Government Reform:

Local government reform converted the Police Jury to a President and
Parish Council form of government in December 2012 with the election
of a five-member council and a full-time parish president who was given the
authority to make important, timely decisions on a daily basis.
Under the Police Jury, there was a consistent lack of financial planning. During
the first two years under the new government, with nearly the same employees,
the Parish has made significant advancements. The difference is in the leadership.
For example, at the end of 2014, each of the parish funds has, for the first time in
many years, shown a positive balance. The last available audit (Fiscal Year 2013)
states “The Parish Government is experiencing financial difficulties…and is continually
amending the budget…and there will be other problems facing the parish – controlling
expenditures, inmate cost, bridges and roads.” Also clouding the picture of the financial
condition is an adverse opinion from auditors based on an inability to determine
the actual amount of post-employment benefits due to be paid to former employees –
a significant obligation that would affect the future financial condition of the Parish.

The good news is that things are improving due to a number of steps taken by the
new government, such as:

1. Requiring supervisors and employees to be accountable for performance
2. Requiring transparency in the business of the Parish
3. Changes in staffing, emphasizing qualifications and experience
4. Better budget practices
5. Clearly defined purchasing practices
6. Improved relations with State and other local governments

Road Facts:

The biggest problem facing the Parish continues to be insufficient maintenance
on parish roads, a problem that goes back many years. Consider the following:

1. There are 977 parish roads.
2. Parish roads cover 818 miles in a large, rural area.
3. Of the 818 miles of road, 328 miles are asphalt and 490 are gravel.
4. Many Parish roads do not meet minimum standards for construction.
5. Many Parish roads do not have adequate drainage ditches or culverts.
6. The Parish has 5 motor graders and 3 dump trucks to work the 490 miles.
7. Except for State Capital Outlay funds or FEMA hurricane funds, there have been
few major road improvements in the past two decades.

Road Maintenance Finances:

One positive step taken is the implementation of a new tracking system with roads
placed on a priority basis according to their condition and impact on personal,
business and emergency services. Still, there is little money with which to work.
Two major reasons are:

1. The budget for highway maintenance peaked in 2011 at a little more than
$5,000,000 due to increased sales tax revenues and FEMA funds received
after several hurricanes hit the area, but fell in 2014 to $3,100,000.,
a reduction of 40 percent.

2. The cost of road repair, including base and overlay, has grown to approximately
$200,000 per mile, which means that to completely repair and overlay all 328 miles of
hard surface roads would cost about $65,000,000.  Including gravel public roads,
as well as church and cemetery roads, the cost to repair or replace all roads
in the parish outside of the city limits would increase the cost to over $100,000,000.

3. The property (ad valorem) taxes collected for parish roads are derived from taxes only
on property outside of the city of Natchitoches. The ten largest payers of property taxes
collectively provide about 44% of the total paid. The 1% sales tax received by the parish
government is allocated first to the cost of collecting the tax, then to the solid waste
disposal fund. Anything left over can go to the road fund, but that amount is small and
shrinking yearly

4. Property taxes generate a little more than $1,000,000 per year. Dividing $1,000,000
by 818 miles of road gives about $1200 per mile per year. Or, dividing by the number
of registered voters (over 25,000) shows that, on average, each voter pays only about
$40 per year for road maintenance.

Bottom Line:

The citizens of the parish expect that maintenance of parish roads is to be kept up
on a timely basis. In order to do this, new sources of revenue for parish government
will have to be found. While some government and associated entities have
accumulated sizeable amounts of uncommitted funds, parish government has
suffered from a deficiency of needed revenues. A comprehensive study of all taxes
collected in the parish might provide new ideas on how to solve the financial plight
of parish government. If good roads is truly a priority of the people, some restructuring
of existing taxes may be necessary.

With the unusually wet winter, mosquito season seems to have kicked into high gear early this year. The Parish, through the Health Department, operates two mosquito trucks that serve the entire Parish. This year, based on the newly formed zones for spraying, the Parish should be covered every 2-3 weeks, weather permitting.

