By T. Scott Boatright
Approving 11 continuing annual Cooperative Endeavor Agreements (CEA) and introducing an ordinance that could result in the Louisiana Department of Health leasing the old Monster Moto building on South Farmerville Street were primary orders of business Monday evening as Ruston’s City Council met inside City Hall.
The act on the Monster Moto building as the state has not yet approved any such proposal for which specifics would have to be agreed on, but Mayor Ronny Walker felt the possibility had enough potential to act proactively and go ahead and have the potential ordinance chance introduced.
That ordinance could be voted on during next month’s City Council meeting.
The potential play would have the LDH using the 100,000-square foot building as a warehouse and potential evacuation center for us during state- or federally-declared emergencies.
Monster Motor left Ruston and the building in 2018.
“We do Cooperative Endeavor Agreements for the city when the city helps a group financially either through paying utilities and then receiving something back from that group,” Walker said. “In the case of the first one, the Boys and Girls Club, they provide afternoon and afterschool care for youth.”
The renewed CEAs for the city are as follows:
• Boys and Girls Clubs of North Central Louisiana: Paid utilities and $50,000 in funding
• Dixie Center for the Arts: $70,000 in annual funding plus utility payments
• Ruston Community Theatre: $30,000 in annual funding
• North Louisiana Farm Fresh Corporation: Use of the old Water Facilities warehouse on East Mississippi Avenue for the Farmers Market play utility payments
• Zion Traveler Community Development: Use of various city properties for the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration pulse $7,000 in funding
• North Louisiana Military Museum: Use of the building on Memorial Drive, director’s salary and utility payments
• VFW Parnell-Burt Post 365: Use of the new building built on Memorial Drive
• MTJ Smith Properties, LLC: Allows the city use of Esma’s Alley during events
• Ruston Youth Baseball, Inc.: Allows use of baseball fields at the Ruston Sports Complex
• Ruston Girls Softball Association: Allows use of softball fields at the Ruston Sports Complex
• Buddy Ball of Ruston, Inc.” Allows use of the Buddy Ball field at the Ruston Sports Complex
Ruston’s City Council also passed a motion providing for the canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in Ruston on Nov. 15, 2025, and to promulgate the results of that election.
That millage takes effect this year and will remain on the books for 10 years.
Generated funding derived from that millage funds maintenance and upkeep costs at Duncan, Cook, Greenwood, Huckleberry Trails, Mayfield, Memorial, Roberts, Sydney Smith and Roberts parks along with the planned Ruston Skatepark and a planned dog park next to the city animal shelter on McAllister Street as well as grounds upkeep at the VFW Hall, the North Louisiana Military Museum and grounds and along city walking trails.
The City Council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a $93,840 contract relating to the South Bonner Street drainage improvements from Texas Avenue to Louisiana Avenue.
BGW turned in the lowest bid over four other competitors and was awarded the low bid with an estimated finish time of 30 days.
Also approved as an ordinance amending various sections of the city’s zoning code involving the Monroe Street Greenway Project, parking space ratios, parking space layout and brightness of digital billboards.
Also approved was a resolution approving eight Transitioning Emergency Housing Voucher families to the Housing Choice Voucher Program, establishing preferences to currently assisted Emergency Housing Voucher families and amending the administrative plan for the city of Ruston Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
The City Council also passed a motion reappointing Jim Hough to the Ruston Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board.
