| Description: | DIDCO Search for Industry Continues |
| Text of article: | DIDCO Search For
Industry Continues
Four new members of the DeRidder Industrial Development Commission (DIDCO) were appointed at Monday's City Council meeting. Mayor Creighton Pugh submitted the nominees and they were approved unanimously by the Council.
The new members are Ed Michael Reggie, president of City Savings Bank, Noel Daniels, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Shirley, Ward 3 Police Juror and W.E. Kilman, Jr. First National Bank, representing the business community.
They join continuing DIDCO members Ralph Hooks, Creighton Pugh, Jim Mann, Horace Wingate, H.I. Stewart, Sr., H.P. McElveen, Cecil Middleton, Helen Johnson, Lamar Schweitzer, R.A. Scalfi, Jr., James K. Nichols, Ed Brandt, Merle Harper and Roy Miller.
DIDCO, organized in 1974, works with the city and parish in a continuing effort to attract new industry to the area.
Rising construction costs have forced the Council to abandon long-planned rennovations of the city's oldest public park at least temporarily.
City Engineer Vernon Meyers reported at the meeting that bids on even bare-bones renovation of Harmon Park were nearly double the available funds.
Only $20,000 is available for the first year of the project, under a 3-year federal recreational facilities grant. Council members voted unanimously to hold the bids under advisement while seeking additional funds for the $58,000 plus project.
Bids were accepted by the Council from Prairie Construction Company, sole bidder to supply the City with hot asphalt overlay, and Hanna-Abington Ford for two police cars. Total bids for the mid-size cars was $13,870.24. While it
could not be included in the bid, the company noted that a $1200 rebate on the two cars from Ford Motor Company would be sent to the City.
City manager Tommy Smith got the go-ahead from the
Council to advertise for bids on the lab testing portion of the long-awaited new sewer system.
The Council tangled with zoning ordinances again, on a request to operate a beauty shop on land zoned for residential use. Although the Council seemed willing to grant the special exception on the recommendation of the Planning Commission, it talked at doing so until the owners seek a variance to the zoning ordinance. The building in question was built within 4 feet of the public right of way, in exception of zoning codes.
In other zoning action, the council accepted introduction of an ordinance, that would permit construction of a medical clinic on Eighth Street. The land was purchased from the city, and is currently residential.
Norwood Construction Company was formally awarded the contract for Phase One of the North Street Project. The project, which will include paving on several side streets, is estimated to cost in excess of $250,00.00.
A resolution absolving the Office of Public Works of all responsibilities for engineering. and legal work on the North Street Project was also passed. Although the Project is federally funded, engineering and legal inspections are all being done by the City under the terms of the grant.
Payments totaling $33,849.00 were approved by the Council for legal, engineering, surveying and inspection services on the Arrowhead Subdivision sewer project.
The next regular meeting of the Council is scheduled for March 9 at 3:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Ed Michael Reggie W.E. Kilman, Jr. |
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