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Calcasieu Parish Police Jury approves property buy, drainage projects and multiple reappointments
Summary
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury on Feb. 6 approved a property purchase funded by FEMA, accepted completed overlay work, authorized drainage and bridge bidding, and confirmed several board and district reappointments.
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury on Thursday approved the purchase of a Lake Charles property using FEMA flood mitigation funds, accepted a road-overlay project as complete and approved several drainage and bridge procurement steps and local board reappointments.
The actions matter because they advance storm‑mitigation property acquisition paid for with federal mitigation funds, move several drainage and bridge projects toward construction bidding, and keep multiple local boards and districts staffed.
The police jury approved an ordinance to buy property at 525 Chasta Street in Lake Charles using funds from the FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance program. The jury also adopted a resolution approving an act of sale, including utility and drainage servitudes and a temporary construction servitude, for the Bellfield Ditch multi‑road crossing replacement project.
Members voted to advertise for bids or requests for qualifications on several capital projects: a Forest Apple drainage improvement project and a request for qualifications for engineering and technical services for bridge reconstruction projects. The jury also adopted a resolution accepting Calcasieu Parish Overlays Phase 1A as complete.
During consideration of the Forest Apple drainage item, Police Juror Smith thanked project staff and the engineer, saying, "I definitely wanna thank the engineer and Mr. Freelow for this project because I know this has been a long time coming. The actual people in the Old Town Road area is gonna be very, very thankful for this drainage project that's coming up." Smith was identified on the meeting record as a police juror.
The meeting included routine approvals: payment of current invoices, linking authorization to use the State of Louisiana purchasing card program, approval of two new liquor and beer applications (staff recommended approval of two new applications), and approval of the minutes from the Jan. 9, 2025 regular meeting.
The jury also confirmed multiple appointments and reappointments across local authorities and districts, including: - Reappointment of Emily Fannette Parker to the Airport Authority / Airport District No. 1. - Reappointment of a member to the Memorial Hospital Service District (listed as "Mr. Lines" on the record). - Reappointments to Waterworks Districts (listed on the agenda as Ward 5 reappointment of Mr. Gillins) and multiple fire protection district appointments, including the appointment of Keith Hyatt Sr. to Ward 5 Fire Protection District No. 1 and Scott Kyle to Ward 6 Fire Protection District No. 1. - Reappointment of all persons listed on the agenda to the Children and Youth Planning Board.
Most motions were moved and seconded from the dais and recorded as "item carries" on the meeting record; the transcript does not provide roll‑call tallies for the votes. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
The actions advance procurement and mitigation work in Calcasieu Parish and maintain staffing on several local boards. Many items were routine and passed with limited debate; members expressed specific gratitude to staff and engineers on the Forest Apple drainage item. No motions in the transcript were shown as tabled, postponed or defeated.
