The coming of a new year offers a time to reflect on the year to come and what one wants to see happen during that time. Mayor Nick Cox has been in office for a year now, and given his position has a vision and plan for how he would like to see Minden move forward. He took some time to share his thoughts on projects that he and the city as a whole can look forward to as we get further along in 2024.
One of his main focuses has been that of the consolidation of departments throughout the city into a new public works building.
“Something I’m looking forward to is building the public works building. I’m a builder at heart anyways, and I also apply that love of building to building a community. Building up people, building up teams, and building up structures,” said Mayor Cox.
I’m excited because with that building will be the consolidation of employees. Right now we have the departments spread throughout the city, and this will help us move toward bringing everybody together. It’ll also help us by getting our employees out of older buildings that are energy inefficient.”
The council voted on this last year, and the city will officially have the project out for bid in a few weeks. He stated that an architect has already designed the facility so, once the council approves a bid, it’ll be good to go for construction.
Another project that started last year and is carrying over to this year is that of improving Minden’s local animal shelter. The city has attained some funds in order to help with improvements, but are working to create more ways to raise even more money to see the project fully realized. A fundraiser is in the works for later this spring where people can donate to the cause while also taking part in a fun activity, a Minden pet election.
“What we’ve got in mind is a pet election. If you love your little doggie, and you want them to be mayor, you can pay a sum of money to get them up on the ballot, with the proceeds going toward the animal shelter,” said Mayor Cox.
Essentially, along with a donation, citizens will be able to put their furry friends up for election for various seats in Minden’s government such as mayor, chief of police, city council, etc. Others can donate and vote on their favorite pets to win these seats.
As the mayor of Minden, Cox has to be forward thinking when it comes to Minden’s opportunities to grow and bring in new people. While it may be something many take for granted, clean running water is a necessary part of being able to build new places for more people to live.
“We’ve got money in capital outlay from the state to build a water tank and expand our water capacity by two million gallons,” said Mayor Cox. “We’ve been applying to the state for years, and we just got it passed to a higher priority.”
Essentially, the part of Minden that has seen the most growth in recent years is furthest from the area that pumps the highest quality water. This project will allow the city to take one of its best resources and increase how far out it can travel.
These are just a handful of the projects that the city has planned for the upcoming year that have enough groundwork already completed to report on them. There are other projects in the works that will take some more time to develop before they can be officially announced to the public. Regardless, the City of Minden’s administration along with its employees are working hand-in-hand doing what they can to make Minden the best it can be for its citizens.
LETTER FROM THE MAYOR
I believe it would be quite challenging to find a more wonderful place to call home than Minden, Louisiana. Having been a lifelong resident here, my affection for Minden continues to grow with each passing year.
When discussing what makes Minden special, one could easily point to our vibrant calendar of local events and festivals held throughout the year. From the lively Mardi Gras parade in late winter to the festive Tartan Festival in the Spring, the sizzling Grilling on Main event in the summer, and the awesome Christmas in Minden, there are ample opportunities for our citizens and visitors to come together, connect, and relish in the beauty of our city.
Beyond our delightful events, Minden boasts wonderful churches, local eateries, and thriving businesses. However, what truly sets Minden apart is its people—the individuals who have chosen to make this place their home.
In our city, there is a remarkable spirit of generosity and community involvement. Many individuals go above and beyond to initiate fundraisers and charitable initiatives, with countless others readily supporting these noble causes. Minden is renowned for its St. Jude Auction, and this year, we achieved a new record by raising over 2.5 million dollars. We are truly blessed to have so many compassionate individuals willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed.
Under our new city leadership, things are progressing exceptionally well. The relationship between the mayor and council is one of collaboration and compromise, aimed at benefiting the entire city. Additionally, both the police chief and the fire chief have seamlessly integrated into their roles, implementing much-needed updates to their respective departments.
I am pleased to express my optimism about the future of our city. Everywhere I look, I see boundless opportunities for growth and development, and I am confident in the abilities of our community to turn these opportunities into reality.
These are just a few of the reasons, among many others, why I, Nick Cox, Mayor of the City of Minden, proudly call this place my home.