. Doyle Adams to the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission Advisory Board for a four-year term, term to expire December 31, 2027.
• Approved the applications for renewal of Bossier Parish beer/liquor licenses for 2024.
  
• Approved the applications for renewal of Bossier Parish beer/liquor licenses for 2024, subject to approval by the health department.
• Approved the request from GR Rupani to allow extended serving hours on New Year's Eve at Red River Casino, December 31, 2024, from 9:00 am until 2:00 am.
• Approved the acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Innovation Drive and Dairy Lane Extensions project.
• Approved the Final Change Order for the Innovation Drive and Dairy Lane Extensions project.
• Approved the acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Kingston Road Sidewalk Extension.
• Approved the acceptance of Final Change Order Kingston Road Sidewalk Extension (Kingston Road to Fairburn Avenue.
• Approved Change Order No. 1 for the LCDBG Sewer System Improvements - Gray Lake Gray Duck Lift Station.          
• Approve the acceptance of Supplement No. 1 from Civil Design Group for Walking Path Extension on Old Brownlee Road at Wemple Road.
• Approved the acceptance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion for Bossier Parish Libraries – New Central Library.
• Approved the authorization for the parish attorney to file a lawsuit on behalf of Consolidated Waterworks Sewerage District No. 1 against Bellevue Water System, Inc., Chris Wilcox, Cameron Celmer, Tabitha Evans, Levandis Davis, Jr., Herbert Raymond Farley, III, and Chaquita Burge.
• Approved the motion to amend Ordinance No. 4967 on August 16, 2023, to correct the Benton MPC case number.
• Approved the adoption of the Three-Year Road Overlay Program.
• Approved the recommendation of the Bossier Parish Industrial Tax Exemption Program Review Committee in the matter of ITEP Application No. 20230090-ITE and 20230367-ITE, Cyber Square, LLC, 2701 E. 70^th Street, Shreveport, LA 71105.
• Approved the division order with BPX Energy for Henderson 22-38 HC 2 ALT.
• Approved Supplement No. 2, Walking Path/Sidewalk Extensions- Kingston Road and Fairburn Avenue Vicinity Surveying and Plan Revisions.
• Voted to table the acceptance of the streets and drainage in Redwood Place at Legacy Subdivision Unit No. 12 into the parish road system for permanent maintenance.   
• Voted to table the acceptance of the sewer main extension and improvements in Redwood Place at Legacy Subdivision, Unit No. 12, into the Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier sewer system for permanent maintenance.