By T. Scott Boatright
The Ruston City Council “played ball” during its October meeting at City Hall, authorizing the sale of one sports facility and use of another to the Lincoln Parish School while also introducing an ordinance that could open the door for privately-owned indoor pickleball courts to be constructed near the Sports Complex.
Ruston’s Board of aldermen voted unanimously to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) for the city to sell the approximately one-acre McLane Recreation Center located on James Street across from L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium for $225,000.
The CEA will have the LPSB paying a total of $300,000 to the city — $225,000 for the McLane Center and $75,000 for the use of the C-1 softball fields and six tennis courts at the Ruston Sports Complex through Dec. 31, 2025. The school board gave its approval to the CEA last week.
Ruston High School’s softball and tennis teams have used the Sports Complex facilities free of charge.
The McClane Center was once the site of the Ruston Parks and Recreation Department’s office and is currently being used by the school system as the parish’s alternative school, something that will continue moving forward. The Lincoln Parish Truancy Office will now also move into the McClane Center.
Ruston’s Board of Aldermen also introduced a motion a proposed ordinance that if passed when considered and potentially voted on during the City Council’s November meeting would allow the city to enter into a CEA with Long, LLC, to sell or lease slightly more than a half-acre to next to the tennis courts at the Ruston Sports Complex for construction of a six-court pickleball facility.
That issue will be considered and potentially voted on during November’s City Council meeting.
The City Council also passed a motion approving the first of Hunt, Guillot & Associates for construction, engineering and inspection services related to the Louisiana Tech Multi-Use Path/Trail Project, which is the final part of the Monroe Street Corridor Project.
When complete, the path will stretch from Monroe Street to Tech Drive.
“The work on the Louisiana Tech trail path is ongoing and has found that they have some contract limitations, so they’ve asked us to take that over with the university reimbursing us for the expenses of that contract,” said Public Works Manager Andrew Halbrook.”
Mayor Ronny Walker said the matter was one of bookkeeping as much as anything else.
“We’re all through with this,” Walker said. “This is a matter of budgeting and following through on time.”
Also was approved as a resolution authorizing the city to enter a Professional Services Agreement with American Testing Lab, LCC, for testing and inspection services related to the East Kentucky-Goodwin Road to La. Hwy. 33 Project.
“We are getting ready to start with the first portion of three-laning East Kentucky Avenue and American Testing Lab will provide all of the engineering required by the (Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development),” Halbrook said.
The City Council also passed a resolution authorizing the city to enter in a Professional Services Agreement with Riley Company of Louisiana, Inc., for engineering services related to the Carolina Avenue/Homer Street Intersection Improvement Project.
“For a couple of years now we’re recognized the need to address the storm sewer at that intersection of East Carolina and North Homer Street,” said Public Works Director John Freeman. “So, we budgeted it through a capital project with an estimated entire cost including construction for $425,000, but first we need to have a plan to set up specifications for that project and that’s what we need to engage Riley Company to handle.”
The Board of Aldermen also passed a resolution for leasing of two front-loading commercial sanitation trucks, another resolution authorizing the city to apply for funding assistance to the State of Louisiana DOTD’s Division of Aviation for improvements to the Ruston Regional Airport and a third resolution authorizing the city to execute a second amendment to a CEA and lease property for Louisiana Tech University.
Councilman John Denny was absent from Monday’s meeting.
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