Police Jury Meeting Notes: June 20, 2018

Bossier Parish Police Jury members took the first step Wednesday to begin a major addition to the Parish Camp on Lake Bistineau with a unanimous vote to accept the low bid to drill a water well at the site.

Once the well is completed and water is available, plans call for construction of a bathroom at the camp that features a public boat launch, camping ground and picnic areas. The camp is located on the southern end of Lake Bistineau on Parish Camp Rd.

Jury member Bob Brotherton said drilling a well on the site was the only way the parish could provide water for the future bathroom facility.

“There’s no public water service in this area; everybody provides their own water well,” Brotherton said. “We can’t put the cart before the horse. We have to have water before we can build the bathrooms.”

Jury members had one hurdle to clear before deciding to go ahead with the project. The low bid of just over $63,600 was more than the amount that had been budgeted. Parish Engineer Butch Ford said parish consultants had recommended the specifications for the project and bids received were higher than expected.

But, he added, the consultants also recommended that the jury go ahead with the project.

Parish Supervisor of Parks and Recreation Warren Saucier told the jury that the higher than expected cost of the well should not delay construction of the planned bathroom. While estimating costs, Saucier said he had budgeted the bathroom construction a little higher than the facility at Tall Timbers.

“I thought the well would be much less, but in looking at the budget we do have the money to do the well. And if bids on the bathroom come in under what we’ve figured, we can do both,” he said. “If it comes in over that, we’ll have to look again.”

In other business Wednesday, police jury members:

• Scheduled public hearings on July 18 to consider approval of two minor plats and three plats for proposed subdivisions (Belmere, Unit 5; Eagle Ridge Pointe, Unit 1 and Lakewood, Unit 4-F).
• Approved reducing the speed limit on Buckhall Rd. from 25 miles-per-hour to 20 mph.
• Presented a certificate of appreciation of District 2 Fire Chief Kenny Tyson who has officially retired.
• Scheduled a condemnation hearing after a property standards board of review finding.
• Approved the application of Clyde and Carol Hudson for a 2018 Bossier Parish beer license at Our Place Bar and Grill, 300 Cryer’s Camp Rd.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the acquisition of Eagle Water, LLC, its sewer collection systems, and wastewater and sewerage treatment facilities by the Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District 1 for $2 million.
• Approved a proposal of Professional Service Industries, Inc., for construction materials testing and observation services for Cardnell Rd.
• Authorized a request to the Louisiana Dept. of Transportation and Development for permission to install directional guide signs to Bossier Parish Camp along Louisiana highways 154, 157 and 527.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the police jury to acquire and/or expropriate all parcels, tracts, properties or servitudes required for construction and completion of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project 349, the Bossier Parish-Willow Chute Bayou Drainage Improvements Project.
• Adopted a proposal from Robert Russell, MAI, for appraisal review services on parcels 1-1 through 1-5, Willow Chute at Crosscreek Dr., and parcels 1-1 through 1-4, Willow Chute at Lafitte Lane for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project 349, Bossier Parish-Willow Chute Bayou Drainage Improvements Project.

Retired Dist. 2 Fire Chief Kenny Tyson (right) receives a certificate of appreciation from parish police jury member Bob Brotherton during jury meeting.