By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Fire and Police departments have new personnel following unanimous votes by the Minden City Council Tuesday evening.

Fire Chief Brian Williams said by hiring Nathan Randle, he now has a full roster of 15 full time paid firefighters.

With the hiring of Erikka Means, Police Chief Jared McIver told the council he has an officer who can start work immediately.

“She has already passed all her tests and she is POST certified,” McIver said.

In other business, the council unanimously voted in favor of the following items:

• To opt  out of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness’ Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Program;

• To adopt Ordinance No. 1146 – Service to electric vehicles through city-owned electric vehicle charging station(s);

• To adopt a resolution – municipal water pollution prevention;

• To appoint Kathy Cropper to Minden Main Street/Downtown Development Board;

• To reappoint Claudine Thomas to Minden Main Street/Downtown Development Board;

• To hear Budget/Finance report for July 2024;

• To hear Fire report for August 2024; and,

• To hear Police report for July 2024.

Before the meeting, Mayor Nick Cox requested a moment of silence for former mayor Joe Cornelius and following the meeting, each councilman, as well as Cox and Ward Marshal Dan Weaver spoke of the impact Cornelius had on the community.

“Joe worked for me and the former Ward Marshal Randy Shelley,” Weaver said. “I can hear Joe right now saying, ‘Don’t cry one tear for me.’”