The Natchitoches Parish Council advanced several key infrastructure initiatives at its June 15 meeting, including the implementation of pre-disaster debris collection contracts and the procurement of state grant funding, while concurrently tabling a series of rezoning ordinances due to a lack of a quorum at a recent planning commission meeting. The meeting also featured a public hearing regarding the enforcement of parish road regulations, resulting in an amendment to a proposed penalty ordinance to remove a seatbelt enforcement provision.
Parish representatives presented updates on pre-disaster planning, outlining a strategy backed by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The council approved competitively awarded pre-disaster standby contracts for debris collection, disposal and monitoring to streamline recovery operations in the event of major storms or tornadoes. The contracts will remain active for three years and apply only to unincorporated areas outside municipalities such as the City of Natchitoches, Goldonna and Clarence.
Financial disclosures for the month of May revealed that parish sales tax revenues are currently tracking approximately 10% below last year’s figures. Officials noted a significant recovery from earlier in the fiscal year, when revenues lagged by nearly 30%.
The council announced the approval of a $60,000 Fiscal Year 2026 Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) for the Natchitoches Parish development project. Additionally, the parish submitted an application on June 8 for a $200,000 federal planning grant aimed at mitigating long-standing transit issues in a neighborhood isolated by terrain and railroad infrastructure. The proposed planning project, which has secured formal letters of support from Union Pacific and Weyerhaeuser, will evaluate potential solutions such as constructing an overpass or rerouting existing roadways to establish a permanent connection.
The council also approved appointments to the Natchitoches Parish Fire District No. 5 Board, appointing Landon LaCour to fill a vacancy and reappointing Patricia Nichols to another term.
During a scheduled public hearing, the council adopted Ordinance 010-2026, reducing the speed limit on Independence Street from 35 mph to 15 mph because of safety concerns. The council also codified Ordinance 011-2026, which updates Section 32-21 of the Natchitoches Parish Code of Ordinances to align with Louisiana law regarding the taxation of digital products. The change stems from a special election held on April 24, 2021, and does not create a new tax but updates the parish code to reflect current state law and tax collection practices for District 40, which encompasses areas outside the Natchitoches city limits.
The council also adopted Ordinance 016-2026, implementing a dynamic reference system to officially adopt the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code and the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code while consolidating flood hazard and manufactured home utility regulations into a single code chapter. Concurrently, Ordinances 012-2026 through 015-2026, which involved proposed zoning changes, were tabled after the Planning and Zoning Commission failed to achieve a quorum at its June meeting. Parish officials requested the ordinances be delayed until the commission can formally convene and provide recommendations to the council.
The council introduced an ordinance to rescind a previous road abandonment measure, Ordinance 009-2026, regarding a 1,285-foot portion of Felise Lacaze Road. The original vote to designate the stretch as a private road was found to be procedurally deficient after it was discovered that a neighboring landowner had not received the legally required notice. The roadway serves as the only public access point to a recently acquired 78-acre tract that connects to a larger 420-acre property. The council moved forward with the repeal ordinance to preserve public access while the matter undergoes further review.
A final public hearing on Ordinance 017-2026, which amends regulations regarding the abusive use of parish roads, led to a revision before adoption. The original proposal included fines of $500 for roadway damage, $200 for unauthorized vehicles such as ATVs on parish roads, $200 for disregarding traffic signs, $500 for illegal dumping, and $50 for failing to wear a seatbelt. Council members expressed concerns that seatbelt enforcement extended beyond the intended scope of parish oversight officers. The council voted to remove the seatbelt provision before adopting the remainder of the ordinance. The ordinance also adds language prohibiting the dumping of animal remains and solid waste.
Earlier in the meeting, the council welcomed Peggy Aycock of the Daughters of the American Revolution and approved resolutions proclaiming June 14, 2026, as Flag Day and the week of June 14-20 as National Flag Week. The council also approved a resolution honoring the 251st birthday of the United States Army.
Additional resolutions approved during the meeting included participation in a Capital Area Finance Authority program designed to provide financing opportunities for first-time homebuyers and a resolution canvassing and declaring the results of the May 16 special elections involving parish and Road District No. 40 tax renewals and rededications.
The council also designated the Natchitoches Times as the official journal for Natchitoches Parish Government.
During public comments, a resident of Allen Bule Road raised concerns regarding road conditions, dust, traffic impacts associated with the closure of Highway 487 and the condition of roadway materials used during previous maintenance efforts.
The Natchitoches Parish Council will next convene for a special voting session on Monday, July 20, at 5:30 p.m.