Pan Am roads to get attention they need
By Carolyn Roy, Carolyn@natchitochestimes.com or 318-352-3618 ext. 219
Alex J. Washington is scheduled to start today, Thursday, Oct. 15 as the new City attorney according to Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. He replaces Ronald Corkern who resigned. Washington was confirmed by the City Council when it met Monday by a vote of 4-0 from Councilpersons Betty-Sawyer-Smith, Rosemary Elie, Dale Nielsen and Chris Petite. Eddie Harrington was absent. The council voted 3-2 not to confirm Washington at the Sept. 14 meeting but instead passed a motion requiring the City to advertise for the position. Williams said at the Monday meeting that he advertised the job not only in the legal journal, The Natchitoches Times, but also on social media. Washington was the only person to submit an application. Sawyer-Smith, who voted against confirming Washington at the September meeting, thanked the Mayor for going “above and beyond” in advertising the position.
The council approved a change order that will add two streets in the Pan Am Subdivision to the Phase 3 Street Rehabilitation Program. The streets were added at the request of Juanita Fowler who said Railroad, Hill and Genti streets should be priorities for maintenance ahead of Monroe Drive. Williams said that the deal to build a new Monroe Drive was made before he was elected but he agreed that the Pan Am streets should be added to the program and have preference over Monroe Drive.
The change order includes Railroad and Hill since Genti was included in the original contract. The change order is for $61,141 increasing the contract price to $560,861. Regional Construction submitted the low bid with a contract time of 84 calendar days. The council approved the planning and zoning request to allow Doug and Cathy Collins to sell beer and wine at Parkway Cinema. Collins said the beverages would compliment the sell of pizza, hot dogs and pretzels.
The pond at Parc Natchitoches will get stocked with catfish and trout by the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. An ordinance authorizing the action was introduced. According to the agreement, DWLF will assist park personnel with a free fishing event when the first catfish stocking occurs. There will be trail cameras to monitor fishing activity and promotional signage. There will be public access for shoreline fishing when the park is open.
The Planning and Zoning Dept., introduced three ordinances. •Request of Claire W. Decker to rezone property on Hwy. 1 South Bypass from R-1 to I-2 so she can sell it. It is near the Pilgrim’s Pride grain mill.
•Request of Elizabeth Grace Sylvia to rezone from R-1 to B-1 Commercial at 105 Isadore so she can sell energy drinks at an athletic gym
•Request of K-Five Inc., dba Save-a-Lot at 229 Broadmoor Shopping Center to sell beverages of low alcoholic content at the grocery store
There were final votes approving the following:
•Purchase of a gooseneck spring ride trailer from Kaufman Trailers for $39,715
•Lease with Air Data Solutions for lot at Natchitoches Regional Airport
•Amendment to US Government and National Park Service lease of property at 607 Trudeau and 720 Sixth St.
The council passed the following resolutions:
•Appointed members of Natchitoches Historic District Commission including Jared Dunahoe, Dr. Virginia Crossno, Sharon Gahagan, Dr. Steve Horton, Melissa Robinson, Marion Salter and new member Drake Owens
•Appointed members of City Planning Commission including Charles Whitehead III, the Rev. Bobby Claiborne, Michael D. Lewis, Rickey McCalister, Jamie Flanagan, Isaac Lewis, Ron Brown and new members Anita Dubois and Ethel Blake
•Awarded Property insurance for City to Risk Services of Louisiana for annual premium of $154,781, local agents Joe Cunningham Jr., and Rose Sarpy
•Contract with Southern Roofing and Vinyl Siding for change order related to roof on events center; $11,877 revising contract to $246,877; additional sealing under ridge caps
•Secure new easements for City to locate waterlines, at cost of developer, The Auto Mall of Natchitoches Subdivision, Smith and Co., LLC, at northeast corner of Hwy. 6 and Interstate 49 The next scheduled City Council meeting will be Oct 26.