Two old, crumbling water lines under Second Street, near its intersection with Amulet, burst sometime before lunch on July 25, along with another water line in front of Chateau St. Denis. A pipe also burst under Amulet back on May 30.
It feels like the City Council meeting July 24 was foreshadowing this exact kind of problem. While the Council said it sympathizes with residents on fixed incomes, an increase in the City’s water and sewer rates is necessary to repair an infrastructure dating back to the 50s and 60s. A lot of the City’s distribution issues can be attributed to the old age of the infrastructure. Patching just isn’t going to cut it anymore and something needs to be done before the problem worsens.
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Water/sewer rate increase causes concern, but patching the system isn’t cutting it anymore
i say we start the whole townd ” front street ” on fire like the great
Chicago fire of 1871 and start from scratch.
We build newer and better roads,and new water lines etc…..
Okay people, I have sat here and read all your post which you are very entitled to. I am very serious about this. In the next election or appointment why don’t y’all run for office or get on a committee or whatever it takes to make a difference. It’s easy to type and talk all day but if things are going to happen somebody needs to step up to bat. Also should Natchitoches just roll up the side walks and die? I understand construction and improvements are an inconvenience but do you really not want any
change at all? It’s happening wether we like it or not so why not do what we can to help instead of the negativity? I don’t like a lot of stuff either especially not knowing who is making all the decisions about down town, but I’m not going to bash it. There are a lot of people who come to our little town and buy gas, food, hotel, B&B stays that we collect taxes on. Let’s embrace what’s happening and make it better instead of just verbal bashing all the time. And before rumors are started find out the facts about things such as paying to go down on the river bank. We live in a beautiful little town with some wonderful residents. I can think of a lot worse places to live!
The one reason I don’t run for office is because I’m not qualified to be mayor, or parish president, or a council member. I admit I’m not the person for the job, and I’m not willing to lie to people to get elected. But, I’m sorry, I don’t believe you are correct when you say that all the negative comments do no good. Unless people speak out against bad governmental policies, politicians who are greedy, dishonest, or are simply not right for the job for any number of reasons, how can attention be called to the issue. I have found that many who are elected to office, are elected because they have lived here a long time & know a lot of people, and not because they are the right person for the job. But sneaky political tactics should never be used to get things done. If things don’t seem right, then as a citizen with a right to vote, a resident who is concerned about what is happening where they live, and a person with many doubts about the way tax money is being used, or the way it is misused,I believe it is our civic duty to speak out against these things. Our country is in the mess it’s in today because too many of us sat back quietly and Let. It. Happen! I will never be accused of doing that again. My theory is that if we cannot afford to maintain the city structure, make repairs and replacements when needed in the foundation on which the town is build, then we sure as heck can’t afford the big salaries with benefit packages being given our city & parish leaders. We don’t buy as many new vehicles each year for employees. It’s a matter of common sense, for me at least, a town should know what the revenues are each year. You plan, because you know things will need replacement in a town this old. So do government leaders need to get rich & powerful, or just make a decent living? There are things that are wrong in this town, mistakes being made. Why? Why such a drastic water rate hike, especially in the parish? Why the need to spend money on the riverbank and the sports complex basically at the same time, when there is a major problem that needs to be taken care of quickly. I found that most people who visited here found the riverbank charming as it was, with the big shade trees and areas where their children could run & play. It’s o.k to fix it up and make it prettier, but shouldn’t we still watch the budget. We need to have a smart city government, and I think ours has just fallen short of that goal, and as long as we overspend on luxuries before taking care of necessities,I will voice my opinion about it! I’m like Dexter now, I’m thinking the mayor & others may be ready to run me out of town, and I wonder if they have enough to go to the Journal, or someone, to find out who is so vocal against them. But don’t worry guys, I won’t vote against you, I can’t.
If you think that is bad I live on Grace Ave between Dixie andAnita there is a water pipe that leaks every so often down by Anita and it has been leaking on and off for over thirty years and all they do is patch it. Eventhough we pay taxes our street is in need of repair and the fixed streets all around us and not ours I guess we’re just giving them money for salaries because we aren’t getting anything done for us.
Lol I’m going to keep making comments until mr. Posey runs me out of town, I wonder if the city ever got their money back from that company
for killing all the grass along Highway 6
I just wonder are we going to have to pay to use the sport complex? I mean WE are paying for it!
