By Jim Wilkerson

The Ruston City Council convened for its monthly scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m. While the meeting lasted a little longer than usual due to a longer agenda, each ordinance and resolution was approved unanimously without much discussion.

The meeting ended on a positive note, with the Council unanimously passing a resolution that authorized the issuance of $27 million of sales tax increment revenue refunding bonds, essentially saving the City of Ruston millions of dollars.

The finance team responsible for finalizing the deal included Lucius McGehee, Wes Shafto and Toby Cortez.

Agenda items included:

1. Agenda and Minutes:
2. Adopt Agenda
3. Approve Minutes of the November 1, 2021 Regular Meeting
4. Administration:
5. Consider Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Providing the Date, Time and Place of Regular Meetings of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Ruston, Louisiana for Calendar Year 2022
6. (1) Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Providing the Date, Time and Place of Regular Meetings of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Ruston, Louisiana for Calendar Year 2022
7. Consider Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Amending Sec. 2-101 and 2-102 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ruston, Louisiana
8. (1) Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Amending Sec. 2-101 and    2-102 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ruston, Louisiana
9. Consider Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Amending Various Sections of Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ruston, Louisiana Related to Parking
10.    (1) Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Amending Various Sections of Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ruston, Louisiana Related to Parking
11. Consider Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing City to Enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and/or Development Agreement with GSE, L.L.C. and to Lease and/or Sell Property in Connection with City of Ruston Economic Development
12. (1) Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing City to Enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement and/or Development Agreement with GSE, L.L.C. and to Lease/Sell Property in Connection with City of Ruston Economic Development
13. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Approving Amendments to Employee Handbook
14. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing City of Ruston to Join with the State of Louisiana and Other Local Governmental Units as a Participant in the Louisiana State-Local Government Opioid Litigation Memorandum of Understanding
15. Authorize City to Enter into Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs
16. Introduce Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Declaring the Malapportionment Status of the Current Districting Plan of the Single Member Election Districts of the City of Ruston Utilizing the Population Data from the 2020 Federal Decennial Census; and Providing For Adoption of a Redistricting Plan

III.                 Public Works:

1.    Consider Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing the Lease of Additional Property by the City of Ruston to the North Louisiana Military Museum
2. (1) Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing the Lease of Additional Property by the City of Ruston to the North Louisiana Military Museum
3. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing the Sale of Scrap Materials as Surplus Movable Property
4. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing City to Enter into Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Related to the Lincoln Parish Geographic Information System District
5. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Requesting the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to Designate a Portion of the Southbound Lane of LA Highway 818 Within the Municipal Limits of the City of Ruston as a No Truck Route
6. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing City to Enter into Contract Related to Purchase of Garbage Truck
7. Light and Power
8.    Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing Sale of Damage Transformers as Surplus Movable Property
9. Airport:
10.    Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing City to Enter into Agreement with Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for Improvements at the Ruston Regional Airport
11. Planning and Zoning:
12. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Approving Final Plat of Unit 2 of Tanyard Creek Subdivision of The City of Ruston, Louisiana (Case 1511 – Tanyard Creek Subdivision – Unit 2)
13. Consider Resolution No. ______ of 2021, Approving Final Plat of Unit 3 of Tanyard Creek Subdivision of The City of Ruston, Louisiana (Case 1511 – Tanyard Creek Subdivision – Unit 3)

VII.               Finance:

1.    Consider Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing the Issuance of Not Exceeding Twenty-Seven Million Dollars ($27,000,000) of Sales Tax Increment Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021, of the City of Ruston, Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana; Fixing Certain Details and Providing for the Payment Thereof and Entering Into Certain Covenants and Agreements in Connection with the Security and Payment of Said Bonds; and Providing for Other Matters in Connection Therewith
2. (1) Public Hearing Regarding Ordinance No. ______ of 2021, Authorizing the Issuance of Not Exceeding Twenty-Seven Million Dollars ($27,000,000) of Sales Tax Increment Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021, of the City of Ruston, Parish of Lincoln, State of Louisiana; Fixing Certain Details and Providing for the Payment Thereof and Entering Into Certain Covenants and Agreements in Connection with the Security and Payment of Said Bonds; and Providing for Other Matters in Connection Therewith
3.    Select Auditors for FYE 9/30/2021
4. Treasurer’s Report

VIII.             Adjourn Meeting

---