There are things that you can do around your house to help mitigate the mosquito population. The Parish offers the following tips:

• Get rid of standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys or any other container where mosquitoes can breed.
• Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels and potted plant trays at least once a week to eliminate potential mosquito habitats.
• Drain temporary pools of water or fill with dirt.
• Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
• Landscape your yard using citronella, lemon balm (horsemint), catnip, marigolds, basil, lavender, peppermint, rosemary and geraniums, which all have naturally occurring repellants.

While out and about this summer, Parish residents are encouraged to use the following precautions to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes:

• Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents when necessary and follow label directions and precautions closely.
• Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to cover gaps in your clothing where mosquitoes can get to your skin.
• Use head nets, long sleeves and long pants if you venture into areas with high mosquito populations, such as salt marshes.
• Stay indoors at sunrise, sunset and early in the evening when mosquitoes are most active, especially if there is a mosquito-borne disease warning in effect.
• Replace your outdoor lights with yellow “bug” lights, which tend to attract fewer mosquitoes than ordinary lights. The yellow lights are NOT repellents, however.

  Residents may contact the Health Department at (318) 357-2266 to find out what zone they are in and to get information on when their zone is going to be sprayed. Residents who have chemical sensitivities or are beekeepers that notify the Health Department of their location will not be sprayed.

A partnership between a Natchitoches-based hotel management company and a New York investor has acquired the high-rise Marriott hotel off Interstate-10 near College Drive for $21.8 million, and plans to begin an extensive, year-long renovation of the 300-room hotel some time this fall.

In a sale that closed Thursday, Dimensions Development of Natchitoches and Allan V. Rose through their limited liability company, Baton Rouge Hotel Investors, LLC, acquired the iconic hotel from CCMS Lodging, a real estate trust that has owned it since 2013. Dimensions President and General Counsel Greg Friedman says his company, which was founded by his father Sam Friedman, was interested in the property for several reasons.

“It’s a great location, it’s got good bones and we love the Baton Rouge market,” Friedman says.

Already, Marriott and Dimensions have retained a design team to begin drawing up plans for the overhaul of the 42-year-old hotel. It was partially renovated in 2005, but to be competitive in the high-end segment of the local hotel market needs an extensive renovation, according to Friedman, who says it’s too soon to estimate the cost. Previously, industry experts have estimated the price tag could range from between $15 million and $20 million.

Friedman hopes the hotel will remain open during the renovation, which would be done one floor at a time. However, he says he’s not sure yet if that will be possible.

The Marriott is the latest addition to the growing Dimensions portfolio. The company manages 50 hotels around the country, including the Springhill Suites at the Baton Rouge Airport, and Le Pavillon and the Intercontinental in downtown New Orleans. It has an equity stake in 25 of the properties it manages. It will own a 26% share of the Baton Rouge Marriott; Rose will own 74%.

Greater Business Baton Rouge Business Report
04-24-15

The Natchitoches Parish Journal submitted a request for documents and written questions regarding the Head Start program in Natchitoches Parish.  We received the documents and a response from Rick Nowlin, Parish President.  We are posting his response here:

Natchitoches Parish Journal
P.O. Box 2537
Natchitoches, LA. 71457

April 24, 2015

To Whom it may concern:

Thank you for bringing your concerns about certain parish HS operations to my attention.  By means of this email, I will attempt to answer your questions.

1. Head Start funding?

The Parish Head Start program is funded 80% by the federal government.  There is a 20% local match which we have met through in-kind services, not cash.  In the past, the former Police Jury had to put cash into the program due to budget overruns, but that has not occurred with the Parish Council in the past 2 years.

Also, we have heard some talk (on the street) about the higher degree of oversight exercised by my office.  I believe we have a good working relationship with our leaders in the HS program, and they recognize that I try to monitor all programs, especially those in which I must sign documents certifying to the use of significant federal funds.  When a program has a budget of over $2 million a year, I need to know where the money is going.  We may occasionally disagree on how to accomplish our goals, but we are all committed to the children.

