DeRidder meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

DeRidder Council adopts amended budget, approves $538k sewer work

The DeRidder City Council unanimously adopted an amended FY2025-26 operating budget reflecting $10.7 million in revenues, including a one-time $400,000 payment from Cleco and concession stand income. The council also approved a $538,852.90 bid for manhole rehabilitation as part of the Water Sector Program-Phase 2.

Budget and infrastructure

At its Aug. 10 meeting, the council passed Ordinance O-2026-45, amending the current fiscal year budget to account for additional revenue sources. The vote was unanimous. The ordinance incorporates the Cleco payment and concession stand revenue into the city's spending plan.

In a separate unanimous vote, the council awarded a $538,852.90 contract to Gulf Coast Underground for manhole rehabilitation. The work falls under the Water Sector Program-Phase 2.

Other council actions

The council introduced two ordinances that will be subject to public hearings on Aug. 24:

• An ordinance to sell a surplus city vehicle to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office. The vote to introduce was 6-0, with Councilmember Spikes abstaining.
• An ordinance authorizing a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Banyan Foundation for office space at First Street School. The introduction was unanimous.

The council also approved the minutes from its July 27 meeting.

Civil Service Board

The Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board met Aug. 12 and approved several routine items:

• Minutes from May 6 and June 4, 2026.
• Personnel action forms for the Fire and Police Departments, covering hires, resignations, promotions, and retirements.
• The appointment and swearing in of Derek Plummer and Jerry Purdue as board representatives.
• A call of tests.

The board tabled an update to the communication officer police job description until a new Chief of Police is hired. It also decided to wait on updating the Seniority List until after testing is completed.

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Planning & Zoning Commission met Aug. 17 but took no final action. The agenda included a public hearing on a variance request for a proposed restaurant at 104 and 108 Jefferson Street to waive the 300-foot distance from a church for a liquor license. The commission also considered a special exception request by Wendell Lee for a single-wide manufactured home at 362 Dees St., Lot 4, Rosewood Addition, and a rezoning to R-3 for Malcom Henry at 518 N. Texas St. to build a duplex. The commission discussed filling a vacant seat left by Louis "Jack" Peavy.

Coming up

• **City Council workshop** – Monday, Aug. 24, 3:30 p.m., Council Chambers. The council will discuss the city budget.
• **City Council regular meeting** – Monday, Aug. 24 (after the workshop). The agenda includes a rezoning request for 518 North Texas St. from R-1 to R-3, an emergency contract with Dennis Downs Electrical, LLC for up to $17,000 for transfer switch repair, an audit contract with Windham & Reed, L.L.C., condemnation of 121 Pickett St., and public hearings on the surplus vehicle sale and the Banyan Foundation agreement.
• **Economic Development Advisory Board** – Wednesday, Aug. 26. The board will hear a presentation from Avon Knowlton, Executive Director of Fort Polk Progress, and discuss filling a seat vacated by James Keen.

DeRidder Council Approves Emergency Water Agreement with Magnolia Water System

The DeRidder City Council approved an emergency potable water agreement with Magnolia Water System on June 22, the most consequential action taken at recent local government meetings.

City Council — June 22

The council adopted three ordinances by unanimous 5-0 votes:

• **Emergency water agreement with Magnolia Water System** (O-2026-35) — an emergency potable water agreement adopted 5-0.
• **July 4th entertainment contract** (O-2026-34) — a contract with Dani LaCour for July 4th musical entertainment, adopted 5-0.
• **Regional housing study** — a cooperative endeavor agreement for a regional housing study, adopted 5-0.

The council also introduced several ordinances on first reading, setting them for future public hearings:

• Designation of a city attorney — public hearing scheduled for July 13.
• Water meter lease — public hearing scheduled for July 13.
• Professional services for AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) — public hearing scheduled for July 13.
• Rezoning on Highway 190 — public hearing scheduled for July 27.
• Special exception for a telecommunications tower — public hearing scheduled for July 27.

In other business, the council appointed the News Leader as the official journal and approved minutes from the previous meeting.

Economic Development Advisory Board — June 24

The Economic Development Advisory Board met to hear a virtual presentation from Lacey Bacchus, Senior Director of Community Partnerships at Retail Strategies, on community partnerships. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so no decisions or actions are confirmed beyond the agenda item.

DeRidder Main Street Advisory Board — July 2

The Main Street Advisory Board was scheduled to discuss 2026 community event planning, the SmartStart DeRidder grant, a tour fundraiser for board training, and the appointment of new board members. Minutes have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should watch for rescheduled dates for the July 13 and July 27 public hearings on the ordinances introduced at the June 22 council meeting, as those dates fall within the hearing schedule set by the council.

DeRidder City Council OKs Emergency Water Pact, Sets Hearing Dates

The DeRidder City Council approved an emergency potable water agreement with Magnolia Water System at its June 22 meeting, moving swiftly to secure regional water services. Unanimous 5-0 votes also finalized a July 4th entertainment contract and a cooperative housing study, while first readings set public hearings for July 13 and 27 on ordinances covering the city attorney, water meters, AMI services, a rezoning, and a telecom tower.

City Council acts on water, entertainment, housing study

Meeting on June 22, the council adopted Ordinance O-2026-35, an emergency agreement with Magnolia Water System, to provide potable water. No term or financial details were specified in minutes.

A contract with Dani LaCour for July 4th musical entertainment (O-2026-34) was also approved 5-0. The council adopted a cooperative endeavor agreement for a regional housing study by the same vote tally.

In other business, the council appointed the News Leader as official journal and approved previous meeting minutes.

First readings advance to July and August hearings

Several ordinances were introduced on first reading, each sending the matter to a public hearing:

• Designation of a city attorney: hearing set for July 13.
• Lease for water meters: hearing set for July 13.
• Professional services contract for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI): hearing set for July 13.
• Rezoning on Highway 190: hearing set for July 27.
• Special exception for a telecommunications tower: hearing set for July 27.

Other recent meetings held

The Economic Development Advisory Board met June 24 with a scheduled virtual presentation by Lacey Bacchus, Senior Director of Community Partnerships at Retail Strategies. Minutes from that session were not yet published as of Friday.

The DeRidder Main Street Advisory Board convened July 2 to discuss the SmartStart DeRidder grant, 2026 event planning, a fundraiser for board training, and appointment of new members. No decisions were reported in the agenda-only materials.

Coming up

No regular meetings of city boards or the council are scheduled in the next week, but three public hearings are set for the July 13 City Council meeting: city attorney designation, water meter lease, and AMI professional services. A July 27 council meeting will take up the Highway 190 rezoning and the telecommunications tower special exception.