The concerns over the reverter clause in the donation by the North Shreveport Business Association (NSBA) to the City of Shreveport of property on North Market for an SPD substation have been well-documented.

The donation deed requires the construction of a substation on the property within three years and upon the failure to maintain a substation on the property for 25 years, then a reversion (transfer) of the property back to NSBA.

The substation was approved in a 2021 bond election under former mayor Adrian Perkins. The negotiations on the donation were conducted while Perkins was still the mayor. The donation deed arrived on Mayor Arceneaux's desk very early in his term, which began on Dec. 31, 2021.

The issues are twofold:

1. Will use of 30 year bond proceeds for construction of the substation on this land with the 25-year reverter clause violate the bond terms.

2. Should the City proceed with the construction of the substation with the 25-year reverter clause in effect.

It should be noted that the Arceneaux administration has not been given any marching orders from the Council, specifically:

a. Should negotiations be had with NSBA to eliminate/ modify the reverter clause.

b. Should an alternative site be selected for the substation and the property transferred to NSBA.

Fussing about communications or non-communication to/from the Mayor are not really that relevant to the issues that need to addressed very soon. The Council meets for its work session next Mon., Oct. 28 and a regular meeting on Tues., Oct. 29.

Hopefully, the Council will pass a resolution(s) that clarify what action(s) they want the mayor to take. It’s time to taken constructive action to resolve the council concerns.