By Bonnie Culverhouse

By a 4-1 vote, members of the Minden City Council gave Mayor Nick Cox the authority to purchase property near the city’s Recreation Complex during Monday’s regular meeting.

Cox said it is a one-acre tract owned by Robert Taylor, who contacted the mayor when he decided to sell.

“We had it appraised,” Cox said. “It appraised for $18,000. He is asking $15,000 for it. In my mind, it would be to our benefit to purchase land on each side of Recreation Drive.”

Cox said the lot has already been cleared.

“It’s not very big, but it’s another piece of road frontage that keeps us owning more land,” he said.

During the council workshop, District E Councilman Andy Pendergrass said he thinks purchasing the property is a good plan.

“Any property we can get that borders that (rec) property and for lower than the appraised value …” Pendergrass said.

District D Councilman Michael Roy in the workshop, said he “could go either way. To own both sides of the road … that’s not a bad thing either,” he said.

“It’s not a ‘stressful purchase,’” Cox said. “It would be a nice piece of the puzzle.”

All councilpersons were present for the workshop, as well as the regular meeting. Roy cast the lone dissenting vote for purchasing the property.

“I feel like the money could be better spent elsewhere,” Roy said. “Our insurance went up to $100,000 this year. If we buy 10 lots for $15,000 a piece, we just spent that money.”

In other business, the council voted unanimously on the following items.

• Adopt resolution adopting the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the audit period of 10/01/22 to 09/30/23. The questionnaire will be submitted to city auditors Allen, Green & Williamson, LLP.

• Condemned properties: 

Barbara Miller, 505 Plateau Street, District B

The Church of God in Christ, 707 Crichton Street, District C

Esquire 2019, 514 Babb Circle, District C

• Annual fire report for 2023; and,

• Police report for October 2023.