By Bonnie Culverhouse

Local contractor Benton & Brown has made quick work of improvements to Longleaf and Woodard streets, just north of Country Club Circle.
Having received three bids, Benton & Brown was lowest qualified bidder at $416,500. The City of Minden had budgeted a little more than $500,000 to repave the two streets.
The project stopped short on Woodard Drive, as a portion of it is outside the city limits.
Some residents feel Longleaf and Woodard were in such bad shape due to the number of residents in the Timberline Subdivision.
Webster Parish Assessor Denise Edwards said there are 137 parcels in Timberline with 10 on Deer Creek, nine on Longleaf, eight on Post Oak Lane and 50 on Woodard – 37 inside and 13 outside, which are included in the Timberline total.
“It is one way in and one way out and that is Woodard, Post Oak and Longleaf,” Edwards said. “And there is also Deer Creek Subdivision and the only way in and out of it is Longleaf.”
Edwards said new houses have been built in these areas over the years, so much of that traffic included materials and equipment trucks.
“And many of these families have teenagers who also have a vehicle so it is Mom, Dad and kids going up and down the roads, which have not been overlaid in years,” she said.
As of today (Thursday, Sept. 9), striping was finished and only some shoulder work appeared to remain.

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