Minden City Councilman Andy Pendergrass of District E held a town hall meeting on March 11 at the Community House to provide a mid-term update on city council activities. Representatives from AT&T were also present to address questions about new fiber optic internet lines being installed throughout the city.
Pendergrass highlighted improvements in public safety since his election, noting that the police department was previously understaffed, and vehicles were being used continuously across shifts. Gang activity, vandalism, and teen curfews were pressing concerns at the time. Now, he said, the police department is fully staffed and equipped, with the most common public safety issues being speeding and stray dogs.
Infrastructure improvements were another key topic. Previously, Minden had no fiber optic internet, no digital mapping for infrastructure repairs, and no plan for replacing the city’s 100-year-old main water line. Additionally, water storage capacity was limited to approximately 750,000 gallons. Now, AT&T is deploying fiber optic lines, infrastructure repairs are digitally tracked, and a plan is in place to replace the aging water line. The city has also secured funding to expand water storage by an additional 2 million gallons.
The water line replacement project will occur in three phases, with Phase 1 set to begin in about two months and finish by late summer. The Delta Regional Authority has provided a $500,000 grant to fund this phase. While Phases 1 and 2 are expected to have minimal impact on residents, Phase 3 will require work under downtown’s brick streets, which officials anticipate will cause disruptions. “It’s three phases, and we might be crazy to tackle it, but it’s the right thing to do for the longevity of our city,” said Pendergrass.
“We’ve got to be proactive and not reactive,” said Mayor Nick Cox.
The city council has also negotiated a new power contract that is expected to reduce electricity costs by 25-35% by mid-summer. The new contract takes effect June 1, with residents seeing partial savings on their July bills and full reductions reflected in August. The council was able to exit its contract with SWEPCO ahead of schedule.
Pendergrass noted improved collaboration among city officials, including the mayor, police chief, department heads, and council members. He emphasized the importance of teamwork in achieving progress.
“We’re just trying to do what’s right and not waste money,” he said. “No one person in a government scenario can create meaningful change on their own. You have to have allies.”
The council has also focused on long-term planning and succession strategies, ensuring that experienced department heads can train new hires before retirement. Additionally, a strategic plan, developed with Atlas Community Studios and funded by a $300,000 Delta Regional Authority grant, outlines potential external funding sources for future projects.
Seeking additional investment in the city, the council has engaged lobbyists in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C., with the Baton Rouge representative securing approximately $5.2 million in funding to date.
“It takes all of us to make our city better,” said Cox.