Bossier City Council approves multiple ordinances, staffing actions; debates $120,500 for state road utility relocations

Bossier City Council on June 17 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions covering utility work, staffing and a telecommunications pricing agreement, while briefly debating a $120,500 appropriation to relocate utilities for state project H001779.

Council approved an ordinance to appropriate $120,500 for utility and sewer relocations tied to state project H001779 after a motion from Councilman Chris Smith and a second from Councilman Jeff Free. Councilman Hammonds said he opposed paying for a state project: “I opposed to this … this is a state project and I do not feel like that we should be paying for anything related to — we pay enough for state projects,” he said during the public hearing on unfinished business. City staff said they had located documents they believe will satisfy the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and are pursuing reimbursement so the project is not delayed.

The council also adopted an ordinance amending Ordinance 38 of 2025 to appropriate $60,000 from the Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund for the Riverview Sewer Lift Station generator project (final reading). The council moved and seconded the measure and the motion carried.

In new business the council: - Introduced (first reading) an ordinance authorizing one temporary employee in the Public Works Department and amending the general fund and the Public Service and Sanitation Fund by $7,500 each. The motion carried. - Introduced (first reading) an ordinance authorizing Mayor Thomas H. Chandler to execute a pricing schedule agreement between the City of Bossier City and AT&T to secure pricing for upgraded and new telephone and internet circuits. The motion carried. - Adopted a resolution authorizing the hiring of a utility worker for water distribution in Public Utilities and authorizing backfilling any positions created (first and final reading). The resolution passed. - Adopted a resolution authorizing the hiring or promotion of an Accountant I in the finance department due to a resignation and authorizing backfill (first and final reading). The resolution passed.

During discussion on the state roadway appropriation, staff noted the DOTD traffic swap is scheduled for July, creating a time constraint to complete relocations. Council members asked for updates; staff said they would continue to pursue DOTD reimbursement so the city would not ultimately bear costs tied to the state project. One council member raised constituent concerns about possible costs to South Bossier residents; council and staff said there would be no cost to South Bossier residents related to the appropriation as explained during the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance to appropriate $120,500 for utility/sewer relocations (state project H001779) — Mover: Councilman Chris Smith; Second: Councilman Jeff Free; Outcome: approved (motion carried). Vote tally: not specified in the transcript. - Ordinance amending Ordinance 38 of 2025, $60,000 for Riverview Sewer Lift Station generator — Outcome: approved (motion carried). Vote tally: not specified. - Ordinance adding one temporary Public Works employee; budget amendments $7,500/$7,500 — Outcome: introduced/approved on first reading (motion carried). Vote tally: not specified. - Ordinance authorizing pricing schedule with AT&T — Outcome: introduced/approved on first reading (motion carried). Vote tally: not specified. - Resolution to hire utility worker (water distribution) — Outcome: approved (first and final reading). Vote tally: not specified. - Resolution to hire/promote Accountant I (finance) — Outcome: approved (first and final reading). Vote tally: not specified.

What the council recorded as direction: staff were asked to continue pursuing DOTD reimbursement documents and to keep the council updated on progress so the project would not be delayed. No ordinance or resolution in this meeting was tabled or postponed.

Council members present for the votes included Councilman Chris Smith, Councilman Jeff Free, Councilman David A. Montgomery Jr., Councilman Don W. Williams, Councilman Hammonds, Councilwoman McGraw and others; the meeting record showed several measures carried with the notation “Motion carries” but did not include detailed roll-call tallies for those votes in the transcript.

Background: The appropriation for H001779 relates to utility relocations that must be completed before DOTD performs a traffic swap scheduled in July. City staff said they are pursuing DOTD reimbursement and view the appropriation as a backup to avoid delaying the project.