Editor’s note: see future editions of Webster Parish Journal for more in-depth stories from Tuesday’s Minden City Council meeting.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
Some residents of Minden may have to contend with brown water for a couple of days in order to have lower home owner insurance rates.
Beginning Wednesday morning until Friday, 22 hydrants from different areas of the city will be opened for flow testing.
“The hydrants were chosen at random by a rating person for PIAL (Property Insurance Association of Louisiana),” Fire Chief Brian Williams told the Minden City Council during a workshop Tuesday. “During the whole time, the water crew will be flushing the lines, trying to get through this as quick as we can.”
Mayor Nick Cox explained flow testing as “popping the cap on the fire hydrants to see how much liquid will flow through there. It helps with your fire rating and insurance cost.”
Watch Webster Parish Journal for a list of streets where the flow testing will take place.
Minden Police Department promotion
Thanks to a unanimous vote of the Minden City Council, Police Lt. Spencer Tippen will now be addressed as captain.
Tippen has been with Minden Police Department since 2004 and passed his captain’s exam with a score of 89 percent (required is 75 percent.)
In other news, the council passed the following agenda items;
Audit Presentation
• Audit Presentation for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 by Allen, Green & Williamson, LLP
Resolutions
• Adopt Resolution – Authorizing Credit Card Signatory Power for Certain City of Minden Personnel
• Adopt Resolution – Authorizing Mayor Cox to Execute a Local Services Agreement Between the City of Minden and the Haughton Fire Prevention Bureau
• Adopt Resolution – Authorizing Mayor Cox to Execute an Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) for Improvements at the Minden Airport
• Adopt Resolution – Authorizing Mayor Cox to Accept Grant No. H.016342 for Funding Assistance from the LA DOTD for Bidding, Designing Plans, and Phase I of Construction of the Airport Wildlife Perimeter Fencing Project
• Adopt Resolution – Ratifying Mayor Cox’s Acceptance of Grant No. 3-22-0032-020-2026, titled Construct Perimeter Fencing, from the Federal Aviation Administration for Future Improvements to the Minden Airport and Enter into a Grant Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration
• Adopt Resolution – Requesting that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) Division of Aviation Provide Funds Required to Complete the Airport Improvements at the Minden Airport Specifically as Described in the Capital Improvement Program Application for State Financial Assistance Dated September 2026
• Adopt Resolution – Annual Certification of Compliance with State of Louisiana Off-System Bridge Replacement Program
Ordinances
• Adopt Ordinance No. 1172 – Annual Bridge Maintenance Report
• Adopt Ordinance No. 1173 – An Ordinance to Amend and Reenact the Code of Ordinances, City of Minden, State of Louisiana, Chapter 42, Fire Prevention and Protection: Article III, Fire Prevention Code: Section 42-71. – Fireworks
• Adopt Ordinance No. 1174 – An Ordinance to Amend and Reenact the Code of Ordinances, City of Minden, State of Louisiana, Chapter 50, Health and Sanitation: Article II, Condition of Premises: Section 50-37. – Notice to Property Owner; Failure to Comply, Section 50-38. – Abatement by City Authorized, and Section 50-39. – Mailing Statement Showing Expense Incurred, Addition to Tax Liability, Privilege and Lien, Remedies Cumulative
Final Plat Approval
• Final Plat Approval – Lot Split of Property Owned by Maximar Properties, LLC Located at 700 Main Street.