2. Logansport campus?

When I became President, HS had 7 centers—5 in Natchitoches Parish and 2 in DeSoto Parish.  The two parish organization was apparently dictated by the federal government and had been in existence for many years.  We now have 6 centers since we closed the Logansport center at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year.  I learned that the Logansport site had 3 employees and generally had 5 or fewer children attend school daily.  When you add in the cost of the facility and food service, it just did not seem like a good return on the taxpayer’s money.  After we made attempts to increase enrollment in Logansport and were not successful, we contacted the Dallas regional office of HS and received permission to close the Logansport center.  We used the money saved to add another class at the MLK center in Natchitoches, providing 17 more Natchitoches children the opportunity to attend HS.

One could ask why we are operating a center in DeSoto Parish (Mansfield).  The answer is that is the structure given to us and it is basically a package deal for us.  We understand that the DeSoto connection is part of the agreement that gets us the centers in Natchitoches Parish.  The important thing is that, if we have to operate the center in Mansfield, we need to try to make it the most productive and cost-effective center it can be.

3. Improvements at MLK?

One improvement that I am happy to see being implemented is the restoration of the gym.  For many years, the gym has not been available for the children due to inoperable HVAC equipment and problems with utility services to the gym.  The gym was being used for a storage building.  That means that when it is rainy or cold outside, the children must remain in their classrooms all day.  We all know what a challenge that can be for 3 and 4 year olds—and their teachers.  After meeting with Ms. Judie Barnum, I directed my staff to get involved and get the gym back in service.  In the past 3 months, we have removed the materials and equipment stored in the gym and started the cleanup.  Doors have been installed on the bathroom and other improvements will be made soon.  Our goal is to have the gym operational by the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Again, I hope that this information answers your questions.  If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Rick Nowlin
Natchitoches Parish President

Just released House Bill HLS 15RS-455, Original HB #2 provides for the following.  Please read the Outlay Process below this chart:

Natchitoches Parish

Courthouse Security Improvements
Priority ONE   $480,000.00
Priority TWO   $280,000.00
Total                $760,000.00

Old River Bridge
Priority ONE      $610,000.00
Priority FIVE      $895,000.00
Total                  $1,505,000.00

Natchitoches Parish Office of Community Services
Priority ONE      $40,000.00
Priority TWO      $310,000.00
Total                    $350,000.00

Resurfacing of Roads in Payne Subdivision
Priority TWO      $1,015,000.00

Resurfacing of Blanchard Road
Priority TWO     $280,000.00

Resurfacing of Goldonna Road
Priority TWO     $1,835,000.00

Hard Surfacing of Coco Bed Road, Phase I
Priority ONE     $280,000.00

Louisiana’s capital outlay planning process begins and ends with heavy influence by the governor. The basic steps are as follows:

1.     The governor generates a capital outlay budget proposal with a list of projects to be granted cash and non-cash lines of credit. The list is divided into five priorities, which determine the order in which the non-cash projects will receive funding when it becomes available.
Priority 1 is limited to the reauthorization of prior year lines of credit or Higher Education Desegregation Settlement Agreement projects.  Legislators cannot just add anything to Priority 1.

Currently, legislators can add to priorities 2, 3, 4 and 5 without limit.

Priority 2 projects are expected to require some funding to get started in the current fiscal year. Any funding provided has to fit under the debt issuance cap, but the cost of projects included in this list typically far exceeds available capacity. This enables the governor to decide which bondfunded projects to submit to the State Bond Commission for lines of credit after the legislative session ends. Legislators get political credit for getting a project in the bill even if it is never funded. But to earn those bragging rights, they sacrifice real power to set capital outlay priorities.

