Council Fails Yet Again To Hold Meeting

For the 8th straight meeting, the Minden City Council failed to have a quorum to hold a special called meeting on Wednesday. Once again, Council members Terika Walker (Dist. B) and Vincen Bradford (Dist. C) were no-shows for the 11 a.m. meeting that was to be held in the Pelican Conference Room at City Hall.

Walker gave no notice to the Mayor or other Council members that she would not attend per Mayor Terry Gardner’s comments at the special called meeting on Wednesday. An attempt to reach via phone call failed. Walker, however, did make contact with one of the Shreveport television stations to give her reasoning for not making the last eight meetings.

Meanwhile, prior to the meeting on Wednesday, Councilman Vincen Bradford texted Mayor Gardner in a thread that included media, that led to a brief and tense back and forth between the two that began by Bradford stating that “do [sic] to health reasons I will not be attending meetings.” Gardner replied that he had received Bradford’s text and, based on what was sent, asked Bradford “Is this your resignation vacating your seat from City Council District C?” Bradford replied, ” No this is not a resignation, I will not be at today’s meeting.” After Gardner replied that he was clarifying Bradford’s statement that he “would not be attending meetings” was sent to him as well as the media, Bradford would reply that texting was the only way he was able to communicate with Gardner, stating that he didn’t receive emails. Gardner replied that he was sorry that Bradford was unable to receive the emails and noted that he had “offered multiple times for our IT department to take a look at your phone to set up your city email, which you refused this service.” Bradford would not respond to that text and had no more communication via that thread.

At the meeting, Gardner stated that there would be a special called meeting on next Wednesday, May 27th, at 10 am. One item will be on the agenda, to approve a grant for funding at the Minden City Airport, which has to be approved before June to be received by the city.

Gardner stated that he hoped by that being the only agenda item, there might be quorum on next Wednesday.