Council declares local emergency for Airline Drive lift station repairs; city staff say Bossier City will bear most costs

The Bossier City Council on Oct. 7 introduced an ordinance (first reading) amending ordinance 81 of 2025 to declare a local emergency for repairs at the Airline Drive lift station including pump rehabilitation, manhole repair, wet-well cleaning and investigation of a sewer main beneath a state highway. The estimated cost presented at the meeting was $213,649.23.

Council members asked whether the state would reimburse the city for the work. Todd Thompson (utilities/public works staff) told the council, “It will definitely be on Bossier City,” and explained there will be a storm-drain portion for which staff were coordinating with state contacts, but that the large majority of the work is manhole rehab and pump rehabilitation that the city will perform. Thompson said he had not received an update on state reimbursement and pledged to follow up before the ordinance’s second reading.

Council discussed longer-term concerns about an adjacent gravity sewer line near Waller Elementary School and whether the work under the state highway would fully address recurring problems. Thompson reported ground-penetrating radar (GPR) testing did not show voids within nine feet at the lot next to Waller Elementary and that the immediate repairs should address the current issue; he noted the gravity line will likely need replacement at some future date but said excavation was not presently required.

The ordinance was introduced on first reading and carried by voice vote. Staff said they would provide a follow-up on potential state reimbursement and additional engineering information prior to the next council action on the ordinance.