Priority 5 projects can be granted non-cash lines of credit and/or be shifted upward to a higher priority. This is essentially the waiting list for future year cash lines of credit. The “overcommitment” problem is here, because the list amounts to a project backlog. Once a project receives a non-cash line of credit it is reasonably assured of eventually being granted full cash line of credit funding in a subsequent fiscal year.

2.     Capital outlay requests are made by state and non-state entities and submitted to the governor’s office for inclusion in the bill. The Division of Administration has a professional staff of budget analysts, engineers and architects who participate in a well organized and objective process for reviewing and categorizing capital outlay requests to facilitate the selection of projects to be funded in accordance with the governor’s stated priorities.

3.     The governor submits the capital outlay bill to the Legislature. The House Committee on Ways and Means, House Appropriations Committee, Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs and Senate Finance Committee have jurisdiction over the bill. Projects can be added by the Legislature to priority categories 2 through 5 regardless of capacity.

4.     The governor has the opportunity to veto those projects added by the Legislature.

5.     The Office of Facility Planning and Control in the Division of Administration manages the construction projects outlined in the act. Cash flow management plays an important role, because when projects are delayed or canceled for feasibility purposes, cash and non-cash lines of credit are made available to fund other projects in line. The governor recommends projects to the Bond Commission for funding approval.

6.     The State Bond Commission’s role is to grant or rescind cash and non-cash lines of credit. It also can approve certificates of impossibility and impracticality to allow for Priority 1 projects to be passed over while Priority 2
projects are granted lines of credit.  Language in the capital outlay bill basically says that no lower priority project can be funded with lines of credit unless all higher priority projects are either granted lines of credit or passed over with certificates of impossibility and impracticality.

The Interim Emergency Board’s (IEB) role in the capital outlay process, subject to mail ballot approval by a majority of the Legislature, is to designate a higher or lower bond priority for projects.  Moving funding for a delayed or canceled project from Priority 1 down to Priority 5 can be an alternative to issuing a Priority 1 certificate of impossibility and impracticality.  The IEB also can adjust the description of a project in the capital outlay act to correct, clarify or change the scope of a description.
Final decisions regarding which projects are funded are firmly in the hands of the governor. The governor controls project selection at two critical stages: initial development of the annual capital outlay budget and submission of lineof-credit requests for bond-funded projects to the State Bond Commission. The governor, the commissioner of administration and the governor’s handpicked legislative leaders account for 10 of the 14 Bond Commission member votes.

In addition, the governor also has line-item veto authority to delete any cash or bond-funded project in the capital outlay budget passed by the Legislature. The process leaves little authority in the hands of the Legislature and essentially makes the capital outlay bill a legislative wish list for governors to use as a bargaining tool to obtain support for their agenda in other areas of government.

SEE FULL DOCUMENT HERE

Northwestern State University’s online bachelor’s program in computer information systems has been rated as the top information technology program in the country, according to Nonprofit Colleges Online.

The rankings at nonprofitcollegesonline.com were created to recognize online colleges and universities committed to putting the interest of students first.  Northwestern State was recognized for having the least expensive bachelor’s program in the information technology field among regionally accredited not-for-profit colleges and universities in the U.S. at an estimated cost of $19,736 for four years of full-time, out-of-state tuition. NSU does not charge out-of-state-tuition for online students. The university received a Students Before Profits Award, which was created to promote nonprofit colleges and universities offering online degree programs that put students before profits and education before the bottom line.

“NSU’s online Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Information Systems provides a strong curriculum exploring networking, cloud computing, cyber forensics, programming, internet web design and development, information security and more,” the site said in its ranking. “Many of these programs are consistently ranked among the top by other national publications and we believe they deserve to be considered among the best online bachelor’s in information technology programs available.”

The computer information systems program provides theoretical and practical hands-on classes in database, networking, programming and systems analysis and design. According to program coordinator Curtis Penrod, the CIS area changes frequently and faculty work with private industry to ensure the program teaches skills needed in the workforce.

