By T. Scott Boatright
Grambling’s City Council approved an ordinance authorizing issuance of no more than $1 million in taxable revenue bonds while also approving a $221,000 well rehab project as primary orders of business during its October meeting held Thursday night inside City Hall.
The issuance of up to $1 million in excess revenue bonds will be used to repair manholes and force mains as well as use a camera system to find out what is causing problems inside those force mains.
A force main is a specialized pipeline designed to transport wastewater under pressure from a pump station to a discharge point, such as a treatment plant or a gravity sewer line.
Unlike conventional gravity sewers, which rely on a downward slope to move sewage, force mains use mechanical pumps to push wastewater uphill, across flat terrain or under obstacles like rivers and highways.
This makes them essential in areas where gravity flow is insufficient due to topography or shallow soil conditions.
The ordinance was passed unanimously by a vote of 4-0, with Council member Delores Wilkerson Smith absent from the meeting.
“This is nothing the city is going to be held accountable for,” Mayor Alvin Bradley said. “It’s all being forgiven, so we won’t be out of any money.”
Grambling’s City Council also voted to award a contract of $211,000 to rehab Well No. 6 to Continental Drilling of Shreveport upon the recommendation of city engineer Henry Shuler.
“The funds will come from leftover grant funds from various grants, and (Shuler) says that the city (of Grambling) has enough funds to cover the cost (of the project),” Bradley said.
The City Council also authorized Bradley to sign a resolution for Act 961 calling for upgrades to City Hall.
“I requested funds from Sen. Jay Luneau, and he awarded the city of Grambling $100,000 that is to be used to repair the roof (at City Hall) and also possibly paint the building,” Bradley said. “And on the recommendation of Councilwoman (DeVaria) Ponton, there could also be some upgrades at City Hall that relate to video.”
Ponton said that refers to a video system that could allow citizens of Grambling to participate virtually during City Council meetings.
Also approved by the City Council was a 3% cost-of-living salary increase for city employees, with the exception of the mayor and City Council.
The City Council also approved the hiring of three new employees — Jaiden Hunter as a full-time police officer, [NAME MISSING] as a full-time firefighter and Cassidy Martin as a full-time firefighter — and Saad Kahliq as a volunteer firefighter, as well as the promotion of Decorean Livingston from part-time to full-time police officer.
During the meeting, Public Works Director Eric Caldwell announced that a four-way stop had been placed at the intersection of College Street and Harris Street, while Alexio Hargrove from the Grambling Fire Department reminded city residents that a burn ban remains in effect throughout the city.
