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Ouachita Parish seeks state funding for wide slate of road, drainage and sewer projects; accepts $1.73M Watershed grant
Summary
At its Oct. 21 meeting the Ouachita Parish Police Jury adopted a package of resolutions authorizing submission of multiple capital outlay projects to the 2025 Louisiana Legislature, designated the parish engineer to file applications, committed local matching funds, and accepted a $1,730,000 Louisiana Watershed Initiative grant for a parishwide portable pumps project.
The Ouachita Parish Police Jury on Oct. 21 adopted a series of resolutions asking the 2025 Louisiana Legislature to include a slate of road, drainage and sewer projects in the 2025–2026 capital outlay bill and authorized parish officials to complete required paperwork.
The Jury voted to support projects including Steep Bayou/Tupawek Bayou sewer planning and construction; the Tedeton Road bridge replacement; a Vancil Road interchange at Interstate 20; Elkins Road improvements; Washington Street sewer main rehabilitation; a Cadeville Cutoff re‑alignment; various force‑main replacements for lift stations; Pine Bluff Road improvements; Calhoun Technology Park water and sewer work; Cheniere Lake Area 1 improvements; Joseph Thomas Road bridge replacement; multiple Black Bayou and Bayou DeSiard control‑structure projects; Indian Creek control structure; and Highland Road improvements. Each resolution designates Parish Engineer Kevin Crosby to act on behalf of the parish in submitting applications and providing information to state officials, and commits local matching funds as required by the legislature.
The Jury also adopted Resolution No. 24‑70 authorizing President Shane Smiley to sign cooperative endeavor documents for the D’Arbonne Hills drainage project after the parish secured an Act 766 state appropriation of $500,000. The Jury later adopted Resolution No. 24‑48 authorizing the president to execute grant documents for the “Parish Wide Portable Pumps Project,” a Louisiana Watershed Initiative award totaling $1,730,000.
Toni Bacon and other jurors noted that the resolutions do not themselves appropriate construction dollars; they authorize the parish to pursue state capital outlay funding and to dedicate local matching funds if the projects are approved by the legislature. Kevin Crosby, designated in each resolution, is authorized to provide application information to state agencies and officials.
Most of the measures were adopted without opposition. Next steps for approved projects include finalizing cooperative endeavor agreements where noted, preparing planning and right‑of‑way packets, and submitting formal applications to legislators and the state capital outlay process.
