Bossier City Council approves $181M 5-year budget that includes an indoor sports venue
Are Bossier City voters really for term limits? Bossier Planning Commission considers multiple projects.
Bossier City weather: A few clouds. High 66. Tonight, partly cloudy with a low of 46. Tomorrow, we'll see lots of clouds and a warming up to 70.
Beyond Bossier
Happy Valentine's Day: Online dating scams increase. Are you falling for a bot?
The new B-52: How the Air Force is prepping to fly century-old bombers.
New blood tests may predict who will get dementia 10 years before diagnosis.
Bossier City Council approves $181M 5-year budget that includes an indoor sports venue
Tuesday, the Bossier City Council approved a massive capital improvement plan that spans the next five years and totals more than $181 million. Two of the biggest ticket items were a multi-purpose indoor sports venue and a nanofiltration water plant.
According to the resolution, the capital improvements were developed by compiling master plan documents from City departments.
Funding for the projects is expected to come from revenue bonds, federal and state grants and local funding.
Some of the major projects in the plan included:
Walter O'Bigby Carriageway – Phase II (Hwy 80 to LA 3) for $50,000,000
Innovation Drive / Modica Road Loop totaling $12,000,000
Citywide street repairs of $6,000,000
Multi-purpose indoor sports venue costing $25,000,000
Parks and recreation improvements of $28,605,670
Nanofiltration water plant budgeted for $35,550,000
In other business, the Bossier City Council also:
Hired SSA Consultants of Baton Rouge to conduct a compensation plan study regarding City employee pay. The study is to cost a maximum of $64,350.
Approved $650,000 for purchasing a new pumper fire truck for the Bossier City Fire Department.
Authorized positions to be filled in the Bossier City Maintenance Division of the Public Utilities Department as a result of retirement and promotions, and to increase the salaries for all Maintenance Division employees using the salary surplus available from staffing adjustments.
(Still) planning a romantic Valentine's Day date in Bossier City?
If it's the last minute (it kinda is) and you're out of ideas, check out our previous article that had tons of romantic ideas for couples dining out and just going out in Bossier City.
Are Bossier City voters really for term limits?
Bossier Term Limits Coalition members gathered about 3,000 signatures from registered voters wishing to establish term limits for locally elected officials. The matter has been discussed, litigated and delayed since that petition was submitted to the council in July 2023.
Now, a Bossier City Charter Commission is reviewing the legal document that governs City government, with a vote on term limits being one item up for discussion. Some members believe it is the only priority; others feel a floor-to-ceiling review and update of the document is required.
While there are ardent term-limits supporters on the commission, one is vocal in opposition.
"What is the point of the term limits?" Julianna Parks said at the commission's February 5 meeting. "Obviously, there's somebody on the city council that people want term-limited out. But the problem with that is, what about the people who voted them in?
"You're trying to tell [voters] that they aren't smart enough to make that decision themselves — to cast their vote for that person. And I don't like that because you sell it as selling the power to the people, but in reality, you're taking the power away from other people. If you want term limits, you can vote people out. There are many people who are voted out after one term. Just this last election, you voted out two longstanding [council] members and a longstanding mayor. I mean, clearly, the people can vote on term limits every time they go to the ballots," Parks added.
"Obviously, there's somebody on the city council that people want term-limited out. But the problem with that is, what about the people who voted them in?"
Proponents of term limits for local municipal political officials say they have the following benefits:
Reduces potential abuses of power: Term limits can reduce the potential for incumbents to abuse their power if they stay in office for too long.
Encourages political participation: Term limits can encourage the political involvement of newcomers.
Promotes innovation: Regularly electing new city officials can promote innovation and fresh ideas.
Reduces corruption: Term limits can minimize corruption and open the government to new people with new ideas.
But opponents say that term limits for local municipal political officials can have the following drawbacks:
It's undemocratic: Some say term limits are undemocratic because they restrict voters' choices.
It harms the political process: Opponents of term limits argue that it will harm the political process, turn away outstanding government members, or deny voter choice.
Removes experience and institutional knowledge: Some argue that having no term limits gives government leaders a better balance of experience and innovation, making for more effective representation.
It expands bureaucracy: Rather than empowering citizen legislators, the high turnover caused by term limits tends to benefit the government bureaucracy that leaders oversee by making such oversight more difficult.
According to a 2018 International City/County Management Association study, term limits on city council positions are "rare overall but are most commonly found in communities with 100,000 residents or more."
No doubt, term limits are worth the discussion. Citizens can learn more about term limits and share their opinions as the Charter Commission hosts several meetings and town halls to solicit citizen input.
Meetings will be held at the Bossier City council chambers:
February 26 at 6 p.m.
March 4 at 6 p.m.
March 20 at 9 a.m.
March 28 at 6 p.m.
Town halls will be held at various locations:
February 20 at 6 to 8 p.m., Hooter Park MLK Community Center
February 22 at 6 to 8 p.m., Shady Grove Community Center
February 27 at 6 to 8 p.m., Bossier Instruction Center, Airline
Bossier Planning Commission considers multiple projects
At its February 12 meeting, the Bossier Metropolitan Planning Commission considered several projects, including:
The application for a zoning amendment and Conditional Use Approval submitted by Keri Mueller for a proposed private animal rescue at 3002 Shed Rd to be named Port City Cat Rescue.
A zoning change requested by Greg Tilley for about six acres to accommodate the expansion of a residential manufactured housing park as an additional phase of the Windsor Place Subdivision at 5551 Texas Ave.
A request for subdivision of a property and for the permanent use of gravel for commercial 18-wheeler parking by Vincent Zagone for a commercial development west of Cypress Manufactured Homes in the 3800 block of East Texas St.
A request by Lewis Emanuel for Conditional Use Approval to use a 43' x 64' commercial modular building for a proposed Murphy Oil Fueling Station to be located at 100 Benton Spur Road.
The application of Patrick Rea for a Conditional Use Approval for the sale of high- and low-content alcohol for off-premise consumption at a Family Dollar located at 2334 Barksdale Boulevard.
The application of Dusty Taylor, Taylormade Enterprises, to expand Two Oaks Storage at 5150 Hwy 80.
DOTD reminder: Shreveport-Barksdale and I-220 nighttime bridge closures
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that the following nighttime lane closures have been scheduled for testing bridge components:
February 14 from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
LA 3032 (Shreveport-Barksdale Bridge) over the Red River in Bossier and Caddo Parishes: outside lane in both directions.
February 14th and 15th from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
I-220 bridge over the Red River in Bossier and Caddo Parishes: outside lane in both directions.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music and notable events for your consideration.
February 17: Bulls Bands and Barrels 2024 at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
February 22: Kolton Moore & The Clever Few at Louisiana Grandstand. This Texas band will bring a unique blend of rock, country, folk, and Americana music to the small and acoustically perfect stage of the Louisiana Grandstand.
March 2: Blake Shelton at the BGA.
March 8: Whisky Myers at the BGA.
March 17: Winter Jam at the BGA.
Put BossierNow in your inbox
Sign up to receive our reports straight to your email inbox for free. A free subscription allows you basic access to our content. Free subscribers are not obligated to upgrade to a paid plan but will receive less access.
Paid subscriptions are $5 monthly. For that, you will receive unlimited access to BossierNow daily updates, breaking news emails, article archives, live chat, and exclusive, in-depth reports. You may cancel at any time.
Email addresses are never shared with third parties.
As always, we welcome your input, press releases and news tips at email@bossiernow.com.