Minden council passes adult business zoning rules 4-1 and hires two officers and a firefighter

Update, Tue., Nov. 3: We added what the council did Monday night, from the Webster Parish Journal. The agenda preview we published Monday morning follows.

What the council did

The Minden City Council voted 4-1 Monday to amend and reenact its zoning ordinance on sexually oriented businesses, the Webster Parish Journal reported. The change limits those businesses to the B-4 Highway Commercial district and sets separation requirements and sign rules.

Mayor Nick Cox said no one has approached him about opening such a business. He said the ordinance follows one used in West Monroe.

District A Councilman Carlton “Buddy” Myles cast the only no vote. “I don’t feel like we’ve done our due diligence on this yet,” Myles said. “We need to do more work. We don’t have maps or anything.” Councilmen Michael Roy and Andy Pendergrass said they agreed with Myles but voted yes so the city would have something in place until they can study it more closely, the newspaper reported.

The council voted unanimously to hire police officers Jon Gaskins and Jeremiah Carroll and firefighter Mason Lewis. It also approved the 2026-27 budget amendment, the state agreements for Robertson Lift Station money, hiring Benjamin Gaines of Gachassin Gaines as outside counsel, the GOHSEP cybersecurity grants and advertising for bids on the Marshall Street Water Improvement Project.

The agenda preview

The Minden City Council meets tonight, Monday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. at Minden City Hall, with a council workshop at 5 p.m. That is according to the city’s meeting agenda and workshop notice. City Hall is at 520 Broadway St., and the city streams the meeting on its YouTube and Facebook pages. The Webster Parish Journal also published the agenda Monday morning.

New hires

The council is set to vote on hiring two Minden Police Department officers, Jon Gaskins and Jeremiah Carroll, and a Minden Fire Department hire, Mason Lewis.

Money items

• A resolution amending the city’s 2026-27 budget.
• Ratifying Mayor Nick Cox’s cooperative endeavor agreement with the state Division of Administration’s Office of Facility Planning and Control for capital outlay money for Robertson Lift Station improvements, planning and construction.
• An agreement with the Louisiana Treasury for a $125,000 line item appropriation from Act 961 of the 2026 regular session. The money will buy a generator for Robertson Lift Station, the agenda packet says.
• Accepting money from the FY 2023 and FY 2024 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Programs through the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).
• Permission to advertise for bids on the Marshall Street Water Improvement Project. The packet says the project got $250,290 in state money and must be built by June 30, 2027.

Adult business zoning

Ordinance No. 1176 would set zoning rules for sexually oriented businesses in Minden. It defines those businesses and would allow them only in the B-4 Highway Commercial district, at least 1,500 feet from schools, churches, residential areas and other protected uses, the packet shows. It also sets rules for exterior appearance and signs. The agenda lists it for adoption.

Also on the agenda

• Authority for the mayor to hire Benjamin Gaines of Gachassin Gaines LLC as outside counsel, working under the city attorney.
• The September budget and police reports and the annual fire report.
• A proclamation for the city from William “Bubba” Sessions, regional director of the state Office of Rural Development.

Council meetings are open to the public.