Minden · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Minden public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Annual Fire Report for 2026
The fire department expects a new insurance grade within 30 days after a strong PIAL evaluation — potentially good news for homeowners' insurance. Two fire operator positions remain open.
2025-2026 Budget Fourth-Quarter Review
Sales tax collections dropped 12.13% this month — not a panic, just the city lapping last year's big electrical equipment sales from major construction projects. This month is tracking much stronger so far.
Cybersecurity Grant Funding
Mayor Cox would be authorized to accept state cybersecurity grant funds for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to bolster the city's defenses.
$125,000 State Legislative Appropriation
The council will authorize the mayor to accept a $125,000 line-item appropriation from the 2026 legislative session via a cooperative endeavor agreement.
Robertson Lift Station Improvements Funding
The council will ratify Mayor Cox's state agreement to get capital outlay funds for upgrading the Robertson Lift Station — key sewer infrastructure.
September 2026 Police Report
Police Chief Jared McIver will brief the council on department activity for September — a monthly pulse check on public safety in Minden.
Fire training pipeline for high school students
The fire chief highlighted an award-winning program training high school students for fire service certifications and college credit — a response to the nationwide volunteer shortage. Four students participated last year; ten start this year.
Ward 1 Marshal Authority
New state law required the council to formally re-authorize the Ward 1 Marshal's operational authority. The city is obligated to pay the marshal regardless, so continuation passed without debate.
Lithium-ion battery disposal
Council members asked what residents should do with dead lithium batteries, which can catch fire in trash trucks. There's currently no local drop-off — only one known site in Shreveport — and the fire chief said he's been researching options.
Airport hangar rental fee increases
The council closed out grant funding for the completed parallel taxiway North project and started the five-year cycle to re-select the airport's engineer.
Lawsuit Against City Police
A Minden woman is suing the city and two former cops, claiming they shared her nude images. That means taxpayers could be on the hook for legal costs, and it raises fresh questions about police accountability.
Minden Airport hangar construction grant
Five resolutions locked in state and federal money for airport maintenance and the wildlife perimeter fencing project, which starts construction this month.
Resident Water Bill Dispute
A District C resident with a $788 water bill for 74,324 gallons disputed the charges, saying she had no leak; the mayor offered to review her meter data with her after the meeting.
Hydrant Flow Testing and Fire Insurance Rating
The PIAL evaluator comes September 14, and crews will flow-test 22 randomly picked hydrants starting the next morning — expect brown, dirty water for a few days. The payoff is a better fire rating, which can lower your homeowner's insurance.
Building Inspection Coverage via Haughton Partnership
With Minden's building official retired, the city will borrow inspection capacity from Haughton's fire-prevention bureau until long-term staffing is sorted out.
Draft Employee Handbook Overhaul
The city's new draft handbook roughly doubles the old one, adding policies on AI use, records management, and financial administration. Council members will review it through October before it moves forward.
Stray Animal Control Efforts
Strays are on the rise, and the city is buying more animal control cages and trying to hire a third officer to cover weekends. Residents are asked not to feed strays that animal control is trying to trap — it defeats the trap.
Election Qualifying
Qualifying has closed for local races in Minden and across Webster Parish, and voters will see contested races on the ballot. That means candidates actually have to compete for support instead of coasting into office.
Proposed four-way stop on Lake Shore Drive
Councilman Roy wants a four-way stop where traffic speeds past an apartment complex and a school playground, citing kids on bikes and scooters.
Delta Regional Authority FY2026 grant application
The city is applying for a DRA grant, and Mayor Cox can now sign all the paperwork. Minden has committed to putting up matching funds, so this brings grant dollars in at a local cost.
Police and fire department promotions
Six first responders moved up the ranks: four police officers (including a new Lieutenant and Sergeant) and two firefighters (a new Battalion Chief and Fire Captain). The Battalion Chief promotion drew the meeting's only dissenting vote.
2026 Property Tax Millage
The council rolled forward the city's tax mills for 2026, keeping property tax rates at existing levels rather than reducing them.
Municipal Energy Cooperative Membership
Minden is joining a Louisiana energy cooperative with Plaquemine and 11 other cities, a move that could shape local power rates and how the city buys electricity. The change is about bulk purchasing and shared energy decisions, so the real impact will depend on the cooperative’s contracts and pricing.
Utility Provider Change
Minden is switching its power provider, and that could shake up your electric service and monthly bills. The details are still thin, so it’s not yet clear who the new supplier is or what changes are coming—keep an eye out for updates.