Outgoing jury members honored at Bossier Police Jury Meeting

Four Bossier Parish Police Jury members sat in on their final regular meeting Wednesday and were  honored for their service by their cohorts after the day’s agenda was completed.

Completing their final session were Wanda Bennett (Dist. 3), Norman Craig (Dist. 4), Rick Avery (Dist. 6) and Fred Shewmake (Dist. 9).

Avery decided not to seek reelection after completing 32 years on the jury.

“I’ve spent nearly my entire adult life on this jury and it’s going to seem a little strange to not be sitting up here,” Avery said. “But I’ll be coming to the meetings so be prepared to see me in the audience.”

Bennett is stepping aside after serving three terms on the police jury.

“I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed the company of a group of people as much as I have those on this jury,” she said. “It has been my pleasure to serve and I hope I can be of assistance if I’m needed.”

Shewmake completed two terms on the police jury, but this wasn’t his first time on the public body. He served two terms from the Shady Grove area prior to being named principal at Bossier High School. He stepped down from the police jury earlier when he took over the Eighth Independent School District in East Texas.

Craig had been appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Sonny Cook. He had served one term on the jury.

“This has been an experience I would not trade for anything,” Craig said. “Each of you have helped me more than you know.”

• Awarded bids for annual supplies for the Bossier Parish highway department, and for the annual supply of asphaltic concrete paving material for the highway department, in accordance with bids received on December 5.
•  Awarded bids for contract III – new ground storage tank for the Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier, in accordance with bids received December 10.
• Adopted of the Bossier Parish Police Jury 2019 amended budget.
• Approved minor plat for Landon Holloway.
• Approved plat of the proposed development of Woodlake subdivision, unit no. 1-B, being a replat of lots 52, 53 and 54, Woodlake subdivision, unit no. 1.
• Approved the application of Jonathan Burks to the Benton-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a certain tract of land being 0.38 acres, more or less, located at 534 Highway 162,  from B-1, transition business district, to B-2, neighborhood business district, for a proposed coffee shop.
• Scheduled public hearing on January 15, 2020, to consider approval of the plat of The Flatwoods Map of Survey Showing.
• Scheduled a public hearing on January 15, 2020, to consider the application of  Michael Kelsch, Raley and Associates, Inc., to the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a certain tract of land being 9.71 acres from R-A, residence-agricultural district, to B-3, general business district, for future commercial development.
• Scheduled public hearing on January 15, 2020, to consider the application of Scott Yonker, to the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a tract of land being 4.5 acres, more or less, Lots 1 and 2B, Oak Hill Estates from R-LD, residential, low density district, to R-A, residential-agricultural district, for a 50’ x 150’ accessory structure for personal storage.
• Scheduled a public hearing on January 15, 2020, to consider the application of Ryan Estess, Raley and Associates, Inc., to the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification of a certain tract of land being 2.08 acres from R-A, residential-agricultural district, to R-MD, residential, medium density district, for Pelican Pointe Appointments.
• Scheduled public hearing on January 15, 2020, to consider approval of the Map of Partition Survey for Stovall.
• Report on meeting of the Road/Subdivision Regulations Committee.
• Report on Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 Board of Appeals meeting.
• Approved professional services contract with Ginger Adam Corley for governmental relations for the year 2020.
• Approved applications for renewal of Bossier Parish beer/liquor licenses for 2020.
• Approved the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory amended 2019 budget and proposed 2020 budget for operation for the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission.
• Approved a cooperative endeavor agreement between the Bossier Parish Police Jury and the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Reappointed Diane Kingrey, John Murray, and Russell Huckaby to the South Bossier Parish Fire District No. 2 board of commissioners for two-year terms each, terms to expire December 31, 2021.
• Reappointed Steve Vercher to the Benton-Parish MPC board of directors for a six-year term, to expire January 1, 2026.
• Reappointed Jay Valentine and John Whittington to the Benton Fire District No. 4 board of commissioners for two-year terms each, terms to expire December 31, 2021.
•  Reappointed George Sewell to the Human Services district board, for a three-year term, to expire January 17, 2023.
• Accepted resignation of Tom Carlton from the Bossier Parish Library board of control effective immediately.
• Approved the donation of a 2012 Ford F-150 to the Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier.
• Approved donation of a 2014 Ford F-150 from the Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 to the Bossier Parish Police Jury.
• Ratified approval of an agreement between the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and Bossier Parish for funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for the Bossier Parish Lucky Estates drainage improvements project.
• Approved proposal of Raley and Associates, Inc., for engineering and surveying services for the Bossier Parish Lucky Estates subdivision drainage improvements project.
• Approved a contract between Denmon Engineering Co., and the Bossier Parish Police Jury for engineering, surveying and technical services necessary to implement the flood reduction study for Cane Bend subdivision.
• Approved a request from Terri McConnell to lease parish owned property located at 347 Cane Bend Drive, Haughton.
• Adopted the three-year road overlay program.
• Okayed certificate of substantial completion for Sligo Road bridge over Foxskin Bayou.
• Approved certificate of substantial completion for Glendale Lane street improvements project–phase I.
• Approved certificate of substantial completion for the installation of new emergency standby generators for wells No. 4 and 5 for Consolidated Waterworks/Sewerage District No. 1 of the Parish of Bossier.
• Approved amendment no. 2 of the proposal from Coyle Engineering Co., Inc., for additional construction administrative services for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Willow Chute Bayou drainage improvements project.
• Approved change order no. 1 for FY 2018 LCDBG sewer system improvements - Oak Hill Mobile Home Park project.
• Approved change order no. 1 for Swan Lake Road bridge, South Bossier.
• Approved change order no. 16 and change order no. 17 for Bossier North/South corridor Swan Lake Road (I-220 to Flat River).