By T. Scott Boatright
The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana organization has outgrown its current housing here in Ruston, but negotiations with the Lincoln Parish Police Jury might have the potential to help both of those entities in the short term if not longer.
Considering a request from the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana for use of space at the Police Jury Complex I (the old Temple Baptist Church building located at the intersection of Alabama and Homer streets in Ruston) was on the agenda of Tuesday night’s Public Property and Buildings Committee prior to the LPPJ’s February meeting.
That committee moved to table any action on that request for at least a month to give officials from both sides talk about the potential of the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana using space inside of it when it becomes available.
Currently the Lincoln Parish HELP (Humanitarian Enterprises of Lincoln Parish) Agency, which assists low income individuals and families with utility assistance, rent, transportation, and more, is housed on the second floor of that building but will move at some point over the next few months to the new 12,500 square foot Health Hub building being constructed on White Street near Northern Louisiana Medical Center.
That led to the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana to make the request for that office space on the second floor of the older facility to use for administrative office space once the HELP Agency moves to the new Health Hub building.
Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana Director Eldonta Osborne was not at that Public Property and Buildings Committee meeting but did attend the full LPPJ meeting that followed and explained his organization’s need for new housing for administrative officers.
“When I started 20-plus years ago, we were in one club in one parish,” Osborne said. “Today we have 11 clubs and we’re in seven parishes serving more than 800 kids, and that growth has gotten us to the point where we’ve added to our staff and pretty much outgrown the space we’re in now. And for us to continue to grow and serve the kids of our area we’re needing some additional space and we’re looking for a place where we can actually have all of our staff together and we can continue to grow and serve our kids more efficiently and effectively.
“So, we’re looking forward and hoping that as we have some conversation going forward that we can work together with the Jury and figure out a way to allow us to get all of our staff and all of our people to a place where we can actually better serve our kids.”
Osborne stressed that the Boys and Girls Clubs are looking for administrative space and not space to interact with the kids attending the clubs.
Currently the old Armory on Memorial Drive across from the North Louisiana Military Museum is where the Boys and Girls Club hold activities for elementary and middle schools-aged children while older kids are mentored at the old Bobby James Gym area near Ruston High School.
“We used to have them all in one place, but there’s too many for that now so we had to split our kids and our staff,” Osborne said. “These are the things (that happen) when you’re successful — it takes more, and right now that’s where we are.”
Osborne said he’ll need office space for around 12 staff members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana.
One question that will be discussed in future negotiations is how long the Boys and Girls Clubs will need that space. When questioned about that, Osborne said his agency is flexible and has the ability to move and adjust.
“So, if something were to come up at some point in time, we’ll find a space that will give us a way to continue to operate,” Osborne said.
“If a long-term commitment comes, I’m sure we’ll take it. But if that’s not the case, we’ll take the space (short-term) and do the work that we do as long as we can there and then we’ll adjust it after that.”
Parish Administrator Courtney Hall said that at the least, any use of the Police Jury Complex I (also known as the Lincoln Parish Police Jury Annex), a cooperative endeavor agreement would have to be worked out with the Boys and Girls Club taking over at least a portion of utility costs.
There is an office currently being leased by the Department of Homeland Security to house a grant writer for that agency but that all the other offices on the second floor of the building will be open when the HELP Agency moves to its new office space at the Health Hub facility currently under construction.
Hall said any move would have to be temporary until the LPPJ decides what it wants to do with the Police Jury Complex I.
The Police Jury is already looking toward the future knowing it will eventually need to decide on multiple LPPJ properties being leased, as is currently being done with the Old Country Market building near the Lincoln Parish Courthouse that currently houses a Dollar General outlet and a Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Hall said he expects that Dollar General outlet to be moved to a new location planned to be built just outside southwest Ruston city limits. The Ruston City Council earlier this month passed a motion to provide electric utility services to Dollar General should that location just outside city limits be built.
Such a move would only increase the LPPJ’s need to consider the future of that old Country Market building.
District 5 juror Logan Hunt said part of the discussions needed for the Police Jury Complex I and the Old County Market building will likely entail coming up with an updated LPPJ Facilities Use Plan.
“I think 2012 was the last time the Police Jury set up the actual task of having a Facilities Use Plan,” Hunt said. “I don’t think those have been scoped in our long-range plan. At least not yet.”
Hall said there are “so many moving pieces” with property the LPPJ owns and is leasing out that will need to be considered for action to be taken, hence the need for further study and discussions, even if not setting a specific timetable should the LPPJ agree to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Louisiana on at least a temporary basis.
“I think it could be done with the understanding that things could change, but I think that we need to give (the Boys and Girls Clubs) the one-year thing,” said LPPJ President Glenn Scriber. “I think we need to give them that. But I think it also needs to be stated (in any forthcoming agreement) that if something comes up and we need to (sell) that building, we would need to give them ample notice.”
