Juanice Gray
jgray@natchitochestimes.com
The choice is yours.
The NHDDC got numerous
submissions for the new City
tagline and logo and have narrowed
those to their finalists.
For tagline, they are: “Where
History Meets Progress” and
“Where History Lives.”
“The public will have the
opportunity to provide feedback
on these options,” said
NHDDC member Rebecca
Blankenbaker. “We want
them to have the ability to
comment on both the tagline
and the logo.”
Visuals of the final versions
as well as the logo, along
with the procedures for submitting
feedback, will be
made public within one
month.
Main Street manager Jana
Jenkins announced there will
be fireworks at 9 p.m.
Wednesday, July 4 on the
downtown riverbank.
David Stamey provided a
proposed budget. He said
there was money still in the
bank, earmarked for certain
projects, that would carry
over to next year. “Last year
about this time we learned of
the state cuts,” he said. The
proposed budget is $301k, a
conservative, trimmed down
version that “covers most of
our needs” according to
Stamey. Last year the NHDDC
received $319k. “We are voting
on the proposed budget
with the knowledge that we
will hopefully get the additional
$18,000. If we do, then
we can add other funding possibilities.”
The budget passed with the
addendum that it was not final
until the letter from the State
confirms the amount.
Van Erikson, NHDDC president
and NSU representative,
said construction began on
University Marketplace and
Chick-fil-a in the former
Neebo location on University
Drive. He announced there
will not be a drive-thru option
at Chick-fil-a due to DOTD
regulations. Plans have the
location in operation around
the onset of the fall semester.
Erikson also said development
of the 6 miles of hiking
and biking trails at Well
Woods, near the intersection
of Highways 1 and 6 are
underway. “The track will be
5-feet wide so bicyclists and
pedestrians will have room to
pass. The trails go around natural
formations like streams.”
He said there will also be offshoots
for different routes
rather than a single circular
track. The track will be made
of a natural surface, not concrete
or asphalt, to blend into
the natural surroundings. It
should be completed by late
July.
Erikson announced approximately
900 students will
attend Boys & Girls State program
June 24-30.
The Jefferson Highway
Commission confirmed their
state meeting will be in
Natchitoches in April 2019.
The National Park Service
will introduce interpretive
signage along many of its
trails.
CRNHA representative
Cynthia Sutton said they are
looking at a partnership with
Fort Jessup. She said the
Birds of Prey event at Los
Adaes drew approximately 120
guests.
Sutton also announced her
retirement effective in
August.
NHF representative Angela
Eversull said the Christmas
Along Cane River book, featuring
the interior and exterior
of homes, was approximately
half complete with
hopes it would be available by
December.
Jenkins provided an update
on the City website upgrade.
“We are having new photos
made around town to update
with and will hold off the final
launch until the new logo and
tagline can be included.”
In the committee meeting,
Sharon Gahagan discussed
the master plan. They spent
$1,100 on the two trees on the
southern end of the riverbank,
Bynog’s fertilized and
aerated the trees. All of the
trees on the riverbank need to
be fertilized and aerated. The
City is responsible for the
mulch, installation, etc.
Gahagan proposed that an
extra $3,000 into the budget for
the trees on the riverbank.
Erikson stated that George
Celles is now working in
Sabine Parish, so he will be
resigning from NHDDC and
representing Senator Gerald
Long. Long wil appoint someone
to take his seat on the
commission.
•NHDDC – Natchitoches
Historic District Development
Commission
•CRNHA – Cane River
National Heritage Area
•NHF – Natchitoches
Historic Foundation
•DOTD – Department of
Transportation and
Development