After weeks of thunderstorms dumping heavy rains in northwest Louisiana, Bossier Parish seems to be escaping many of the severe problems during flood events of years past.
Assistant Parish Engineer Eric Hudson said the heavy rains that fell in the northern part of the parish have sent a lot of water to south Bossier. Some low-lying areas and pasture land has taken on water, but levels are not rising rapidly, he added.
Hudson said Ian Snellgrove, director of the Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, is applying for assistance after the parish signed an emergency declaration last week.
In south Bossier Parish, construction on repairs for Davis Road will kick off as soon as the weather permits, Hudson said. Damage to the road is extensive following months of heavy oil field equipment traffic, and an oil company has agreed to pay for the repairs. All that’s necessary “…is a good dry spell so the contractor to start,” Hudson said.
On another issue impacting parish roads, the police jury ratified approval of an agreement with HNBT Corp. for professional engineering and technical expertise to assist the jury’s appeal to FEMA for funds relating to the 2016 flood.
Bossier Parish’s first request for funds to help pay for many flood-damaged asphalt roads was denied. But with the assistance of the local and state Congressional delegation, the parish received an extension on its appeal and has been gathering information to support the claims.
Parish Engineer Butch Ford said earlier the parish is attempting to prove to FEMA that flood waters topping highways for a long period can compromise the road’s subsurface and cause the asphalt surface to fail.
During Tuesday’s meeting, police jury members also:
- Adopted property tax millage rates for 2019 including general alimony, highway, library, health unit and correction facilities.
- Adopted EMS user fee for 2019.
- Adopted acreage tax for 2019.
- Awarded bid for Fiscal Year 2018 LCDBG Sewer System Improvements – Oak Hill Mobile Home Park project, in accordance with bids received May 9.
- Awarded bid for Sligo Road bridge over Foxskin Bayou in accordance with bids received May 9.
- Scheduled a public hearing on June 19 to consider the application of Travis Beaty, Beaty Land, LLC, to the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission for a zoning amendment to change the zoning classification on 56.453 acres on the northeast corner of LA Highway 614 and Interstate 20 from R-A, Residence Agricultural, to R-LD Residential, Low Density District, for a residential subdivision.
- Amended Chapter 14, Article II, of the Bossier Parish Code of Consider amendments to Ordinances “Dogs,” to amend certain sections pertaining to rabies vaccines.
- Accepted streets and drainage in Heartwood Acres Subdivision, Unit No. 1, into the parish road system for permanent maintenance.
