By Bonnie Culverhouse
Thanks to a unanimous vote by the city council, the City of Minden Fire Department has a full roster for the first time in recent memory.
With all councilpersons present and voting in favor, Joshua Butts became the newest member of that department.
Butts, a Minden native, moved to Dixie Inn and volunteered for District 7 Fire Department.
“I became a volunteer in Minden, and when this opening came up, I went for it,” Butts said. “I took the test and here I am.”
Most members of Butts’ family are in the care taking business – many in the medical field.
“This (firefighting) is a passion,” he said.
Fire Chief Brian Williams said Butts will attend a training academy in the fall.
In other business, Minden City Council unanimously decided to pull an item from the agenda that is no longer applicable.
Mayor Nick Cox said a contract allowing Manchac Consulting to aid the city in grant writing, was pulled by a Manchac representative Monday morning.
“We just couldn’t agree on some changes in the contract,” Cox said.
Also unanimously approved were the following items:
• Condemned Properties at the following locations – C.L. Baker, 420 Martin Luther King Drive, District B; Charlotte Scott, 404 South Street, District B; Charles F. Cato, 408 Morrow Street, District C; Ruth M. Walker, 410 Morrow Street, District C; Lloyd Waymon Huckaby, 232 North Middle Landing, District C; and Willie Combs Jr., 217 Main Street, District B.
• A resolution to amend City of Minden 2022/23 budget.
• A resolution authorizing Mayor Nick Cox to execute an agreement with Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for a KCS Railroad overpass.
• A resolution regarding a lease/purchase agreement for the purpose of financing a heavy rescue truck for Minden Fire Department.
• A policy for City of Minden’s back and recovery procedures requested by City of Minden auditing firm of Allen, Green & Williamson, LLP.
• A policy for Information Technology Disaster Recovery Plan as requested by Allen, Green & Williamson.
• A policy for debt management as requested by Allen, Green & Williamson.
• Adopted a policy of implementation for sexual harassment as requested by Allen, Green & Williamson.
• A bid for a fire department custom heavy rescue truck.
• A report for financial budget, month of May 2023.
• Approved police report for May 2023.
