The Natchitoches Parish Council held a brief meeting on Oct. 16. Several notable agenda items were related as they each dealt with change orders for recent resurfacing work on Hart and Harmony Roads.
A. Execute Change Order No. 1 for Natchitoches Parish Project No. NPPW-2022-01, Resurfacing of Hart Road, which provides for alterations in the contract quantities.
B. Execute Change Order No. 1 for Natchitoches Parish Project No. NPPW-2022-02, Resurfacing of Harmony Road, which provides for alterations in the contract quantities.
C. Execute Change Order No. 2 for Natchitoches Parish Project No. NPPW-2022-01, Resurfacing of Hart Road, which provides for sealing dessication cracks that have occurred in the completed asphalt surfacing.
D. Execute Change Order No. 2 for Natchitoches Parish Project No. NPPW-2022-02, Resurfacing of Harmony Road, which provides for sealing dessication cracks that have occurred in the completed asphalt surfacing.
Crews will seal any crack 1/8” or larger as these will allow moisture to penetrate and cause the roadway to crack further. As long as the cracks are taken care of, it shouldn’t affect the service life of the road. The Council learned that these cracks can potentially be caused by extended periods of hot, dry weather such as Natchitoches Parish went through over the summer. After the above change orders are approved there will be excess funds remaining in the amount of $299,000 that can be put to use elsewhere in the parish.
Other agenda items included:
Re-appoint Ludlow McNeely to the Natchitoches Parish Fire District 6 Board.
First Introduction of proposed Ordinances:
A. Introduce Ordinance 021-2023 to affect a zoning amendment of approximately 62-acre tracts (parcels #0060045300 & 0060045400) with a variance for relief from the setback from the southern property line from 245 feet to 136 feet for Industrial-Agriculture (I-A) special exception to
allow the placement of a new cell tower. The property is in Section 8, Township 8 North, Range 9 West with no physical address, as shown on the Survey attached hereto, approved by the Parish Planning Commission on October 02, 2023. Off Hwy. 6 in Robeline.
B. Introduce Ordinance 022-2023 to affect a zoning amendment of parcel #0010279800 to RMH-1 zoning for the placement of a manufactured home. The property is in Section 2, Township 9 North, Range 8 West with a physical address of 2660 Johnson Chute Road, Natchitoches, LA 71457, as shown on the Survey attached hereto, approved by the Parish Planning Commission on October 02, 2023.
C. Introduce Ordinance 023-2023 to authorize an act of sale by the Parish of Natchitoches to sell certain adjudicated Properties (PARCELS 9010115600, 9010127000, 9010315900, & 9010229800) by Public Auction; and, further providing with respect thereto.
Adopt Ordinance 019-2023 to dedicate all gaming revenue from the State of Louisiana to the Highway Fund.
Adopt Ordinance 020-2023 to affect a zoning amendment of two tracts of land that are being divided from an approximately 10.85-acre parent tract (parcel # 0010291790) to B-3 zoning for the use of starting a short-term rental business. The property is in Section 24, Township 9 North, Range 8 West with no physical address, as shown on the Survey attached hereto, approved by the Parish Planning Commission on September 11, 2023.
Resolutions:
Approve Resolution-054-2023 The Natchitoches Parish Government has been afforded the opportunity to participate in the State of Louisiana Community Development Block Grant FY 2023 Program administered by the Division of Administration for Natchitoches Parish. The Natchitoches Parish Government as legal recipient of the LCDBG funds does hereby authorize the following actions:
Section 1. Financial Management to authorize the Treasurer Julie Lockhart and Asst. Treasurer Cathy Creamer to sign the “Authorized Signature Card for request for Payment and that John Richmond shall certify the correctness of the signatures and that City Bank is hereby designated as the official depository for direct deposit of grant funds for the LCDBG project.
Section 2. Requisition of Funds that all invoices for work performed or material used in relation to the LCDBG Program prior to payment and that John Richmond and Julie Lockhart are hereby authorized to sign checks written on the LCDBG Account.
Section 3. Equal Opportunity the LCDBG program requires the appointment by the recipient of an Equal Opportunity Officer (EEO Officer) to have responsibility for maintaining all pertinent EEO files. Natchitoches Parish Government that Julie Lockhart is hereby appointed as EEO Officer for the life of the LCDBG program and as such is charged to faithfully execute all duties and responsibilities herein described.
Section 4. 504 Coordinator the State requires Grantees to designate a responsible person to coordinate the Natchitoches Parish Government efforts to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Ms. Julie Lockhart has been appointed Section 504 Compliance Officer.
Section 5. Compliance with the LCDBG program requires that all grant recipients establish and adopt by resolution a Section 3 Plan and appoint a Section 3 Coordinator and certification procedures; The Natchitoches Parish Government adopts a Section 3 Plan and appoints Julie Lockhart as its Section 3 Coordinator.
Section 6. Residential Anti Displacement: The LCDBG Program requires that all grant recipients adopt by resolution a Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. The Natchitoches The Parish Government hereby adopts the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan and appoints Julie Lockhart as its Coordinator.
Section 7. Language Access Plan as part of its Citizen Participation Plan to reach out and inform its citizens, the Natchitoches Parish Government has developed a language access plan to inform its citizens who may not understand or speak English. The Natchitoches Parish Government hereby adopts the Language Access Pan and all update for the Parish’s LCDBG Program.
Section 8. Section 504 Grievance Procedure the LCDBG Program requires that all grant recipients adopt by resolution an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the regulation of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 24 CFR Part 8, implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Public La 93-112 and the Natchitoches Parish Government hereby adopts the Grievance Procedure for the Parish’s LCDBG Program.
Section 9. Policy Statement for Communication Information to persons with Sensory Impairments the LCDBG Program requires that all grant recipients adopt by resolution a policy for communicating information to persons with hearing impairments. The Natchitoches Parish Government hereby adopts a policy to utilize the Louisiana Hearing Impaired Relay System for communicating with hearing impaired persons. The relay numbers are-Information 1-800-333-0605; TDD Users 1-800-846-5277 and voice Users 1-800-947-5277.
B. Adopt Resolution 055-2023 to authorize Sharon Harris, Executive Director, Natchitoches Office of Community Services to enter and sign the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Agreement for grant period 10/1/2023 – 09/30/2025.
C. Adopt a resolution-056-2023 that the Parish has complied with all requirements of the Federal Off System Bridge Replacement Program.
Other Agenda Items:
E. Enter into a CEA between Natchitoches Parish Government and Beardon Construction for installation of road aggregate on Robert Baxter Road
F. Amend the CEA to add the issuance of not exceeding of Capital Area Finance Authority Revenue Bonds in one or more series (the “Bonds”) to finance loans to first-time homebuyers within the jurisdictional parishes of the Authority and such other Governmental units (the “Participating Jurisdictions”) whose governing authority authorized and directed the execution of a cooperative endeavor agreement (a “CEA”) with the Authority under the provisions of the Act and other applicable constitutional and statutory authorities.
G. Enter a CEA between the Natchitoches Parish Government and the Robeline Heritage Society, Inc. for usage of a Parish Building/Land.
H. Award the Additive Alternate for the ReSurfacing of Hart Road to Apeck Construction
