The Natchitoches City Council held a full session Tuesday evening, July 14, approving measures that advance residential development, address dangerous structures, and fund infrastructure improvements ranging from city streets to airport fueling systems.
Council members unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 025 of 2025, rezoning a 2.91-acre tract located along the Highway 1 Bypass from industrial (I-1) to multi-family residential (R-3). The land, described in a survey by Robert Lynn Davis, lies between South Drive, Thomas Street, and the Natchitoches Times property.
The change will allow for the development of multi-family housing, such as duplexes or apartment buildings. The applicant, John Bernard, is seeking to meet the area’s growing need for housing, though specific plans have not yet been submitted.
With Ordinance No. 021 of 2025, the Council declared four properties within city limits unsafe due to neglect, fire damage, or lack of permits and restoration. These included:
- 801 Dixie Street – A fire-damaged former store, partially boarded up, with no remediation efforts.
- 412 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive – A long-vacant school building owned by the state, with repeated break-ins, squatters, and fire incidents.
- 817 4th Street – A historic home where partial restoration is underway but no permits have been issued.
- 852 Second Street – A neglected residential property with no visible progress or permits filed.
After extensive discussion and public input, the council voted to condemn the Dixie Street and MLK properties but granted six-month extensions to the 4th and Second Street properties. The decision gives owners time to pull permits and demonstrate concrete progress.
Among those addressing the Council was Cindy Mandarino, owner of 817 4th Street, who shared her family’s struggle to restore their storm-damaged home while awaiting state licensing for their contractor. The couple has lived in a trailer on the property for two years and fears condemnation could derail their financing.
“We’re living on the property, doing the best we can, but our contractor can’t get a permit until he passes the second licensing test,” Mandarino said.
The contractor, Greg Duggan, has passed the first exam so he can obtain the required licensing to do the restoration work, but is waiting on scheduling for the second due to delays at the state level. The Council requested documentation verifying progress be submitted by the next meeting on July 28.
With Ordinance No. 023 of 2025, the Council awarded the 2025 Street Rehabilitation Program to APEC Construction, LLC of Anacoco. At $570,263.10, APEC submitted the lowest of two bids. The project will include improvements to:
- Woodyard Drive (off South Drive)
- JCW Drive (off Welch Street)
- East Fifth Street (near Natchitoches Regional Medical Center)
Work could begin as early as August, with state funds also secured for future work on St. Maurice Lane.
The Council also approved Ordinance No. 024 of 2025, formalizing a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Historic District Business Association (HDBA). Under the agreement, the City will continue to process payroll for one HDBA employee, who formerly worked for the city, in exchange for event planning and tourism-related services provided by the association.
Officials highlighted the HDBA’s role in organizing major local events, including the Christmas Festival, and its partnership in maintaining the City’s Main Street certification.
Ordinance No. 026 of 2025 was introduced, which would authorize the mayor to award a bid to Arkansas Electric Cooperative for a 12,500 KVA three-phase transformer at a cost of $77,670. The transformer will serve as a critical backup for major customers, including the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Pilgrim’s Pride, Walmart, and the sewer treatment plant.
The transformer will replace aging equipment, increasing both safety and system reliability. The ordinance will return for final approval at a future meeting.
With Resolution No. 060 of 2025, the Council approved a $13,453.50 reduction to the contract for Breda Town Water Distribution Improvements – Phase 2, originally awarded to CDE Construction, LLC. The revised total is now $588,100.70.
The cost savings came from switching to more practical DR 11 pipe and removing unnecessary check valves from service lines.
The Council also adopted Resolution No. 061 of 2025, certifying substantial completion of fuel system upgrades at Natchitoches Regional Airport. The project, fully funded by federal and state grants, added a second 12,000-gallon Jet-A fuel tank, new dispensers, and digital card readers.
The upgrade will help meet the fuel demands of agricultural planes and corporate jets, enhancing airport operations and regional readiness.
The Natchitoches City Council will reconvene on Monday, July 28 to revisit ongoing issues—including contractor licensing verification for deferred condemnation cases—and continue its work on city planning, safety, and infrastructure.
