By Pat Culverhouse

Webster Parish Police Jury members learned Tuesday that this year’s road repair will most likely be limited to three or four parish highways, and it’s all a matter of money.

“Probably four roads is the maximum we could do this year,” police jury road committee chairman Steve Ramsey said during the group’s meeting. “We’ve submitted our priority list, which is consistent with last year, and we simply don’t have the money to do more.”

Ramsey said the jury’s budget of roughly $537,000 would most likely cover the cost of approximately three miles of overlay. At the top of the priority list are Goodwill Rd., Pilgrim Rest Rd. and King Orchard Rd.

“We know there are others that need work, but with our budget this is all we can do,” he said.

Jury members were also told the cost of repair to a parish road would increase if there is a need for soil cement.

“Some of the roads need a soil cement base to be properly repaired, and that runs up the cost of the project considerably. We don’t have the money to soil cement all the roads,” Ramsey reminded the committee.

State Senator Adam Bass told members of a meeting to discuss a variety of water projects and issues scheduled for Thursday (March 6) from 9 a.m. until noon at the Sheriff’s Substation on Viking Dr. in Bossier City.

Scheduled to speak at the meeting is Louisiana’s head of the Department of Environmental Quality, Aurelia Giacometto.

Bass also told the jurors that after meetings with the DOTD and Minden’s Fibrebond Corp., load tests will be performed on some area bridges.

Also Tuesday, police jury members tabled until further study a decision to renew the parish’s franchise contract with Entergy. The current contract, a 50-year deal signed in 1976,  is scheduled to expire in January, 2026. Entergy is seeking a 50-year renewal.

Jury members also unanimously approved the reappointment of Leon Smith to another two year term on the board of the Webster Parish Fire Protection District 8. That term expires in January, 2027.