By Michelle Bates
If all goes as planned, Arcadia’s Hazel Street could see some revamping and improvements to its drainage system through the Hazel Street Flood Mitigation Project.
The $4.7 million project will be paid for through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery. Mayor O’Landis Millican said the project would include the construction of a lift station at the Arcadia Events Center, renovation of the Daniel Street lift station as well around the pond around the Events Center.
“We’re going to try to buy some land from Gap Farms to build a park with a pond and walking trail around it,” he said. “You can do those things to create a gathering body of water as well as alleviate any damages that’s caused on town property or equipment. The biggest problem we’ve run into is the Daniel Street lift station would flood.
“We have to submit a report once a month, and we’re keeping the ball rolling on that,” he continued.
This would help alleviate flooding all along Hazel Street, he said, adding the resolution (passed unanimously) details what’s included in the grant, as well as the Fair Housing Act. The town advertised for engineering services in The Advocate in Baton Rouge, the Shreveport Times, the Monroe News-Star and the Ruston Daily Leader as well as The Bienville Democrat. The Bienville Parish Journal also shared it online.
“I believe we have two companies, one out of Canada,” he said, adding that the $4.7 million grant is the largest the Town of Arcadia has ever received.
In other news, Millican said the annual audit was done and completed by June 30.
“It’s been submitted pending approval from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office,” he said. “That will be posted to their website and you (council members) should get the audit and financials next week for the last two months.”
Millican also discussed the roofs at Henderson Jordan Memorial Park, saying some of the roofs are falling in.
“They were built wrong,” he said. “The ceiling (on the porch) is about to fall down. We’re looking at about $18,000 to renovate the roof and deck area, and that’s just with materials and supplies.”
At Arcadia’s kiddie park, the town will begin painting the equipment in August and work their way to others, the mayor said.
Signage at most of the parks will be replaced, except the one at Henderson Jordan Memorial Park. The signs at the Willie Abney Center, Poulan Field, Jessie Lee Roberson Memorial Park and the Jessie Lee Kelly Park will be replaced.
The town will continue to seek grants to improve parks and recreation, Millican said. He spoke to the director of the Louisiana Parks Association who will provide a list of grants available in which the town will apply.
Work has also begun on the Community Garden. The shed is in and dirt is beginning to be moved to create the garden space. District 5 Councilman said a trench will be dug for the sprinkler system, and got the supplies from Taylor’s Feed and work is beginning on a fence for the perimeter of the garden. The money used for the community garden has come from a $10,000 grant from the Louisiana Lieutenant
Governor’s Office.
The next town council meeting will be at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13.