At its latest meeting, the Minden City Council addressed several key projects and decisions aimed at improving city infrastructure, public safety, and municipal services. The council voted on measures ranging from approving engineering services for the long-awaited Industrial Drive rehabilitation to purchasing land for a potential new fire department and securing additional revenue through a state maintenance agreement—covering both immediate needs and long-term growth for the community.
One item approved on the agenda authorized Mayor Nick Cox to enter into an agreement for professional services between the city and Waggoner Engineering for the Industrial Drive Rehabilitation Project.
“Everybody knows it’s real bad, particularly from the intersection there to the last Love’s entrance and exit,” said Minden Mayor Nick Cox. “It’s quite a complex process; there will be lane closures, and concrete doesn’t go down as quickly as asphalt, but it will be a long-term solution that will really serve a very prominent entrance into the city.”
Next, the council voted unanimously to give the mayor authority to purchase property located at 636 Shreveport Road and 101 Horton Street for $250,000. The mayor said the city plans to use the site for a new fire department.
“We would like to purchase this property because it borders the steam plant property that we already have. That’ll give us a big plot of land, and we’re eyeing some grant money that’s available on the state level that could possibly fund an entire build of a brand-new fire department on that side of the city,” Cox said. “In order to pursue that money, we need to secure some property, and we feel that would be a really fresh construction in an area of town that hasn’t seen that in a while—give that area a real shot in the arm and the fire protection that it deserves.”
While the council typically allows the mayor to enter into a maintenance agreement with the state to fund mowing and litter pickup for state highways, this year the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development increased the number of times it would contract services from the city, leading to more revenue.
“The city currently has, and has had for a long time, a contract with the state. In that agreement, the city cuts the grass on state highways and the state does not,” Cox said. “The DOTD this year has agreed to raise it from four passes to nine, so, in summary, instead of the city getting $14,000 a year, roughly, from the state, we’re going to get closer to $30,000 a year for maintaining the same grass.”
The council also approved the promotion of Police Sgt. Mitchell Hackett to the rank of police lieutenant. In addition, the council reappointed Sedric Moody and Jamie Williams to the Minden Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board, with terms set to expire on July 29, 2028.
Monthly Minden City Council meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Minden Civic Center. Meetings are open to the public and are also livestreamed on the City of Minden’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, both titled “City of Minden,” for those who cannot attend in person.