Police Jury Meeting Notes: June 03, 2020

Bossier Parish could be on the receiving end of nearly $32 million in FEMA funds for repairs and reconstruction of paved roads in south Bossier that were heavily damaged during floods in 2016.

That total has been adjusted higher than the $25 million the parish was awarded earlier this year after winning its arbitration case before a three-judge panel in Washington, D.C.

But, Parish Engineer Butch Ford told members of the parish police jury Wednesday, Bossier Parish will have come up with $8 million for its 25 percent match of the FEMA money.

“We may have to borrow the eight million for our share of building roads and have it available as we continue the process over the next three and a half years,” Ford said.

If the money is borrowed, there’s a good chance the parish will be able to recover the funds, he said.

“After the 2016 flood, Governor (John Bel) Edwards got one billion dollars for Louisiana from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. One hundred million was set aside for parishes to help with the matching money,” Ford explained.

“In 2018 we signed an agreement with CDBG for everything but paved roads, then we won our arbitration. In three and a half years when the projects are finished, we can submit our completion to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness who will submit it to FEMA. Then we can apply to CDBG to get the eight million back.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, jury members also:

• Accepted bid from Bossier Press Tribune for Official Journal of the Bossier Parish Police Jury for the period July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
• Awarded bid for Johnson Koran Road bridge over Foxskin Bayou project, in accordance with bids received May 26.
• Awarded bid for Airline Drive Overlay–parish limits to Kingston Road project, in accordance with bids received May 26, 2020.
• Appointed Kevin Cavanaugh to the office of Bossier Parish Constable, District 6.
• Tabled requests for plat of the proposed development of Parker Acres subdivision, Unit No. 1-A, being a resubdivision of Lot 6, Parker Acres subdivision, Unit No. 1 and for site plan for the proposed Dollar General subdivision.
• Scheduled a public hearing on July 1 to consider approval of the minor plat for Redhead Properties, LLC.
• Granted 30-day extension before considering condemnation of property located at 2774 Bellevue Road, Haughton.
• Moved to recommend condemnation of property located at 5749 Highway 80, Princeton and property located at 1097 CC Sandidge Road, Elm Grove.
• Heard report from Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 Board of Appeals showing 28 past-due accounts, terms for payment plans and method of dealing with delinquencies.
• Reappointed Bob Brotherton to the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission Advisory Board for a four-year term to expire August 30, 2024.
• Adopted a resolution amending a resolution adopted on March 20, 2019, to reflect that the authorization of the expenditure of funds is for reconstruction of the home located at 224 Cane Bend Drive, Haughton, which has been approved for funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program FEMA-1792-DR-LA.
• Approved certificate of substantial completion for Project No. 2019-118, Contract II–12” Raw Water Line for Well No. 4–Phase II project, for Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier.
• Consider adoption of a resolution authorizing the Bossier Parish Police Jury to make an application to the Louisiana Office of State Parks, Division of Outdoor Recreation, to seek federal financial assistance to obtain and/or develop outdoor recreational facilities for the Bossier Parish Camp improvements plan project to provide enjoyment for the citizens of Bossier Parish and the State of Louisiana. Obligating funds or services stipulated to satisfactorily complete said project thus becoming eligible for Land and Water Conservation Fund financial aid of fifty percent (50%) of the estimated or actual allowable cost at the completion of the project, certifying that the Bossier Parish Police Jury has sufficient funds on hand as of this date to fund said project, to further authorize the necessary action to complete such project.
• Approved an amendment to the proposal from Nixon Engineering Solutions, LLC, originally approved on June 5, 2019, for services to investigate and document current drainage capacity of existing ditches at the corner of Dogwood Trail and Wildbriar Circle, to include expanding the scope of the previous study to extend to its outfall by the intersection of Watchwood Drive and Ginger Drive.
• Approved change order No. 2 for Kelli Road Bridge over Flat River project.
• Adopted a resolution accepting design waivers and exceptions for Linton Road bridge over Black Bayou Reservoir project.