“We are pleased to gain this national recognition for our online bachelor’s program in computer information systems,” said Penrod. “The faculty in this area has worked over the past two decades to create an outstanding program that keeps up with the rapidly changing field of information technology. The quality of our students is a reason that our graduates are in high demand by employers on the regional, national and international level.”

Northwestern State students have won 15 first place awards at the Association of Information Technology Professionals National Collegiate Conference over the last 16 years. The conference annually draws more than 600 competitors from more than 50 colleges and universities along with major corporations looking to hire top information technology students.

For more information on the award, go to nonprofitcollegesonline.com/rankings/best-online-bachelors-in-information-technology. You can learn about NSU’s computer information systems degree program at business.nsula.edu/computer-information-systems-home.

Press Release: NSU-CIS
04-20-15

POSITION: Day Camp Counselor- Part Time- Temporary

DESCRIPTION:
1. Provides leadership and supervision for groups
of students ages 6-13

2. Facilitates group activities for youth and implements
pre-planned curriculum

3. Enforces program rules and provides guidance and
consequences to students

4. Acts as role model and provides leadership to students
enrolled in program

5. Prepares, cleans up and maintains the facility daily

QUALIFICATIONS:
At least 18 years of age
Strong communications skills and group management skills
Must pass a drug screen and background check Prior experience teaching
youth in one or more of the following areas: Art, sports, academics,
life skills, and swimming.
Must be available to work mornings, Monday through Friday, June 4-July 31

EDUCATION: High School graduate or equivalent

CONTACT:
City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located at 1400 Sabine St., or P.O. Box 37 Natchitoches. LA 71458-0037. Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall, Located at 700 Second St., or may be found online at http://www.natchitohcesla.gov.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through May 6, 2015

The City of Natchitoches is an equal opportunity employer.

Jeffrey S. Girard, regional archaeologist and assistant professor at Northwestern State University, was named as State Archaeologist of the Year at a ceremony held in Baton Rouge. The honor was part of the 2015 Louisiana Culture Awards presented by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development.

Winners were selected from public nominations earlier this year in concert with the Louisiana State Arts Council, Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, Louisiana Archaeological Survey and Antiquities Commission, Louisiana Folklife Commission and Council for the Development of French in Louisiana.

Girard has been regional archaeologist in the Louisiana Division of Archaeology and a member of Northwestern State’s faculty since 1989. He has been president of the Caddo Conference Organization since 2013.

Girard is co-author of “Caddo Connections: Cultural Interactions within and beyond the Caddo World” and author of a chapter in “The Archaeology of the Caddo.” He has authored or co-authored nearly 30 articles or book chapters on the Caddo, colonial pottery and archaeology in regional, state, national and international journals. Girard earned a bachelor’s in archaeological studies and a master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Texas.

Press Release: NSU
04-22-15

A joint investigation by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office and Natchitoches Fire District #9 has led to the arrest of a Natchitoches Parish man in connection with a structure fire near Campti on Monday morning according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Office.

On Monday morning April 20th at approximately 8:30am, Natchitoches Fire District #9 and Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Division responded to a reported structure fire in the 600 block of Cloud Crossing Road near Campti, La.  The structure owned by Jennifer Gorum was a total loss.

During the initial stages of the investigation, Campti Fire Chief Doug Rachal Jr. requested the assistance of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office and NPSO Criminal Investigations because the fire appeared to be suspicious. Deputy Fire Marshal’s and NPSO detectives responded to the scene.  As the investigation progressed, detectives obtained information that led to a possible suspect identified as Freddy Perot, 25 of 762 La. Hwy 486, Campti, La.  Deputies say during the investigation, Detective Darrel Winder recovered items believed to be stolen from the residence approximately one mile away off of La. Hwy 486 hidden in the ditch.

On Monday morning, deputies located Perot while traveling on Cloud Crossing Road.    He was transported to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division for interview purposes.

Detectives say while interviewing Perot, he confessed that he allegedly entered the back window of the residence and burglarized the residence taking the items that were recovered. Perot further stated that he intentionally ignited a fire which caused the residence to burn.

