The Natchitoches Parish Council held a brief meeting on April 17. Perhaps the most interesting order of business was the introduction of several ordinances to create four Economic Development Districts within the parish. These purpose of these districts is to collect local and state sales and use tax increments (to be determined), which shall be deposited and loaned, granted, or pledged to finance economic development projects within the district. No residences were included in this districts.
The parish currently levies and collects a 1 percent sales and use tax within each district. The Council desires to pledge and dedicate 1 percent of the revenues collected in excess of the annual local base generated by the existing tax collected by the parish within the boundaries of the districts to finance said economic development project costs.
Re-appoint Michael Richardson to the Natchitoches Parish Fire District 4 Board.
First Introduction of proposed Ordinances:
Ordinance 007-1-2023 creating an Economic Development District within the Parish of Natchitoches to be named the “Economic Development District I, Parish of Natchitoches” (THE “DISTRICT”); defining the Boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially State sales defining the boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially state sales and use tax increments will be determined and used t o 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.
Ordinance 007-2-2023 creating an Economic Development District within the Parish of Natchitoches to be named the “Economic Development District II, Parish of Natchitoches” (THE “DISTRICT”); defining the Boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially State sales 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.
Ordinance 007-3-2023 creating an Economic Development District within the Parish of Natchitoches to be named the “Economic Development District III, Parish of Natchitoches” (THE “DISTRICT”); defining the Boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially State sales defining the boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially state sales and use tax increments will be determined and used t o 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.
Ordinance 007-4-2023 creating an Economic Development District within the Parish of Natchitoches to be named the “Economic Development District IV, Parish of Natchitoches” (THE “DISTRICT”): defining the Boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially State sales defining the boundaries thereof from which certain area local and potentially state sales and use tax increments will be determined and used t o 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.
Ordinance 010-2023 to affect a zoning change from an I-A District to a Business-3 (B-3) District for the purpose of a restaurant business on a 3.496-acre tract (Parcel # 0030061400B). The property is located in Section 23, 24, & 52, Township 11 North, Range 8 West with a Physical address of 932 Highway 3163 in Campti, approved by the Parish Planning Commission on April 3, 2023.
Public Hearing:
Ordinance 005-2023 to repeal Ordinance 28-2017, a professional services agreement with Archon Information Systems, L.L.C., D/B/A Civic Source for the administration of an online auction and sale of adjudicated properties program.
Ordinance 006-2023 to amend the Personnel Manual to add Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) and Juneteenth to the Natchitoches Parish Government observed holidays to be uniform with the other entities in the Courthouse on State Holiday Closures.
Ordinance 009-2023 to amend Personnel Manual wording to the Employees Pay Scale if there’s an increase in the minimum wages.
Ordinance 008-2023 to provide for the sale for adjudicated properties.
Resolutions:
Resolution 015-2023 for a permanent polling place change from Precinct 3-9 in the Old Bellwood Baptist Church building at 135 Bellwood Church Rd. In Provencal to Bellwood Baptist Church, located at 5510 Hwy. 117 in Provencal.
Resolution 016-2023 for an agreement between the Parish of Natchitoches and the following municipalities as an official request for road work to be performed within the incorporated limits for the time period of January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and to approve such work to be performed within that time period for the following: Village of Powhatan, Town of Ashland, Town of Campti, Village of Provencal, Village of Clarence, Village of Natchez, Village of Goldonna, and Village of Robeline.
Resolution 017-2023 to proclaim May 7-13, 2023 as National Travel and Tourism Week in Natchitoches Parish.
Discuss levying the same millage or roll forward for the 2023 tax year.
Other Agenda Items:
Authorize the following work for the East Natchitoches Drainage Improvements Louisiana Watershed Initiative Grant Program project:
1. Procurement of property title and appraisal work in accordance with LWI-OCD policy, and
authorization for the Parish President to enter contracts with the selected firms.
2. Parish President to enter into negotiations with landowners for rights-of-way/easements in accordance with LWI-OCD policy. Ordinance will be required upon final negotiations.
3. At such time as all rights-of-ways/easements have been acquired and the project has been authorized by the Office of Community Development to proceed to bidding, authorization for the Parish President to advertise for bids.
Procure the services of a licensed land surveyor to mark the location for the replacement of a concrete monument that previously marked a section corner adjacent to the Good Hope Road, in accordance with the Parish procurement policy, and to enter into a contract for this work.
Award the contract for consultant engineering services to provide updated bridge load ratings for six specified bridges to Huval and Associates of Lafayette, and to negotiate with this firm for the fee to be paid for completion of the specified work.
