Mayor Lee Posey presented the N.S.U. Middle Lab School Orchestra and Director Katrice LaCour with a plaque congratulating them on their outstanding performance at Carnegie Hall. Students and family members filled the Arts Center at the City Council meeting Monday night, May 13.

Monday, March 26 was a historic day for the orchestra, which under Director Katrice LaCour, was one of six groups to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

This historic journey began slightly over a year ago after receiving an invitation from Manhattan Concert Productions. The first Booster Club meeting was held March 1, 2018, and a fundraiser committee was formed to raise money to offset the cost of the trip.

The Orchestra Booster Club organized several bake sales, its first golf tournament, two hamburger sales (Cane River Charities), Martha Dowden’s Famous Pound Cake sale, and performed for Governor John Bel Edwards and the First Lady at their first orchestra banquet. More than $75,000 was generated through fundraising and private donations throughout the year.

The invitation to play at Carnegie Hall came after the Orchestra won gold at the Festival Disney Competition in Orlando, Fla. on March 31 – April 1 of 2018. They were the only middle school orchestra attending the competition, so they were moved up to the High School orchestra division.

In other business, the Council approved a resolution stating its support for the placement of a temporary bridge at Touline Street (SEE DOCUMENTS BELOW) to handle traffic during the construction of the new Church Street Bridge, and further authorizing and directing the Mayor to communicate its support and preference to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

PLANNING & ZONING – INTRODUCTION:

Amend Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows: Lot At Southeast Intersection Of Texas Street Having Front Of 100 Feet On Texas Street By Depth Of 172.5 Feet On 5th Street from B-2 Neighborhood Business District to B-3 Community & Central Business District to operate an automobile repair business. (421 Texas St.)

ORDINANCES – FINAL:

Adopt Millage Rate For The Tax Year 2019
Authorize The Mayor To Award The Bid For The City Council Chambers Renovation Project (Bid No. 0611)
Adopt The Budget For The City Of Natchitoches For The Fiscal Year June 1, 2019 Through May 31, 2020
Authorize The Mayor To Execute A Lease In Favor Of Med-Trans Corporation, Of A Portion Of Lot 1a Of The Natchitoches Regional Airport As Shown On The Airport Layout Plan Of April 27, 2001, By Alliance Incorporated And Further Providing For Advertising Of The Lease And An Effective Date
Approve A Conveyance Of A 4.774 Acre Tract Of Land In Section 74, Township 9 North, Range 7 West, To Archie’s Towing Service, L.L.C., For The Sum And Price Of $260,000

ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:

Amend The 2018-2019 Budget To Reflect Additional Revenues And Expenditures

RESOLUTIONS:

Authorize The Mayor To Execute Change Order No. 3 To The Contract Between The City Of Natchitoches And Womack And Sons Construction Group, Inc., For The Master Lift Station Replacement, FY 2016 Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) Sewer Rehabilitation (Bid No. 0596)

Authorize The Mayor To Execute A Certificate Of Substantial Completion To The Contract Between The City Of Natchitoches And Womack And Sons Construction Group For The Master Lift Station Replacement, FY 2016 Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) Sewer Rehabilitation

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The offices of the City of Natchitoches will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2019 for Memorial Day.

The regularly scheduled City Council Meeting for Monday, May 27, 2019 has been re-scheduled to Tuesday, May 28, 2019 due to Memorial Day.