By T. Scott Boatright
Renaming of Huckleberry Trails Park and appointing a new member of the Planning and Zoning Commission were key orders of business as the Ruston City Council held its March meeting Monday evening at City Hall.
The 23-acre park on Magnolia Drive, adjacent to Cypress Springs Elementary School is now known as Huckleberry Trails Marie Riggs Park in honor of the former Ruston City Councilwoman who spearheaded the creation of the park.
“(Current District 5 Councilman) Bruce Siegmund made the suggestion and I thought it was a great one,” said Mayor Ronny Walker. “Marie Riggs absolutely loved Ruston and her district, which was the Cypress Springs area. So we’re just trying to honor her for all of her hard work over the years. She was around for the start of projects that are getting done now, like the new fire station being built now.
Riggs served as Ruston’s District 5 City Council representative from January of 2003 to December of 2014.
“I told her that I appreciate all of the hard work she did in making sure that park got put there,” Siegmund said. “I enjoy the park. I like to walk on the trails that are there. A lot of other people do, too. It’s just a blessing to have it there and without her, we wouldn’t have it, so I hope this is something that honors her legacy for quite some time.”
The Council also appointed Doug Postel to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
“All of us know Doug well and Julie Mays has resigned, so we’re asking Doug to come on and fill that spot,” Walker said.
Ruston’s City Council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to accept South Monroe Street, West Texas Avenue, West Louisiana Avenue and Oil Mill Street.
“This is procedural for the (Louisiana Department of Development and Transportation),” said city Public Works Director John Freeman. “The city had entered into a build grant with the Department of Transportation to fund and construct this. Amethyst was awarded the low bid to construct these streets and we’re driving on them today.
“So we need this final piece of paper to accept it and promote it to the next level.”
Ruston’s Board of Aldermen also approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an Agreement with the state DOTD for improvements at the Ruston Regional Airport/ for taxi lane extension and apron extension.
Freeman said the airport is 100% funded by federal and state monies.
Also approved was an ordinance amending Chapter 29 of the Code of Ordinances for the city of Ruston by changing certain Zoning District Boundaries provided for therein for approval of a preliminary plate for the Russ Town Crossing.
The move rezones the 9.65-acre Russ Town Crossing property from B-4, Highway Business District; and B-3, General Business District to PUD, Planned Unit Development for a proposed new townhouse development (114 townhouses in 30 buildings) off Tech Drive.
Ruston’s City Council also approved an ordinance adopting amendments for the period of Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2024 to the annual Budget and Revenues for the Fiscal Year Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 20, 2024 for the city of Ruston.
The City Council also introduced a pair of potential zoning ordinances that will likely be discussed and voted on during its April meeting.
