The Natchitoches Parish Council moved through a full agenda during its Nov. 17 regular meeting, addressing proposed ordinances, resolutions, departmental updates, and several parish operational items.
A series of ordinances were presented for public hearing and final action:
• Ordinance 018-2025 — Adoption of the 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets, including appropriations for parish departments, projects, and accounts. The Council approved the budget with an amendment.
• Ordinance 019-2025 — Establishment of a franchise fee for Southwestern Electric Power Company for use of parish rights-of-way and public property. The ordinance failed.
• Ordinance 021-2025 — Authorization for the parish president to surplus the Robeline Library Building. The Council approved the measure unanimously.
• Ordinance 022-2025 — Authorization to sell adjudicated property (Parcel 9020095450) at public auction. The measure passed.
• Ordinance 023-2025 — Authorization to sell adjudicated property (Parcel 9042012100) at public auction. The ordinance passed.
Resolutions:
• The Council approved a resolution allowing OCS Executive Director Sharon Harris to enter into and administer the LIHEAP grant agreement for the period of Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2027.
• A resolution supporting the issuance and sale of $7.5 million in revenue-anticipation notes for the Natchitoches Parish Hospital Service District was approved. Hospital representatives described the Medicaid-related cash-flow delays that prompted the request and noted the borrowing will be repaid by September 2026. Council members confirmed that the parish carries no liability for the debt.
Other Agenda Items:
• Cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, increasing the parish’s monthly contribution from $303 to about $334.
• IT services agreement with Kinetix Broadband to provide cybersecurity monitoring, secure backups, and managed response capabilities.
• Annual employee health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans were reviewed, with staff noting that the parish’s self-funded health plan is expected to retain approximately $300,000 at year’s end. Dental rates remain unchanged, and vision and life policies continue under existing contracts.
• Property, liability, workers’ compensation, automobile, marine, cybersecurity, and public officials insurance policies were also renewed. Staff reported increases in some categories, partially offset by a reduction in workers’ compensation costs.
During the non-agenda visitor period, a resident raised concerns about the condition of the parish-owned shooting range property. Officials discussed structural damage, insurance limitations, safety issues, and possible future options. No action was taken.
The meeting adjourned following public comment.