You’re also going to have to pay to walk down on the River Bank
I feel sure you will have to pay to use the sports complex, after all the people have complained about the money movement from one department to another, they will find that they need to do something to help pay for the thing. But, Dexter, please tell me it isn’t true that people will have to pay to go down on the riverbank. Maybe for concerts on the new stage, but surely not for the Green Market, the car show, and all the other events. But parking is going to be in short supply so I don’t imagine that I will be going to much down there any longer. People will have to arrive early & pray for close parking to one of the stairways. So those of us who can’t walk long distances probably will miss a lot. I think I may long for the good old days of our simple riverbank, where families could bring their little ones to rim & play, or slide down the hill on cardboard boxes. People have always loved the quaint charm of historic Natchitoches, with the beautiful old buildings and brick Front Street. I hope we are not doing things that ruin that charm. First they build that Sports building that looks to me like a chill water system for commercial buildings & older apartment buildings. Nothing historical looking about that ugly thing. We have a retired decorator telling us to open our minds to new & exciting contemporary architecture. That sort of stricture is fine in other places, but this is historic Natchitoches, Louisiana, not a big modern ciy. Let’s. keep the charm and forget the other crap being thrown at us as being progress. Old fashioned charm is what brings the tourists and the money.
Dexter, you know a lot about what’s going on in this town. We need you to volunteer to be a reporter of the news. I don’t believe you would be giving us any fake news, just good old fashioned honest news. Have you ever thought filling us in on the happenings in Natchitoches?
thank you for the confidence but I do not believe I would I care about doing that I would get in a lot of trouble lol
Another thought came to my mind this morning and maybe someone can give me an answer to the question floating around in my head. When you get you water bill within the city limits, is it for water and sewer OR just water? Out here in the country, actually just outside the city limits, we are not on a sewer line, we have a septic system. So again I have the question, why $25 out here where we are not on a sewer line, and $10 within the city limits where there is a sewer line for people. Are the ones with no sewer lines paying more for the repair of sewer lines in the city than the folks who are actually using the system?
Mike I think part of the answer would be that the people inside the city limits pay a property tax were the people outside of the city only pay a parish tax but we have to pay both a city and the parish
I think part of the answer would be that the people inside the city limits pay a property tax were the people outside of the city only pay a parish tax but we have to pay both a city and the parish
Dexter, we in the parish pay a property tax, it’s just that those in the city also pay a city property tax. I don’t know how the property tax in the city is broken down, if it’s a like percentage to what we are paying in the parish that is broken down with part going to city and part going to parish. I do not think city dwellers should have to pay two full property taxes, as the tax is only for one property. I do know that I wish our property taxes were lower. My point was that we are talking apples and oranges when we talk taxes and utility rates. One has nothing to do with the other. Also we, in the parish do not use the city sewer lines at our homes, we purchase and maintain our own septic systems. I’m not debating the point on taxes, I think everyone is getting screwed on taxes as they go to do things that are not being done, they pay outrageous salaries, and buy new vehicles. Taxes should go for the necessities. But by the same token, if I’m not on a sewer line, why do I have to pay more than double what the city residents are paying in new utility rates. That is my question. I think the city screwed it’s residents, and if I were some of you, I believe I would try to tie that sports complex up in court because the city was a little shady about their dealings here. Surely there is some attorney that can afford to help with this mess. I believe it’s wrong any way you look at it, but I still can’t figure why the parish residents pay $25 with no sewer out here, and city pays $10, with sewer use. Does not make sense.
Those are my thoughts, and so far I have not been convinced otherwise. It’s like “POLITICS AS USUAL IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA”
The money spent on the river bank and what’s going to be spent on a sports complex could solve a lot of problems! It’s a no brainier! This kind of thing needs to be brought before the people. Why is this even up for debate?
They just need to drop the sport complex. Any money set aside for that needs to go to the streets. Why the hell don’t the ppl have a say? It’s our tax dollars. Just like the river bank WHO IS MAKING THESE DECISIONS WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FOR IT HAVING A SAY?
Is it true, as reported on one of the local news stations, if you live outside the city limits, your water rates should go up $25 per month and if you live inside the city, they will only go up $10 per month. WHY the difference? Are those of us outside the city limits getting better water, or better service, or just exactly what. What I do know is we have had to get a water cooler and buy bottled water. Our water stinks and I would not drink it ever. It’s horrible, and we get to pay $25 more per month. Oh man, do I ever wish I could vote for city officials. They would all be gone. This is the most ridiculous rate hike I’ve ever seen. Oh and as for the bit about our electric bill going down. That doesn’t have to do with a rate change, that has everything to do with fall and winter coming in the next few months. As some have said, don’t Pi$$ on my leg and tell me it’s raining. I can’t believe y’all are trying to sell bit.
I’m just letting you know up front I do not approve of the rate increase but as far as the water for the people outside of Natchitoches going up more, you don’t have to pay the city property tax one time of the year which mine is close to $1,000 so I do understand to some extent of why the water rates would be higher outside of the city, but like I say I am not for the rate increase because of the line that was told to us about the sport complex
What do you mean by outside the city?
