By Carolyn Roy, carolyn@natchitochestimes.com
City Finance Director Pat Jones had many good things to say about the employees he has worked with for the past 18 years when he bid the council farewell at the City Council meeting Monday. Jones said the meeting was his last for the City since he will become the chief financial officer at Northwestern State in October.
“It’s been a pleasure,” he said in naming employees in the finance department and utility departments and offered thanks to department heads and employees in other departments. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better.” He said they employees were hard-working, followed through and made his job look easy. Jones worked 12 years at Northwestern State before moving to Bossier Parish Community College for about 18 months before being hired by the City. In other business, the council cast a positive vote for rezoning at 444 Williams Ave., for use as a vacation rental home by owner Blanchard Short.
There new business included several resolutions. The council passed the following: •Agreement with La. DOTD for financial agreement on improvements at Natchitoches Regional Airport to reimburse City for $5,510 for a FOD Boss Mat replacement; that is an airfield sweeper that sets up, tows and collects debris.
•Authorized Capital Improvement Plan from LaDOTD for airport
•Contract with Risk Services of La. Inc., for annual premium of $113,002 for property insurance
•Change order for Progressive Construction Co., for $3,009 increasing contract to $853,807 for St. Denis water line replacement and rehabilitation project