By Paige Nash
Last month, Arcadia property owner Douglas Sapp attended the Bienville Parish Police Jury Meeting to urge the jury to consider adding an emergency travel route for the Arcadia School Complex, located at 967 Daniel Street. The school located on a dead-street, only provides one way to enter to exit the property. An alternative route being added would lessen the concerns of parents, faculty and staff in the case there was ever an emergency at the school.
There have been two previous attempts to bring this project to fruition in the past, but it never progressed further than the discussion table. It seems that may not be the case this time.
Robert George, President and Engineer for S.E. Huey, has met with Sapp along with property owners, a representative of the school board and a representative of the governor’s office of rural development.
“As the meeting concluded everyone in attendance thought it was a good idea, but of course it depends on who is able to fund it,” said George.
According to George the state representative was aware of potential funds available from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Preliminary estimates from the engineer put the cost of implementing this new route at about $750, 000. If utilities are included it would upgrade the cost to around $1 million. This estimate includes a full asphalt, two-lane roadway from Daniel Street to Highway 151, in between El Jarrito Mexican Restuarant and the Days Inn hotel.
Juror for District 1 Bill Sims asked, “Were there any other options brought up that might be a little more reasonable as far as cost? As far as I am concerned, I would be more interested in an emergency exit only. That would be a whole lot more reasonable.”
If the route was to be used as an emergency egress only, it could be a dirt road with a gate that remains locked. The road would only be open in the case of an emergency and would not be available for public use at any other time.
“If it was going to be approached as emergency use only, then the cost could come down considerably, but it was discussed in the meeting that one of the benefits is that there could be some economic development opportunities,” said George. “This would open up property along that road for economic development, if it was a proper road.”
BPPJ Vice-President Darryl Ryder was open to this idea.
“If the scope if for economic development and all of the other local entities, school board and Town of Arcadia, buys in and whatever match we are getting from the state or federal, it may be advantageous for us to entertain that for the economic growth part,” said Ryder. “I don’t think we want to close that door and it be used for emergency egress only if there are opportunities,” said Ryder.
Cathy Babers, the spokesperson for the office of Congressman Mike Johnson was in attendance at the police jury meeting. She informed George that she could assist in providing him with information of available USDA loans that could possibly cover the scope of this project.
She said, “I also have met with the mayor about several things concerning several options of economic development, road development and historical development that I can also send you. Once there is a decision, we can obviously write a letter of recommendation and Congressman Johnson would send that along to support the parish in the decision that you make.”
There was no action taken at this time, but meetings will continue and options for funding will be explored.
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