Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bossier City Council adopts several ordinances, approves budget amendments and authorizes hires; Riverboat fund transfer amended
Summary
On Jan. 6 the council adopted multiple final‑reading ordinances (sewer pump repairs, surplus declarations, software upgrade, cooperative agreements), introduced first readings (change order for Lateral B‑1, a repeal of Ordinance 138 of 2015), amended a 2026 council budget line, and approved a $2.2 million transfer from the Riverboat Gaming Trust Fund to the Risk Management Fund as amended; the council also adopted resolutions authorizing several hires.
At its Jan. 6 meeting the Bossier City Council moved through a slate of ordinances, first readings and personnel resolutions, approving final readings on several routine items, introducing first readings with amendments, and authorizing hires.
On final reading the council adopted an ordinance appropriating $21,989 from the Sewer Capital and Contingency Fund to address vertical turbine pumps at the Red River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The council also adopted ordinances declaring city property surplus, amending Ordinance 55 of 2020 to transfer surplus funding for Hamilton Road design, authorizing Central Square Technologies LLC to upgrade the business license tax software, and authorizing the mayor to execute a cooperative endeavor agreement with the State of Louisiana and a sales and use tax collection agreement with the Bossier Parish School Board. All of those final‑reading motions carried by voice votes.
Under new business the council introduced a first‑reading ordinance to approve Change Order 2 for the Lateral B‑1 ditch paving project, increasing the contract by $88,750 and adding 10 days for a total contract price of $2,225,272. The council also introduced a repeal of Ordinance 138 of 2015 (declaring the voting board surplus); that motion carried with one recorded abstention.
On budget matters the council considered an amendment to the 2026 city council operating and capital budgets. Councilman Hammond proposed removing a $40,000 vehicle increase and redirecting $55,000 from the General Fund balance into the council‑initiated audit line (line item 52,510). That amendment was seconded and passed; the ordinance was introduced as amended. Separately, the council introduced a transfer from the Riverboat Gaming Trust Fund to the Risk Management Fund initially proposed at $2,500,000 and amended on the floor by Councilman Gerard to $2,200,000. A staff member explained that $2.5 million represented a rounded figure and that available savings from excess workers' compensation premiums reduced the required transfer to $2.2 million; the council approved the amendment and introduced the ordinance as amended.
The council also adopted first‑and‑final resolutions authorizing the hiring of a wastewater plant operator for the Red River plant (Public Utilities), one traffic control technician in Traffic Engineering, and an accountant in Finance to backfill a vacancy. During the personnel votes council members asked whether the items were new hires or backfills; staff confirmed the wastewater operator resolution was to backfill an approved budgeted position.
Mayor Thomas H. Chandler also thanked staff for the room/AV transition and introduced the city’s new fire chief, Lair Bauchhaus, who briefly addressed the council.
Votes at a glance: - Approve meeting agenda — motion carried (voice vote). - Approve minutes (12/16/2025) — motion carried (voice vote). - Ordinance: Appropriation of $21,989 for Red River WWTP pumps (final reading) — adopted. - Ordinance: Declare specified property surplus (final reading) — adopted. - Ordinance: Amend Ord. 55 of 2020 for Hamilton Road design (final reading) — adopted. - Ordinance: Central Square Technologies LLC business license software upgrade (final reading) — adopted. - Ordinance: Cooperative endeavor agreement with State facility planning (final reading) — adopted. - Ordinance: Agreement with Bossier Parish School Board for sales/use tax collection (final reading) — adopted. - Introduce: Change Order 2 for Lateral B‑1 (+$88,750; +10 days) — introduced (first reading). - Introduce: Repeal Ord. 138 of 2015, declare voting board surplus — introduced; motion carried with one abstention. - Introduce: Amend 2026 council operating and capital budgets (as amended to remove vehicle funding and add $55,000 to audit line) — introduced as amended. - Introduce: Transfer from Riverboat Gaming Trust Fund to Risk Management Fund (amended from $2,500,000 to $2,200,000) — introduced as amended. - Resolutions: Authorize hire/backfill for wastewater operator, traffic control technician, and accountant — adopted (first and final reading).
Most items passed by voice vote; the meeting contained several routine approvals and a small number of amendments requested by council members.