As a result of the investigation,  NPSO Detectives and Fire Marshal Investigators obtained sufficient evidence and probable cause to obtain criminal warrants signed by a Tenth Judicial District Court Judge for Perot’s arrest.

On Monday afternoon, Perot was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 1-count of Simple Burglary and 1-count of Improper Telephone Communications.

On Wednesday, Perot was arrested while in the Natchitoches Detention Center on a criminal warrant obtained by the State Fire Marshal for 1-count of Aggravated Arson in connection with the fire.
Perot remains in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center awaiting bond.

NPSO would also like to thank the citizens in that area that provided valuable information in the investigation.

Press Release: NPSO
04-22-15

University will offer more degree programs at Leesville campus.

Northwestern State University will expand its memorandum of understanding with Fort Polk by signing an addendum in which the university’s Leesville-Fort Polk campus will offer associate degrees in nursing and bachelor’s degrees in business administration, criminal justice, social work, hospitality management and tourism, nursing and general studies with concentrations in arts and communications, computer and natural science and social science.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding addendum will take place at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 27 in the courtyard of the NSU-Leesville campus with Garrison Commander Colonel T. Glenn Moore and Northwestern State President Dr. James Henderson. Tours of the campus will be available following the signing.

The agreement allows NSU to streamline management of the Army’s postsecondary voluntary education programs and will offer courses at dates and times that meet the needs of military students, their families and Department of the Army Civilians and civilians at the Army Education Center.

“Northwestern State aligned programs to fill some of the education gaps that had been identified in the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk Education Needs Assessment. We now are approved to offer the programs,” said Jason Parks, executive director of NSU’s Cenla and Fort Polk campuses. “This extension recognizes the needs of students and the Fort Polk community.”

“We’ve enjoyed a long relationship with Northwestern State University in pursuit of broadening the educational opportunities for Fort Polk soldiers and family members,” Moore said. “I’m pleased that we are expanding this relationship. The additional programs NSU will offer right here at the Fort Polk campus are going to be a boon for our families in achieving their higher education goals.”

“We at Northwestern State are proud of our military-friendly history,” said NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson. “Northwestern State’s agreement with Fort Polk plays an important role in supporting economic development at the local, state and national levels. This agreement illustrates the university’s willingness to support our military by providing improved access to programs and services that will follow them in their military careers.”

Northwestern State and Fort Polk have had a relationship since 1968 when NSU established its Leesville campus on land donated by Fort Polk and agreed to provide education services to prospective or enrolled students at the army installation. As part of the agreement, NSU built classroom buildings, a library and administrative offices. Since then, Northwestern State has provided academic support to new and previously enrolled military students, family members, the Department of Army civilians and civilians at the Army Education Center.

“These services help prospective and enrolled students complete educational goals successfully,” Parks said. “We strive to teach as many courses as possible on evenings and weekends and often enough so that a student can complete a degree in minimum time.”

Northwestern State is a member of the Service Members Opportunity College Army Degrees (SOCAD) in which institutions like Northwestern State offer associate and bachelor’s degrees to soldiers, their spouses and adult children worldwide. The colleges have flexible policies that allow mobile soldiers and their families to complete degrees without suffering loss of credit and offer both traditional and distance-learning delivery tailored to military experience and training.

“We all know that military students, with their transitory lifestyles, face a variety of challenges in completing college degrees,” Moore said. “Thanks, NSU, for listening to what our soldiers want and need for themselves and their families.”

In case of inclement weather, the signing will take place in Room 1 Building 551 of Northwestern State’s Leesville-Fort Polk campus. The campus is located at 3329 University Parkway in Leesville.

For more information on the signing for the Memorandum of Understanding Addendum, contact Northwestern State’s Director of Informational Services Leah Jackson at (318) 357-4553 or e-mail jacksonl@nsula.edu. For information on the Leesville-Fort Polk campus, visit leesville.nsula.edu.

Press Release: Leah Jackson, Northwestern State University
04/22/2015