Minden · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Minden public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
$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.
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.
2026-2027 Budget Amendment
The city's spending plan for the next fiscal year was reviewed in workshop. What the council settles on will shape funding for city services, streets, and public safety over the coming year.
Marshall Street Water Improvement Project
The council locked in a $250,290 state line-item appropriation to rehab a water main on Marshall Street. Because it came through as supplemental cash, the project can move quickly.
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.
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.
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.
Zoning Regulations for Sexually Oriented Businesses
Ordinance No. 1176 would write Minden's first land-use rules for sexually oriented businesses, confining them to the B-4 Highway Commercial District with buffers from schools, churches, and homes. This shapes what can open where in town.
$5.5 Million in 2026 State Appropriations
Minden landed over $5.5 million from the state this session for five projects: the Robertson Lift Station, the water storage tank, a generator, Marshall Street water improvements, and a new fire station. Combined with last year, that's nearly $14.5 million for local infrastructure in two sessions.
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.
Street Improvement Program Bid Award
Street work bids came in about $200,000 under the engineer's estimate. Officials discussed using the savings to do more work on Shepard Street the first time around.
October Events and Traffic
A busy October ahead: Angel Baby fun run blocking Broadway this Saturday, the fair, parades, homecoming, and a trunk-or-treat the week of October 20-24. Plan for detours downtown.
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.
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.
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.
Hospital ownership transition
The hospital's current owner wants to transition out and says it will cooperate, but no one knows yet who's buying in or on what timeline. Mayor Cox says the council-hired lobbyist David Gaines has been key in navigating the process.
Louisville Road deterioration and safety
Councilman Myles pressed for state help on Louisville Road, which he called as bad as Homer Road was, with heavy truck traffic tearing it up and the city spending its own money patching potholes. Speeding and pedestrians crossing are also safety concerns.
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.
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.
Building Inspection Services After Building Official's Retirement
With the city's building official retired, the mayor wants to partner with Haughton's fire prevention bureau through an intergovernmental agreement so inspections keep running while the city finds a long-term fix.
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.
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.
South Street blighted properties condemnation
The new ordinance lets the city fine owners $500 for uncut grass or $250 for trash after a ten-day notice, do the cleanup itself, and bill the cost onto the tax roll. Supporters say it fixes a process that could take three months; the goal is voluntary compliance.
Citywide Fire Hydrant Flow Testing
Flow testing runs September 9-12 and may temporarily turn tap water dirty from stirred-up sediment; it should clear by Monday.
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.
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.
Game Warriors Community Presentation
A local gaming charity that raises money for causes like suicide prevention and domestic violence shelters presented its work, including a community gaming center called Gamer Haven. The council got a tour pitch and the group hopes for good publicity.
Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Audit Results
The city got a clean opinion on its finances, and sales tax grew from $8.2 million to $9 million while the general fund balance rose to $13.7 million. But the utility fund lost about $3 million — mostly power costs — and auditors flagged repeat findings on late audit submissions and year-end bookkeeping that staff are working to fix.
July 4th Fireworks Hours Extended
The mayor wants to let fireworks run until midnight on the Fourth of July only. Current rules cut them off at 10 p.m., and salespeople say customers want more time on the holiday.
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.
Quarter 3 budget status and franchise fee payment issues
City finances are roughly on track at the 75 percent mark of the budget year, but some companies paying franchise fees are having trouble switching to electronic payments, leaving about $200,000 outstanding.
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.
City-run concession stand paying off
The city took over concessions at the ball fields this season and has already made back its costs — $92,000 in revenue versus $51,000 in expenses, way up from the old $4,500 lease.
Sidewalk Safety Ordinance Update
Ordinance 1171 lets the public works director quickly repair sidewalks deemed public safety hazards instead of waiting on the normal process.
Tyrone Sublin case public appeal
Police renewed their ask for the public's help gathering evidence in the Tyrone Sublin case.
Opt-Out of State Temporary Housing Program
The council opted out of the state's temporary housing and shelter assistance program, as it does each year, preserving flexibility since the city can opt in later but not out.
City Council Candidacy Announcement
Michael Roy is running for Minden City Council District D, adding another name to the race that will decide who handles local decisions on your street. For now it’s just a candidacy announcement, but the election could affect city services and spending.
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.
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.
Sidewalk safety and ADA accessibility
Current ordinance makes sidewalks the property owner's responsibility, so the city's hands are tied on repairs. The Mayor wants to loosen the rules so the city can fix holes and add ramps where safety is at risk.
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.
Sports tourism partnership with Airstream
A new fee schedule for the sports complex lets the city's sports tourism management company actually price and book events.
Fairgrounds hut surplus and possible demolition
The old fairgrounds hut has a failing roof and is a liability. The council will vote to surplus it, opening the door to demolition or transfer.
Road safety grant application
The city is pursuing state grant money for local road safety projects, some of which extend into the parish.