It was an issue raised at the Bossier City Council meeting on Tuesday of this week.
Bossier City's charter has two provisions that seemingly prohibit the public private partnership between the city and Manchac Consulting Group. The current five year agreement ends on May 31.
The big fuss presently before the Council is the proposed renewal of the contract for three years beginning June 1.
Mayor-elect Tommy Chandler takes office on July 1. Chandler has questioned the renewal of the Manchac agreement which will affect his administration.
The Bossier charter provides in section 20.02 that "the mayor shall nominate for confirmation by the city council a director of Public Utilities. The Director shall be responsible for the maintenance and operations of the City's water and sewer systems."
Bossier's website states that Manchac is responsible for the management and oversight of the city's utility department.
The city's website also states that Benjamin Raushchenbach with Manchac is the city engineer.
The charter provides that the city engineer is also a mayoral appointment.
The street talk is that litigation may be filed before the next Bossier council meeting on May 4 to enjoin the Council from contracting with Manchac past June 30 of this year.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.