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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.

 

WAS PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING A WASTE OF TIME--IF NOT, WHY NOT HOLD DURING WORK DAY?

The meeting yesterday was a 2-hour affair, 5:30 to 7:30.  Far more Commission employees than public.  I counted 6-7 citizens.  2 spoke.

Senator Peacock, Representative Pressley and Barbara Norton in the audience.  None stayed to the end.

Commissioners: Epperson, Burrell, Young, Atkins, Chavez, Cothran, Gage-Watts.  Down to 3 by end of the meeting.

Public Comments:

One citizen (David Young) spoke on behalf of the Lake Forest Hills HOA.  Area is not in City Limits, but Parish will not provide services to remove trees and debris.  Parish Administrator said Parish is prohibited from entering areas with Private Streets.  No resolution to the issue and I don’t believe the Commissioners present understood the issue.

Commissioner Epperson gave invited speakers an opportunity for a brief report:

SWEPCO – Michael Corbin

Food Bank – Martha Marak

Caddo Community Action Agency – Lawrence Guidry

AT&T- Nika Echols

State Health – Dr. Martha Whyte (Shelters and Mosquito borne illnesses)

SPD – Chief Smith

Madison Poche – Highland Center

Caddo Animal Control/Mosquito Control – Travis Clark

Red Cross – Not present

Comcast – Not Present

Caddo Sheriff / Caddo Homeland Security – Not present but sent a brief statement

Dr. Whyte and Mosquito Control both brought up malaria cases in U.S.  Some questions from Commissioners about that.

Each Commissioner was allowed 3 minutes to speak and ask questions:

Most thanked SWEPCO and agencies operating shelters, concerns with elderly and disabled in multi-story buildings without power, concerns with elderly/disabled without transportation who could not get to shelters, some asked what SWEPCO was doing to prevent future outages, questions about AT&T and COMCAST responding slowly and customers still without telephone and internet service and Burrell asked many questions about broadband expansion and Epperson reigned him in until Commission meeting today.

Public and Commissioners were then allowed time to question representatives present:

SWEPCO got a couple questions about improvements to the grid and tree trimming

MAYOR PROPOSES CITIZENS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE

LET’S SPEND ALL OF THE BLUE LINE MONEY THIS YEAR ON LAW ENFORCEMENT