The Cane River Waterway Commission and the Natchitoches Parish Government held a joint press conference today, June 10, on Shell Beach to announce a cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) to properly pave Bermuda and Fish Hatchery roads.
“If we want better roads we need to understand that that’s going to come from us,” said Parish President John Richmond.
Cane River Waterway Commission Chairman Jim Rhodes made a special plea to other governmental entities and local business to step up, enter a partnership with the Parish and help pave a section or a whole road.
Richmond said that this is a shovel ready project and that once the proper bid process is complete and accepted, the Parish will begin the work and submit the invoices to the CRWC for payment. Richmond further stated that the total funds provided by the CRWC would be between $3.5 – $4.0 million.
Richmond and Rhodes both pointed out that this type of funding will allow the Road District 40 tax funds to be more available to other roads and projects in the Parish.
It reads “ Cane River Waterway Commission Chairman Jim Rhodes made a special plea to other governmental entities and local business to step up, enter a partnership with the Parish and help pave a section or a whole road.” if the Cane River Waterway Commission get it’s money from tax dollars, or from fees collected to maintain the River, lakes and such, then how is it legal tor the people on the commission to arbitrarily decide to give money to repair or build roads. I definitely agree that roads are terrible, but repair must be done in a way that is legal. I have never known a time when it’s ok to just move money from one fund or account to another, especially if it’s not your money that you are moving. I would like either or both of these men to write a letter to the journal telling the people how it’s ok to do this, and what, if any, problems will arise from this little money on the move scheme. How were these roads chosen over other roads? Will either party benefit in any way from this deal? I don’t know all the players in this town, but does Mr. Jim Rhodes, Chairman of the Cane River Waterway Commission have any relationship or a connection in any way with the Rhodes Property Development Co. If there is a connection, do we smell a rat, or is it just a dead skunk on the side of the road. We do not need money changing hands between Waterway Commission Chairman and Parish President in order to repair or build a new road that will be built to take people comfortably to a new housing development benefiting a company tied to one of the parties. I’m not making any accusations, I’m asking questions that we the people need answered. I’m ready to hold government officials to a very high standard, and the only way to do that is ask the difficult questions. If we don’t get a response, I’ll only ask more, and will have dug deeper when I ask them. For the information of anyone reading this, I live in the parish, and yes, I live on a bad road, but I’m not here pushing for my road to be repaired. In my opinion, its condition slows the hot shot speeders down, so I’m fine. If I’m seeing this wrong, someone please tell me where the Waterway Commission gets its money and what that money is to be used for. Thank you.
MEWHP: This is another opinion I can stand behind.
FYI: For people who don’t know the members of the Cane River Waterway Commission, as the microphone was breaking up when the names were given by Mr. Rhodes, I went online and found this:
Methvin, John C. “Chad”, 320 St. Francis Ave,Natchitoches, LA 71457-2509,
Appt by Gov; Natchitoches Leveeand Drainage District
Paige, Larry M,4923 Hwy 494, Natchez, LA 71456-3570
Appt by Gov; At-large
Rhodes, James M. “Jim” Sr, 118 Plantation Point Blvd, Natchitoches, LA 71457-5328
Appt by Gov; Rep Police Jury
Vienne, Margaret W, 1843 Bermuda Rd, Natchez, LA 71456-3728
Appt by Gov; Soil & Water Cons Dist
Wiggins, Van C, 1523 Barclay Drive, Natchitoches, LA 71457-4903
Appt by Gov; Rep City of Natchitoches
I thought it important that each of us know who is on the Commission. It always helps us know who is representing us in any way involving our tax dollars.
I want city and parish governments that are honest in all dealings. We see so much favoritism in small towns, and it is wrong. Let have people we can trust, who would not ever ask for favors or give favors. I’m not saying any of these people would do this, but if we know who is on these committees, we the people, can ask questions that need to be asked early, not when it’s too late. Bermuda Road is being repaired, a committee member lives on that road. Is Mr. Rhodes associated with a real estate company that might benefit from the improvement to these roads? I’m not making accusations, I’m asking if there is any favoritism here.
Let’s get our roads fixed, but done with complete trust in the Parish Council. We must have total trust in the people who represent us in our government. If they are honest people, and willing to work hard for all the people and not for themselves, maybe we can get something done. I for one will keep a list of all government bodies handy, and I will make use of numbers when I have a question, then make use of my computer when I think the information needs to be given to people of the parish. My only concern here is that no favors are given, and no laws are being broken. I can look at this list and see two concerns immediately. I don’t know the players involved, to know if they are being given favors or not, but they are concerns. You have the information, you ask the questions you think you need to ask about this.
