By Paige Gurgainers
Local faith leaders gathered with city, parish and state officials at the Minden Community House Tuesday for the fourth annual Ministers’ Breakfast.
Hosted by the City of Minden, the event provides pastors and other spiritual leaders with updates they can share with their congregations while also giving them an opportunity to voice concerns and speak directly with local officials.
Mayor Nick Cox welcomed those in attendance and thanked Minden’s churches and ministers for the important role they play in strengthening the community. He emphasized that faith leaders and public officials share a common goal of making Minden a better place to live.
Among those attending were state Rep. Wayne McMahen, Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker, Webster Parish Assessor Denise Edwards, Minden Police Chief Jared McIver and City Council members Michael Roy, Buddy Myles and Andy Pendergrass. City employees and law enforcement officers were also present.
During the breakfast, Cox discussed several projects underway throughout the city, including street repairs, utility improvements and continued work at the Minden Recreation Complex.
The reconstruction of Industrial Drive is approximately 30 percent complete. The concrete project is being funded through the state with assistance from McMahen and state Sen. Adam Bass.
Additional streets targeted for improvements include Joel Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winford Street, Clerk Street, Country Club Circle between Drake Drive and Germantown Road, and Homer Road from the library to the Claiborne Parish line. The city has also secured funding for more road striping and is preparing for work along Sheppard Street.
Cox said water and sewer improvements remain another priority, although working with the city’s aging underground infrastructure can make those projects especially complicated.
Progress is also continuing at the Minden Recreation Complex, where the enhancement project is approximately 70% complete. A supply issue involving resin has delayed portions of the work, and officials are waiting for the necessary materials to arrive.
Despite ongoing construction, eight of the complex’s 16 fields have been completed. Pendergrass reported that 46 events have already been scheduled at the facility between now and next fall.
City leaders believe the tournaments and other events will generate additional revenue for Minden while bringing more visitors to local restaurants, hotels and businesses. They also hope the increased traffic will encourage future commercial development along Industrial Drive.
Plans are also moving forward for a new fire station on city-owned property along Shreveport Road. The city chose not to renovate the former station behind Dairy Queen because the building cannot properly accommodate modern fire trucks and has other limitations. Nearly $3 million in state funding has been allocated toward construction of the new facility.
The Minden Airport was another major topic of discussion. Cox said the airport has grown into a revenue-producing asset for the city, with fuel sales serving as a significant source of income. New hangars, business travel and activity connected to Fibrebond have also contributed to its success.
McMahen described the airport as an important economic development tool because access to a facility capable of serving business aircraft can help attract new companies. He said Minden is well-positioned for growth and indicated that several major projects could come to the area within the next few years.
McIver provided an update on the Minden Police Department, reporting that staffing levels have improved considerably. With more officers available for patrol, the department can maintain a stronger presence throughout the city and potentially deter criminal activity.
The department has also added a new K-9 officer, obtained additional vehicles and equipment, and continued investing in officer training.
McIver reminded church and business leaders about the department’s building-check program. Officers routinely inspect properties and leave a notice when a building is found secure. If a door is unlocked, officers contact the person designated by the property owner. He encouraged local organizations to make sure the department has up-to-date emergency contact information.
The police chief invited attendees to share questions, requests or concerns. Although no complaints were raised, one minister expressed appreciation for the department’s building checks.
The breakfast concluded with officials reaffirming the importance of cooperation between the local government and Minden’s faith community. Cox acknowledged that city leaders cannot predict every challenge ahead but said they will continue approaching their responsibilities with faith and a commitment to finding solutions.