Police Jury Meeting Notes: April 20, 2022

A phone call just minutes before the Bossier Parish Police Jury started its Wednesday meeting may have presented the opportunity to answer questions about what to do about the prospect of turning the existing Jimmy Davis bridge connecting Caddo and Bossier parishes into a linear park.

Lisa Johnson, President/CEO of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce told police jury members she had talked with Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser prior to the meeting and he indicated the state would take the old bridge as a state park, and to discuss liability issues.

"The Lt. Gov. said he would be willing to sit down and have a conversation about this," Johnson said. "He said where operating costs and maintenance are concerned, we would figure that out it the locals could take care of the trash. I believe it's a conversation to be had."

Johnson said Nungesser is working hard to connect all walking and biking trails in the state. A linear park here would mean this area could have one of the largest connection of such trails in the state.

"That's good news and it's a viable alternative. I'm glad to see it's getting some legs," Jury President Tom Salzer said. "But it's hard to ask the parishes and cities to pick up the liability plus operating and maintenance costs. I'm not against it but we have limited budget money."

Salzer said he would be willing to go to Baton Rouge and meet with the lieutenant governor to discuss all the options.

"I'll certainly make the extra effort because it's worth a conversation," he said. We don't want to be the cause of south Bossier not getting a bridge they've deserved for years.

Last month, officials from both parishes met with the Department of Transportation and Development to talk about options on spending $150 million set aside for a bridge project. The existing structure could either be replaced by a new four-lane bridge with biking trail or rehabilitated with a new two-lane bridge built alongside.

A third option would see a new four-lane bridge constructed with the old structure rehabilitated as a park only for bikers and pedestrians. For local public bodies, the issue is who would be responsible for maintenance.

In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, police jury members:

• Approved the plat of the proposed development of Clarke subdivision, Unit No. 1A, being a resubdivision of Lot 1, Clarke subdivision, and a portion of Lot 2, Lawrence Lands subdivision, located in Section 11, Township 20 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish; located off Butler Hill Rd.
• Approved the plat of the proposed development of Lawrence Lands subdivision, Unit No. 1A, being a resubdivision of Lots 1 and 2, Lawrence Lands subdivision, located in Section 11, Township 20 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish; located off Butler Hill Rd.
• Approved the plat of the proposed development of Dry Cypress South subdivision, Unit No. 1-A, being a resubdivision of Lots 4 and 5, Dry Cypress South subdivision, located in Sections 23 and 26, Township 20 North, Range 12 West, Bossier Parish; located off LA Hwy. 157.
• Approved application of Nixon Engineering Solutions, LLC, to the Benton-Parish MPC, for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a tract of land being 1.52 acres, more or less, located in Section 10, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish, from R-1, One-Family Residence District, to R-A, Residence-Agriculture District, for a pest control business; located at the intersection of Linton Rd. and Parks Rd.
• Scheduled a public hearing on May 18 to consider approval of the plat of the proposed development of Miciotto subdivision, Unit No. 1, located in Section 16, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish; located off West Linton Rd.
• Scheduled a public hearing on May 18 to consider approval of the plat of the proposed development of Willow Chute Ranch subdivision, located in Sections 27 and 28, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish; located off Myers Rd.
• Scheduled a public hearing on June 1 to consider the application of Phil Lewis to the Benton-Parish MPC, for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a certain tract of land being 26.22 acres, more or less, located in Section 24, Township 20 North, Range 12 West, Bossier Parish, from R-1, One-Family Residence District, to R-A, Residence-Agriculture District, for agricultural purposes; located at the southwest corner of Airline Dr. and West Linton Rd.
• Scheduled a public hearing on June 1 to consider the application of Matt Abrams, Abrams Architecture and Design, to the Bossier City-Parish MPC, for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a certain tract of land being 3.2 acres, more or less, located at 2030 U.S. Hwy. 80, Haughton, from R-A, Residence-Agricultural District, to B-3, General Business District, for Haughton Tenant Center development; located north of Shady Grove Loop. 
• Scheduled a public hearing on June 1 to consider the application of Peter Klucar, to the Bossier City-Parish MPC, for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a certain tract of land being 1.247 acres, more or less, located in Section 36, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish, from R-A, Residence-Agricultural District, to R-E, Residential Estate District, for Willow Trace subdivision, Unit No. 5C; located off Cardnell Rd. approximately 0.5 miles east of Swan Lake Rd. 
• Scheduled a public hearing on June 1 to consider approval of the plat of the proposed development of Willow Trace subdivision, Unit No. 5C, being a replat of Lot 1, Willow Trace subdivision, Unit No. 2A, and Lots 1 and 2, Willow Trace subdivision, Unit No. 5, located in Section 36, Township 19 North, Range 13 West, Bossier Parish; located off Cardnell Rd.
• Scheduled a public hearing on May 18 to consider amending Chapter 110 of the Bossier Parish Code of Ordinances “Subdivisions” to add and/or amend certain sections or subsections.
• Scheduled a public hearing on May 18 to consider amending Chapter 10, Article III of the Bossier Parish Code of Ordinances “Public Interest and Special Events” to amend Section 10-38(c)(3).
• Accepted reports from meetings of the Policy and Procedures Committee held April 8, Broadband Study Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee and Road/Subdivision Regulations Committee.
• Ratified authorizing the Parish Engineer to execute a Property Standards Lien for property located at 3402 Pinehaven Circle, Haughton, Tax Assessment No. 103329.
• Ratified authorizing the Parish Engineer to execute a Property Standards Lien for property located at 229 Princeton Lane, Princeton, Tax Assessment No. 154984.
• Considered streets and drainage in The Point at Cypress subdivision; located off Sommer Circle.
• Approved change Order No. 2 for Project No. 2021-109, Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 expansion of wastewater collection system – Airline Dr.
• Accepted the proposal of Civil Design Group, LLC, for professional engineering services for a traffic study at Parkway High School
• Accepted the recommendation of the Department of Transportation and Development to award the bid for S.P. No. H.007400, North Bossier shared use trail, Phase II, to Earnest Contracting, LLC, in accordance with bids received April 13.
• Approved a utility relocation agreement by and between the Bossier Parish Police Jury and Enable Gas Transmission, LLC, for the North-South Corridor (Flat River to Crouch Rd.)-utility relocation project.
• Approved Change Order No. 1 for Project No. 2021-107, Louisiana State Hwy. 3 (Benton Rd.) turn lane extensions at I-220.
• Agreed to assist with repairs to the Black Bayou boat launch off LA Hwy. 162.