People make choices as to where they want to purchase a home. Did you purchase property knowing about city property tax. The reason my family bought here was because of the city property tax, that is too high & misused by city government. I really don’t understand why whether or not someone pays the city property tax should have anything to do with water rates. Two different things. One is a tax, one is a utility. The problem we have basically that money was taken from one account, water department, and used for another project. I think this should be illegal, and our city leaders don’t seem to have a clue what they are doing. They are making decisions without thinking things through. Our little town is old, lots of things we can’t see are going to cause problems. City leaders are not leading intelligently, and I have my doubts if they are leading at all.
I agree the money should not have been taken out of one Department to do something else with but they had a sneaky election that nobody didn’t know nothing about and they got it approved, now as far as me buying a house here in Natchitoches I bought my house in 1975 at that time there was not no property tax at all valued on the property
Mike, if you are asking me, we heard that if you live outside the city limits,your rate increase will be $25 per month, while inside the city limits it will $10 per month. I think that is what Dexter is referring to as well.
try living in Robeline,La . We get charged anywhere from 25-30 dollars a month or depends what they fill like charging you,you get brown nasty water stains everything and if your lucky they will shut water off during Christmas.
Matt, no thanks. The water out of our pipes is bad enough, though it’s not brown, it is nasty and it stinks. I don’t drink or cook with it.
DOWN TOWN NATCHITOCHES IS ONLY PART OF THE CITY, AN THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION, LIKE THE LAST ONLY THINKS OF DOWN TOWN AN NOT THAT THE REST OF THE CITY NEEDS WORK. DOWN TOWN RIVER BANK WAS FINE LIKE IT WAS AN ALL THAT TIME AN ENERGY , AN “MONEY” COULD HAVE BEEN WELL SPENT ON THE WATER AN SEWAGE PROBLEMS. LIKE NORTH WILLIAMS EVER TIME THE FIRE DEPT OPENS ONE FIRE HYDRANT OUR WATER LOOKS LIKE THE RED RIVER AN HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR MORE THEN 15 YEARS AN YET NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AN YET A FORMER CITY OFFICIAL SAID THE WATER WAS STILL SAFE TO DRINK, I HAD INVITED HIM TO COME TO MY HOME AN DRINK A GLASS I PULLED BUT YET NEVER SHOWED UP, I THINK HE KNEW HE WOULD NEVER DRINK IT. WE DO NOT NEED NEW RATES, WE NEED A WHOLE NEW GOVERNING BODY ELECTED WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE OLDEST CITY , WHICH ID MORE THAN JUST DOWN TOWN. SO THERE FORE PEOPLE IN NATCHITOCHES NEED TO STOP FUNDING THE CITY WITH MONEY THAT ONLY GOES TO DOWN TOWN, AN SAY NO !! TO NEW RATES THE CITIZENS OF NATCHITOCHES HAVE A VOTE ON THIS MATTER NOT THE COUNCIL. CUT THE SALARIES OF ALL THE TOP PEOPLE IN CITY GOVERNMENT BY 40 % AN NO MORE NEW CARS AN TRUCKS, THERE IS TO MUCH CITY WASTE THAT NEEDS TO COME TO A HALT.
burn the city down and start from scratch.why did we need a sports building,new river bank ? city leaders need to go and get fresh blood in.
It’s funny that we have money to pay city and parish leaders very nice salaries with great benefits, but cannot afford to keep the city utilities working as they should. Too bad the city governing body didn’t think of these things when they decided on the big raise a few years back for the mayor and more recently for parish government leader. I think they should make good money, but I do believe that thought was not put into money that would be needed to maintain an old town that is building and growing. Come on, fellows, think about things before dipping into the cookie jar to fatten your purses.
Plus all of the City employees are riding around in brand spanking new vehicles and they get a new one every year
There is also a burst underground water pipe at the intersection of Pine and Nelken which has been leaking a stream of water up Pine Street and down Cypress to Demeziere for about a month now. The city mapped the location with chalk lines and flags weeks ago, but nothing has been done about it yet.
The pipes busting near the new hotel are probably a direct result of all the construction that has gone on there. Lots of heavy equipment rolling over the top of those pipes. Not saying the pipes weren’t old and all of that, but probably would have had years of service left in them if not exposed to all that construction activity. Make the hotel pay for it, not poor people.
Kevin, I know a lot of places that charge for the big trucks and machines that mess up the streets in a town. They have to have insurance to repair any major damage. Are the leaders of this city blind and dumb?
It’s not that we have a problem with the rate increase, but what we have a problem with is when the city took the money out of the water and sewage budget to build a sports complex, we are asking for the city to put the money back in the water is sewage Department where it should have stayed in the first place, then if we need a rate increase then I think that it would be more acceptable
Insted of doing all the renovations on Front Street of The River Why not put that money towards fixing the water lines instead it’s wasted completely changing the historic downtown Riverbank.