Appointments Highlight March’s Minden City Council Meeting

The highlight of the March meeting of the Minden City Council was the appointment of several new positions. City Council members unanimously voted to appoint:

• Tyler Wallace as the Director of Public Works
• Zita Williams as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Minden
• Brian Williams as the Chief of the City of Minden Fire Department
• Sarah Overall to the Minden Main Street Program/Downtown Development Commission to fill the unexpired term of Lauren Davidson, whose term will expire on September 9, 2023.

The Council awarded Bid No. 01-2023, 2022-2023 Street improvements Project, to the lowest qualified bidder, Benton and Brown for $1.4 million dollars.

Property located at 422 East Union in District B belonging to the Helen J. Drake Estate was declared condemned and was ordered to demolish the structures located on the lot with 30 days.

Ordinances passed by the council were as follows:

• Ordinance No. 1132: This Ordinance is to abandon the West 14-foot by 50-foot section of the alley running from Elm Street to Center Street in Block 5 of Goode Annex.
• Ordinance No. 1133 – An Ordinance to abandon the 50-foot underdeveloped street right of way with cul-de-Sac that runs alongside lots 2 – 6 of the Drake Subdivision.
• Ordinance No. 1134 – This Ordinance amends the rules set forth in Ordinance No. 1119 in order to set an occupational licensing fee of $100 for all mobile food vendors. The city currently charges $200.

Two cooperative Endeavor Agreements were entered into:

• One with the Junior Service League of Minden to provide adequate facilities for the for the Junior Service League located at 715 Park Highway, referred to as the “Girl Scout Hut.” In exchange for the use of the location, the Junior Service League must provide utilities to the property as well as keep in full force a liability insurance policy.
• Another between the City of Minden and the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office. The purpose of this agreement is for the Webster parish Sheriff’s Office to collect ad valorem taxes on behalf of the City of Minden in exchange for payment of $18,000.

A speed limit change was agreed upon my Council members on a portion of Country Club Circle. The portion of Country Club Circle that runs between Lewisville Road and Braeburn Glen Drive currently has inconsistent speed limits posted. On County Club Circle, the speed limit for those driving from Braeburn Glen Drive toward Lewisville Road is posted as 35 miles per hour, while the speed limit for those driving from Lewisville Road toward Braeburn Glen Drive is posted as 25 miles per hour. Upon the recommendation of Michael Roy, District D Councilman, the City of Minden suggest that this speed limit be changed to reflect the speed limit of 25 miles per hour of the portion of Country Club Circle that runs between Lewisville Road and Braeburn Glen Drive.

City Clerk Michael Fluhr presented the Budget/Financial Report for January 2023. He stated that the January Sales Tax collected was $673,000, a 20% increase over the previous years total. The total cash balance in the bank for the City of Minden was $23 million, down from the previous months balance of 23.3 million.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 6:00 pm.