Mewhp
Yes Jim Rhodes works for Rhodes Development. No doubt about who brought up this idea at the Cane River waterways meeting. Nothing was published about discussing this in a public meeting. The same group are also asking for an increase in millage, why do they need more money. Who appoints the members of the commission.
Somehow, I don’t think it’s a dead skunk on the side of the road on this deal. The more I hear, the more I believe that there’s a rat somewhere. You asked who appoints the members of the commission, I copied the information just as it was given on the website, where I got all of the information. https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BoardMembers . I don’t know who actually appoints them members of the commission.
As I read the article again, I’m more concerned as I notice the total amount that Mr. Richmond mentioned. “Richmond further stated that the total funds provided by the CRWC would be between $3.5 – $4.0 million.” I hope people take note of this amount and realize just how much money the Cane River Waterway Commission is will to put out on roads. Just where will this money come from? Do they have that much? They do have a budget and a responsibility to take care of the river, lakes and all waterways, if I’m not mistaken. Can they do that and spend up to FOUR MILLION DOLLARS on roads for the parish. It is a magnanimous I’ll give you that, but where is that much money coming from? And it still comes back to the question, why is the waterways committee doing this. I have a real problem with that. As I mentioned earlier, there are possibly two conflicts of interest in the roads that are being done. Not that I am against repair on these roads, they are deplorable, but so are are other roads in the parish. What was the criteria for choosing these roads? I think the people need answers. I’m tired of closed door back room politics, and that is what this feels like to me. If they can prove that I’m wrong, I will apologize and back off, but not until then. I hope others will join me in asking questions. We need to work to make Natchitoches Parish an honest place to live and work, and lets keep the old political way of doing things out. Push closed door, back room politics out of here and have a new way of doing things. Open, and honest. No deals that are not honest. No political favors. Enough of that already. Expect accountability from elected officials, demand it from them. We can grow and do what is needed without deals made behind our backs.
Good start, Bermuda Road is in bad shape.
Was on that road last week and there are huge holes and it’s a rough ride.
I think we need to thank our parish president in finding cooperative ways to get our roads taken care of.
I think we need to be asking some questions.
So now they are rolling the tax mileage forward without a vote which will generate another 40k a year onto revenues that already exceed 2 million plus paid for by all residences in the Parish. We have a non elected body giving taxpayers money to another governmental agency that appoints the board of this non elected body who can’t get a tax passed by the citizens of the whole Parish ….In 2005 the total budget for CRWC was appox 300k and has exploded since then. If this is not illegal it should be, this intermingling of tax dollars between governmental bodies should never be done and is a road we should not go down even if paved with good intentions.
If you think this is a good idea then enjoy your unaccountable government and out of control taxation……it’s still illegal.
Ok. Considering the awful shape of the roads in the parish… what is your viable solution? And have you offered it to the parish leaders? If not, why not? And if so, what was their response?
The citizens said no to a tax…..case closed. If you don’t understand why this is illegal and why this should never happen then never mind
On behalf of the Bermuda Road Improvement Committee, thank you to everyone involved. A special thank you Parish Council District 2 Representative, Patsy Ward for working with our business leaders to make this happen.
What business leaders? This was a back door deal. Hoover couldn’t run a snow cone stand. Any deal like this wrong, their patting each other and have their hands on your check book. Sure getting better roads we need but taxing us more to get them. It’s our tax dollars and we have no say! AND AGAIN NOTHING TO IMPROVE CANERIVER What the tax is for! Who wants to bet a nice new neighborhood pops up down there???
Great post but not mine,wish it was.
Does seem like John is trying and that is really good news
to find someone who cares.These roads are horrible and baby
steps are better then none.
This is great news , Richmond and Rhodes working together to bring a fix to roads!!. You can put Lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig!! The CRWC is overfunded!!
Such great news and such a great start for our Parish. Love this!
It seems like a good example of working together for a better Natchitoches Parish.
On behalf of the Bermuda Road Improvement Committee, thank you to everyone involved. A special thank you to Parish Council District 2 representative, Patsy Ward for working with our business leaders to make this happen.
On behalf of the Bermuda Road Improvement Committee, thank you to everyone involved. A special thank you to Parish Council District 2 representative, Patsy Ward for working with our business leaders to make this happen.