The Natchitoches Parish Council met Sept. 21 and addressed the 2025 financial audit, the 2027 operating and capital budget, road projects and speed limits, property assessments, Community Development Block Grants, parish insurance and concerns about litter along parish roadways.
The parish’s annual financial audit for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025 received a clean, unmodified opinion. The audit found the parish was in better financial condition at the end of 2025 than the previous year, with its net position increasing by $6.4 million and total revenues increasing by $2.3 million. Most of the additional revenue came from property taxes, sales taxes and $6 million in grants. No serious problems were found with how the parish handles money, and there were no violations of laws, contracts or grant requirements. Two findings from the 2024 audit were cleared, and no new findings were reported.
The council introduced Ordinance 021-2026 for the 2027 Operating and Capital Budget.
The council also introduced Ordinance 022-2026 to amend Code 1984 Section 304 concerning littering and Section 20-11 concerning abusive use of roads. Council members discussed increases in fines and provisions that would allow consideration of the severity of a violation.
Ordinance 023-2026 was introduced to reduce the speed limit from 35 mph to 15 mph on Bayou Blue #618. Council members discussed complaints about speeding on the narrow road and noted that it is no longer used as a through route.
Ordinance 024-2026 was introduced to reduce the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on Coulee Loop #340. Council members discussed sharp curves, school bus traffic, homes and speeding concerns on the road.
Ordinance 025-2026 was introduced to reduce the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on Cloud Crossing Road. Council members discussed speeding concerns, children in the area and school bus traffic.
The council held public hearings on several proposed ordinances.
Ordinance 019-2026, a budget amendment, reduces FEMA and state funding in the 2026 budget for the East Natchitoches Drainage and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center generator projects, which have been pushed to 2027. It also moves revenue and expenses for Lateral Lane into 2026 because the majority of the project was budgeted for 2025.
The council discussed the Lateral Lane project, with approximately $115,000 to $120,000 remaining from the original amount received for the project. The project was described as nearly complete.
The council also discussed the East Natchitoches Drainage project, including property acquisition and the approval of Ordinance 022-2026 to acquire necessary drainage servitudes. Officials said the parish had received an extension and that the project was expected to go to bid by December, with construction potentially beginning after bids are opened, depending on the bids received.
Ordinance 020-2026, reducing the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph on Patrick Road for safety reasons, was passed.
The council also passed an application by Vintage Design Group, LLC, for a survey and rezoning of two tracts of land for the purpose of building an indoor recreational facility. The property is located in Section 14, Township 9 North, Range 7 West, with no physical address. The current zoning is IA, and the requested zoning is B3. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.
During a public hearing with the Parish Council sitting as a Board of Review, Parish Tax Assessor Yolanda Reed discussed an appeal involving International Paper. Reed said the 2026 pretax figures showed the total assessed value had increased by $24,518,722. International Paper requested a 50% reduction in its assessed value based on an orderly liquidation value report following the closure of the facility.
Reed said the facility closed April 1 and had operated from January through March 31. She said she had previously allowed economic obsolescence reductions for some equipment and offered a 20% reduction, with the possibility of 25% based on audited financial statements. She said she did not believe it was appropriate for her to grant the requested 50% reduction because it would affect the taxing districts in the area.
The council approved the assessed value levied by the tax assessor.
The council approved participation in the State of Louisiana’s 2026/2027 Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the Division of Administration. The resolutions were amended to include procurement procedures relative to the LCDBG program and a citizen participation plan.
The council also approved the Parish President to sign and execute cooperative endeavor agreements with the State of Louisiana Treasury for line-item appropriations including $300,000 for Strange Church Road, $200,000 for operations, acquisitions and equipment, $170,000 for repairs, milling and overlaying Marthaville Street, $100,000 for law enforcement vehicles and equipment, $400,000 for Westwind Church Road, $25,000 for the Animal Control Facility and $130,000 for white rock installation for Mora Baptist Church Road.
Council members discussed the projects, including plans for road work on Marthaville Street and the use of white rock and 610 base material on Mora Baptist Church Road.
The council authorized the Parish Treasurer to sign a change of agent/broker form and letter to change from Risk Services of LA, Inc. to Alera Group Inc. Representatives explained that the change would allow their firm to work with Travelers on behalf of the parish, review the parish’s existing property and casualty insurance and seek other options for comparison. Parish officials previously discussed concerns with Travelers after the parish received an unexpected $3,130 auto insurance bill for 2025 following an audit. Officials said they had been advised not to pay the bill, but later received a cancellation notice and paid it because the parish could not operate without auto insurance. The reps said Travelers would remain an option and that their firm would negotiate with Travelers and review other available coverage. They also said they could review insurance coverage involving the Natchitoches Parish Library.
The council approved the reappointment of LaQuita Collins to the Natchitoches Parish Housing Authority.
During public comment, a resident addressed the council about litter and debris along Highway 1 North and other parish roads, describing trash, tires, metal, wood, furniture and construction debris along road shoulders, ditches and roadways as safety hazards. The resident proposed creating a parish roadway cleanup and safety initiative that could include a dedicated cleanup crew or part-time workers, expanded Adopt-a-Road partnerships and enforcement of laws concerning covered loads.
The resident also asked the council to evaluate revenue generated by the parish landfill and compactor operations and consider a dedicated funding source for roadway cleanup, suggesting that a small fee on landfill transactions could be used to fund roadway litter and debris cleanup.
Other residents also addressed the council about litter and road conditions, including residents of White Oak Lane. They described debris along the roadway and asked the parish to address the issue. Council members discussed enforcement of litter and road-use ordinances and the roles of the Parish Council and Parish President in addressing the issue. The council also discussed the possibility of working with municipalities through cooperative endeavor agreements to assist with road work.