Jim Rhodes, chairman of the Cane River Waterway Commission, spoke to the Natchitoches Lions Club March 13. Jim said his father was one of the founding members of a Lions Club in south Louisiana, so he understands Lions and knows what a good organization it is.

Jim updated the members on some ongoing and upcoming CRWC projects, which include:

· Rue Beauport Riverbank Renovation Project, which is scheduled for completion Oct. 15

· Pump Project, which is waiting on filtration system and other parts to be manufactured. The goal of this project is to maintain pool stage in Cane River at all times.

· The recently completed renovation of the dock area at the Washington Street Boat Launch

· The ongoing cutting of trees hanging more than 20 feet over the banks of Cane River

· The upcoming St. Augustine riverbank erosion project to correct a hole that’s eaten away at the river’s edge and under the nearby roadway in front of the church

· Dredging the upper end of Cane River
The CRWC was given the authority in 1982 to assess millage throughout the Parish between 1-6 mills for its funding. For the last several years, the millage was set at 6 to save money for the pump project. With its completion approaching, the CRWC set the millage for 2017 at 4 mills. There will be a public hearing April 18 at 6 p.m. at 244 Cedar Bend in Natchez to consider levying additional or increased millage rates. The estimated amount of tax revenues to be collected in the next year (2018, a roll forward year when the millage will be set at 6 mills) will be $2 million and the amount of increase in taxes attributable to the millage increase is $675,759.

The CRWC will reassess its millage after 2018 when it will have a better idea of where it stands with the pumping station for Cane River and its operating costs.