By Pat Culverhouse
Don M. Barron Contractor, Inc., headquartered in Farmerville, was declared low bidder for the city’s two-million gallon ground storage water tank.
Minden City Council members unanimously approved Barron’s low bid of $3,481,800 for the project. The bid came in slightly over the city’s consulting engineers’ estimated cost (without construction contingencies) of $3.465 million.
Barron’s bid was lowest of three received.
State funds available for construction of the project are reportedly just over $3.216 million, which means the city will be contributing $265,420 to the total cost.
Mayor Nick Cox said the new storage tank will double the city’s capacity for storing fresh water. Construction is expected to take at least a year, Cox said.
Monday’s bid letting completes a process which began with conversations among council members more than two decades ago, council member Michael Roy said.
“We first talked about this in 2001 when I first came on the council under Mayor Bill Robertson,” Roy said.
Council members also voted to overturn a decision by the Minden Planning Commission which had denied a zoning variance for the establishment of a cemetery in the 1300 block of Sheppard St.
St. Rest Baptist Church had requested the variance on the roughly one-acre property at the Commission’s Dec. 4, 2025 meeting. Commission members voted 2-1 to deny the application. An appeal of the decision was received on Dec. 17, just ahead of the 14-day appeal period.
But council members reversed that decision, with four voting in favor of Dist. B representative Levon “Charlie” Thomas’ motion to overturn. District A’s Carlton “Buddy” Myles abstained.
During public comments prior to the council’s vote, Fort St. resident Glenda Allums cited her opposition to the variance citing safety concerns including increased traffic congestion on an already busy street. She also suggested a decline in property values if the variance was granted.
Alums also said there were serious environmental issues with the property. Alums told council members she had obtained a number of signatures from homeowners on a petition opposing the move.
“We’re very concerned over environmental and health issues. There are two underground streams beneath that property and one above ground stream,” she said. “I think there should be an environmental impact study before this is allowed.”
Following the council’s vote, Dist. E member Andy Pendergrass said he would hope the property owners would address any environmental concerns which had been mentioned.
During Monday’s meeting, council members also:
• Named District A council member Buddy Myles as Mayor Pro Temp.
- Adopted a resolution authorizing signatory power to the Mayor, Mayor Pro Temp, City Clerk, Assistant City Clerk and City Clerk Office Manager on checks issued by the city.
- Authorized advertising for bids on one Altec AT48M, or equivalent, bucket truck.
- Heard and accepted budget/financial report for November, 2025.
- Authorized Mayor Nick Cox to accept quote from Conterra Networks to become the internet provider for city facilities, and to execute necessary documents.