The City of Minden secured approximately $5.5 million in state appropriations for infrastructure projects during the 2026 legislative session, bringing the amount of state funding directed toward Minden-area projects over the past two sessions to nearly $14.5 million, the city’s lobbyist told the Minden City Council on Monday.
Caroline Mladenka presented her annual lobbyist report during the council’s October 5 meeting, outlining funding secured through the state budget and capital outlay process for projects including the Robertson Road lift station, a new fire station, water infrastructure, and other improvements.
Mladenka said the $5.5 million includes both cash appropriations and general obligation bond funding in various capital outlay priorities.
Among the largest allocations is $1.78 million for planning and construction of improvements to the Robertson Road lift station. Of that amount, $890,000 was provided in cash, with another $890,000 placed in Priority 5 through the state capital outlay bill.
The city also secured an additional $125,000 in cash for a generator for the Robertson Road lift station.
Another $2.8 million was appropriated toward planning and construction of a new Minden fire station. Mladenka said the city must wait for the necessary lines of credit before that project can move forward.
The city also received $547,000 in Priority 1 funding for its water ground storage tank project. Mladenka said the funding should help bring the project, which has received funding over multiple years, closer to completion.
More than $250,000 was also secured for improvements to the Marshall Street water system. Earlier in Monday’s meeting, the council unanimously approved a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of the Treasury and State of Louisiana accepting $250,290 appropriated through Act 3 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. The money will supplement funding for a roughly $4 million project to rehabilitate the water main on Marshall Street.
Mladenka credited cooperation among city officials, state lawmakers, the governor’s office, state agencies, and others with helping Minden obtain the funding. She specifically cited state Rep. Wayne McMahen and state Sen. Adam Bass for their work during the legislative process.
She said the 2026 appropriations follow approximately $8.94 million directed to the Minden area from the 2025 legislative session, bringing the two-year investment to nearly $14.5 million. That figure includes funding for the U.S. Highway 79/Homer Road project, an approximately $8.1 million Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development infrastructure project funded in cash. Work on that project began in August and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Mladenka said her work on behalf of the city also extends beyond seeking appropriations. During the legislative session, she reviews proposed legislation for potential effects on municipal authority, city services, administration, and costs, working with lawmakers and municipal organizations to support legislation beneficial to Minden and oppose measures that could negatively affect the city.
Mayor Nick Cox emphasized the importance of actively pursuing state funding.
“5.5 million this year brought home from Baton Rouge. If we wouldn’t have asked, it would have been zero dollars,” Cox said. “It’s money that we send down there that for years and years and years wasn’t sent back here.”
Cox also credited Bass, McMahen, and Mladenka with helping secure the appropriations.
“That’s good representation in Baton Rouge,” Cox said. “For the time we’ve had Caroline, almost $15 million. brought back to the City of Minden that we would have never had. It’s very important.”
Mladenka said work is already underway with Cox to identify priorities for the 2027 legislative session, which begins in April.
In other business Monday, the council approved amendments to the city’s 2025-26 and 2026-27 budgets. The latter includes adjustments related to the planned Sheppard Street overlay, which has been delayed until Delta Utilities (formerly CenterPoint Energy) completes work that will require cutting into the roadway.
The council also approved the annual Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire and authorized Cox to execute an agreement with DOTD related to improvements at Minden Airport. The airport agreement concerns the remaining grant funding for work that has already been completed.
Council members adopted Ordinance No. 1175 recognizing and continuing the existing operational authority of the Ward 1 Marshal, approved the city’s annual audit engagement, authorized advertising for requests for qualifications for engineering consulting services for Minden Airport projects, and approved a revised City of Minden Employee Handbook.
The council also received the August budget and financial report, September fire report, and August police report.
All agenda items were approved unanimously. Council members Buddy Myles, Latasha Mitchell, and Michael Roy were present, while District E Councilman Andy Pendergrass was absent.
Minden City Council meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 6 PM at the Minden Civic Center. Meetings are open to the public and, for those who cannot attend in person, are also livestreamed on the City of Minden’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, both titled “City of Minden.”