By Malcolm Butler
The Ruston City Council accepted a $1.1 million state grant last Monday night for sanitary sewer improvements while also authorizing an application for additional funding to expand water and sewer infrastructure west of the city.
Council members unanimously approved a resolution authorizing city officials to administer a Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) that will fund sanitary sewer rehabilitation in several neighborhoods.
The project will include improvements along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Pine Street, Cedar Street and East Line Avenue.
The city received a $1.1 million grant through the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant program and will contribute approximately $650,000 toward the project.
Mayor Ronny Walker said the city pursued the funding after adopting a sanitary sewer resiliency plan last year as part of the application process.
“We asked for it, and we were awarded it,” Walker said.
The council also unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a Delta Regional Authority grant to extend water and sewer service approximately 2,000 feet along West Alabama Avenue toward Tarbutton Road.
Public Works Director John Freeman said the extension would serve recently rezoned property, support a proposed residential development and continue expanding utility infrastructure toward Interstate 20 to encourage future commercial growth.
“This would be the first step in making inroads back toward the interstate,” Freeman told the council.
Walker said the utility extension would help position the area for additional economic development as growth continues westward.
In other business, the council authorized city staff to begin condemnation proceedings on properties located at 1012 Arlington St. and 407 S. Farmerville St.
Council members also introduced two zoning ordinances that will be considered at a future meeting. One would amend the city’s zoning code regarding recreational vehicle parks, while the other would approve preliminary plans for the proposed Hillcrest Haven subdivision.
Finance Director Julie King reported that the city’s overall sales tax collections for May totaled approximately $2.1 million, an increase of about $19,000, or 0.89%, compared with May 2025.
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