Steve Horton stood before the City Council at its Feb. 13 meeting to address Ordinance #014 on the agenda, representing several entities, the Natchitoches Historic District Commission, the Northwestern State University Board of Directors, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. Speaking for all of these entities, they are for it and are welcome to working with it.
Ordinance #14 was up for introduction. It would amend Section 16.1-1 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Natchitoches to provide an enlarged “Local Natchitoches Historic District.” The recommendation is that the limits of the district be enlarged to include an area to the Northwest of the exiting limits, including areas along Texas Street and Breda Avenue.
Findings from a recent audit were addressed at the Feb. 13 Natchitoches City Council meeting. An unmodified opinion was issued on the City of Natchitoches, which is good. There were no material weaknesses or instances of noncompliance. A single audit was also required because the City received over $750,000 in federal awards. There were no findings related to this. Everything was clear.
There was an unassigned fund balance at the end of the year in the amount of $3.8 Million, which means that the General Fund is in great financial health.
In other business, Jason Dewitt from Boyce spoke to Council members on his campaign for the upcoming election for State Representative for District 25, which is a newly drawn district. It will run from Woolworth to Powhatan. He is a graduate of Northwestern State University. He assured the Council that, if elected, he will continue to be an advocate for the City of Natchitoches.
Other agenda items included:
ORDINANCES – FINAL:
Enter Into A Lease Of A 29.7 Acre Tract In The Industrial Park For Hay Operations With M & M Farms Of Cane River, L.L.C., And Authorizing The Mayor, Ronnie Williams, Jr., To Execute Said Lease On Behalf Of The City Of Natchitoches, And To Provide For Advertising.
Enter Into A Lease Of A 25 Acre Tract In The Industrial Park For Hay Operations With James R. Stacy, And Authorizing The Mayor, Ronnie Williams, Jr., To Execute Said Lease On Behalf Of The City Of Natchitoches, And To Provide For Advertising.
Authorize A Lease Of That Area Under Fence At The Natchitoches Regional Airport For Hay Operations With James Russell Stacy, And Authorizing The Mayor, Ronnie Williams, Jr., To Execute Said Lease On Behalf Of The City Of Natchitoches, And To Provide For Advertising.
Execute An Agricultural Lease From The City Of Natchitoches In Favor Of John Danley And Sally Danley Of That Property Located Between The South Louisiana Highway 1 By-Pass And Waterwell Road Being Tracts “B” And “D” As Shown On A Survey By Glen L. Cannon, Dated October 2005 And Recorded At Map Slide 569-B Of The Records Of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, And Further Consenting To A Sublease From Pilgrim’s Pride To Russell Stacy Of Tract “B” As Shown On A Survey By Glen L. Cannon, Dated October 2005 And Recorded At Map Slide 569-B Of The Records Of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, And Further Providing For Advertising Of The Lease, A Public Hearing And An Effective Date.
Designate Funds From The American Rescue Plan To Assist With The Water Treatment Project In The City Of Natchitoches That Are Essential To Public Health And Welfare And To Otherwise Provide With Respect Thereto.
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:
Approve The Acquisition Of A Water Fountain For Placement In Cane River Lake, And Further Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana, To Enter Into A Cooperative Agreement With The Cane River Waterway District Related To The Acquisition Of The Water Fountain, And To Execute Any And All Other Related Documents That Might Be Necessary And Proper, To Provide For Advertising, And A Savings Clause
Approve A Memorandum Of Cooperative Endeavor Between The City Of Natchitoches, The Red River Waterway Commission And The Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau To Promote The Use Of The Red River For The 2023 Mr. Crappie Invitational Qualifier
Award The Bid For A Bucket Truck (Used) For The City Of Natchitoches Utility Department (Bid No. 0656)
Create An Economic Development District Within The City Of Natchitoches To Be Named The “Natchitoches Economic Development District F, State Of Louisiana” (The “District”); Defining The Boundaries Thereof From Which Certain Area Local And Potentially State Sales And Use Tax Increments Will Be Determined And Used To Finance Economic Development Projects Within The District, All As Authorized By Part II Of Chapter 27 Of Title 33 Of The Louisiana Revised Statutes Of 1950, As Amended (The “Act”); And Providing For Other Matters In Connection With The Foregoing.
RESOLUTIONS:
Enter Into A Contract With Travelers Casualty And Surety Company Of America For The Public Official Schedule Bond For The City Of Natchitoches.
Advertise And Accept Bids For The Purchase Of A Bucket Truck For The City Of Natchitoches Utility Department (Bid No. 0657)
Execute Change Order No. 1 For West Natchitoches Water Main Replacement, Phase I (Bid No. 0648)
Execute A Certificate Of Substantial Completion To The Contract Between The City Of Natchitoches And Pulley Construction, Inc., For West Natchitoches Water Main Replacement, Phase I (Bid No. 0648)
Execute An Agreement With The Louisiana Department Of Transportation And Development (LA DOTD) For Improvements At The Natchitoches Regional Airport. Rehabilitate Airfield Drainage – Phase IV (Construction)
Execute An Agreement With The Louisiana Office Of Community Development For The 2021 – 2022 Community Water Enrichment Fund Grant Application (CWEF) For Improvements To The Natchitoches Water System
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next scheduled City Council meeting will be February 27, 2023.
The offices of the City of Natchitoches will be closed Monday, February 20, 2023 in honor of President’s Day.
