The Natchitoches Parish Council held its first meeting for 2018 on Monday, January 22. The first item of business was the election of the Chair and Vice Chair. Councilman Rodney Bedgood will serve as Chair and Councilman Doug de Graffenried will be Vice Chair.

The Council moved through the Agenda items at a quick pace and the meeting lasted just under an hour. Tony Davis, Executive Director of the Natchitoches Community Alliance presented a progress report on the Foundation’s economic development endeavors.   See Report Here -> Tony Davis – Natchitoches Community Alliance 01-22-18

Mr. Elvin Shields was confirmed for another term on the Waterworks District No. 1 Board. Garland Brown was reappointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission and will be joined by Kacey L. Rodgers who will be serving her first term on the Commission. John T. Batten, Jr. and Ludlow N. McNeely, Jr. were re-appointed to Waterworks District No. 2.

During the Public Hearing portion of the Meeting, an item to amend the Parish’s Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy was tabled due to concerns the Parish Treasurer had with regards to certain language in the Ordinance. The Ordinance will be introduced again at a later meeting. An Ordinance amending Section 2-1 of the Parish Code of Ordinances relative to the Hospital Service District and an Ordinance authorizing the Parish President to execute documents necessary for the purchase of two properties which have been declared repetitive loss by FEMA passed unanimously.

The Council also approved a Resolution to move Precinct 4-3 back to its permanent location of St. Augustine Church Hall and a Resolution adopting the budget for the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory commission.

The final item discussed by the Council was whether or not the Parish will hire another part-time Engineer. Parish President Mr. Nowlin informed the Council that the position has been advertised and that the deadline to apply is February 9. Current Parish Engineer, Mr. Nick Verret, has completed the final revisions for the Coco Bed Rd. project and is still working on a FEMA project for the Lower Cane River Rehabilitation and provides assistance with DEQ reporting requirements. The Payne Subdivision and Hampton Rd. Capital Outlay projects will be contracted out.