City Council: Carriageway opening date, SoBo development concerns, another no-surprise 'No' vote
Plus — Enhanced security at Bossier Schools football games. Explosions at Barksdale.
Beyond Bossier
Bossier City Council: Carriageway opening date, SoBo development concerns, another no-surprise 'No' vote
The $80 million Walter O. Bigby Carriageway is nearing completion. Bossier City Engineer Ben Rauschenbach told the City Council Tuesday that final construction matters are being attended to.
"The striping is scheduled for after Labor Day," Rauschenbach said. "We expect that to take about seven days to complete, with permanent signage following shortly thereafter. The new signal mast arm, that's going to be delivered on 8/30, so here very quickly. We expect that to be complete by September 9th and we're planning, if all goes well, to open the Carriageway to traffic by September 16th."
Rauschenbach added that additional work is planned for the area.
"I learned today that DOTD has also received a bunch of money for Benton Road as well. I've got a meeting with DOTD to talk about the city's funding appropriations as well as theirs to make sure we're not all duplicating effort," he added.
In another project being completed, Rauschenbach said new signals will be up on the freshly overlaid portion of Airline Drive on September 10th.
Sobo residential development concerns
District 1's Brian Hammons asked questions about a residential development in South Bossier when a rezoning vote was considered. The ordinance involved five acres of land for Parkway Place, north of Rossie Lee Drive and west of Longstreet Place.
“My phone has been blowing up over this," Hammons said. "The one main concern that people calling about, one, the narrowness of Rossie Lee with adding more traffic, houses backing out onto Rossie Lee Drive. I know that we've had it in the plan for a while at the entrance of Rossie Lee at (Highway) 71 to get that entrance fixed before this subdivision goes into place with, I guess, 21 more houses going on Rossie Lee Drive.”
Hammons also noted the need to widen the entrance and fix the culvert.
"School buses fall off into it all the time. Anything larger than a 16-foot trailer falls off the side of that entrance," Hammons said. "Another question that I've got from a lot of people is if we can look into some striping or something like that on Rossie Lee Drive, just to give the road a little bit of division on an east and west corridor right there, if that could be an option too before this development gets a little bit further along."
Wade Rich, Director of Public Works, said the entrance of Rossie Lee at Highway 71 is included in the current asphalt overlay program.
"We're just about finished with the plans now," Rich said. "Fixing that entrance onto 71, and then that intersection there on Rossie Lee where it intersects with Lilly. That will be done, I would assume, way before you get the housing development finished."
A resident, Ronald Cheatham, also expressed concerns about flooding. Kurt Nixon, with Nixon Engineering, said a drainage plan would be completed following the rezoning's approval.
"If you look at the master plan, we plan a big detention (pond) in that back corner where it ties into the ditch," Nixon said. "Because everything on their property, Mr. Hassell's old property, drains back towards that northwest corner. And so, that's where we're going to dig out a big detention pond."
Hammons was apparently satisfied that the concerns he had heard from area residents would be addressed. The first and final vote was unanimous, and the rezoning ordinance was approved.
Another no-surprise 'No' vote on a term limits election
The screenshot below tells the story. The same council members (excluding Jeffery Darby, who was absent) voted — for the third time — to deny putting local term limits on the ballot in December.
Three strikes, and you're out.
Mayor Tommy Chandler went up to bat for a term limits election with yet another resolution. Same effort. Same result.
The Bossier Term Limits Coalition has filed a lawsuit to force the council to hold an election on the initiative.
Be prepared: Football season to see new weapons security at Bossier Schools
Don't get caught by surprise with the lines at the gate. Starting this Friday, fans eager for some hot (sorry) Friday night football action may have to sweat it out a little longer before taking a seat.
Bossier Parish Schools says security is being stepped up at all middle and high school home games.
After months of planning and training, Bossier Schools will begin fully implementing the OpenGate Weapons Detection System at the Bossier City Lions Club Jamboree on August 30 at Airline High Stadium.
A successful trial run was conducted at a recent Airline scrimmage game, and another one took place last night at Tiger Pride Night at Benton High Stadium.
OpenGate is a non-invasive metal detector that utilizes two walk-through towers, advanced sensors, and software to screen high volumes of people without slowing normal foot traffic. It is the same system used at many professional sporting events to detect weapons, including firearms, knives and explosives, and its portability makes it ideal for use at school functions.
“Safety is paramount in everything we do at Bossier Schools and OpenGate will further enhance the safe environment our district strives to maintain,” said Jason Rowland, Superintendent of Bossier Schools. “No one can ignore the events we see play out in the news around the state and nation, and while we cannot control some evil doers’ intentions, we are taking additional measures to keep them out of events in Bossier.”
Here are a few tips before entering the gates at events at Bossier Schools:
No weapons are allowed, including pocket knives.
Schools are firearm-free zones and concealed handgun permits do not apply to any part of Bossier Schools' campuses.
No backpacks are allowed.
Purses and diaper bags are subject to being searched.
Umbrellas, chair backs and other items must be carried and passed to staff as visitors walk through the weapons detection system.
Inside Barksdale AFB: Loud noises? You know the drill: EOD training
Barksdale Air Force Base will conduct multiple controlled detonations for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training today, Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Residents and nearby communities should be aware that these detonations will be louder than usual.
"We appreciate the community’s understanding as we conduct this necessary training," the 2nd Bomb Wing public affairs office said in a release.
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