The Natchitoches Parish Council held a Special Called meeting on July 11 to approve the resurfacing of Independence Drive and American Way in the Vienna Bend area. Regional Construction was the lowest bidder at $686,948. Council member William “Bill” Allen was absent.

After the special called meeting adjourned, the council entered into a work session to discuss items for the upcoming regularly scheduled meeting on July 29. One special presentation featured Matt Johns with the Rapides Area Planning Commission, who was back before the council to ask them a second time for a local match funding in the amount of $40,500 to go to the RAPC in support of the continued provision of rural transit services for the general public in the City.

The Rapides Area Planning Commission previously asked the Parish for $40,500, which was on the Parish Council Agenda at its May meeting. District 5 Council member Mark Kerry proposed an amendment to the item, adding that the Parish’s contribution was contingent upon the City agreeing to their matching portion of the funding. With a 3:2 vote, the amendment to the item failed (Allen, Cheatwood and Braxton voted against it). The Council then moved on to voting for the item as it originally appeared on the agenda and it died for lack of a second, so the RAPC did not receive its requested funding from the Parish Government.

The Natchitoches City Council approved its local match funding in the amount of $40,500, so Johns was asking the Parish Council to reconsider their stance on funding rural transit for Parish residents. It’s a game of wait and see at this point on whether this will be brought back before the Council as an agenda item at its next meeting.

Other agenda items, which the council will vote on at its July 29 meeting include:

Appoint Rhonda Sanders and Annie Green to the Natchitoches Parish Planning and Zoning Commission

Adopt Ordinance-013-2024 for a budget amendment for the Foster Grandparents Program Fund 810.

Adopt Ordinance-014-2024 to update the Parish of Natchitoches Personnel manual to add a job description for the OCS Senior Program Support and update the current job description for the OCS Senior Program FGP/SCP Project Director position as well as update and add/update the salary ranges to accommodate the new Foster Grand Parent program at OCS.