DeRidder City Council OKs Emergency Water Pact, Sets Hearing Dates
The DeRidder City Council approved an emergency potable water agreement with Magnolia Water System at its June 22 meeting, moving swiftly to secure regional water services. Unanimous 5-0 votes also finalized a July 4th entertainment contract and a cooperative housing study, while first readings set public hearings for July 13 and 27 on ordinances covering the city attorney, water meters, AMI services, a rezoning, and a telecom tower.
City Council acts on water, entertainment, housing study
Meeting on June 22, the council adopted Ordinance O-2026-35, an emergency agreement with Magnolia Water System, to provide potable water. No term or financial details were specified in minutes.
A contract with Dani LaCour for July 4th musical entertainment (O-2026-34) was also approved 5-0. The council adopted a cooperative endeavor agreement for a regional housing study by the same vote tally.
In other business, the council appointed the News Leader as official journal and approved previous meeting minutes.
First readings advance to July and August hearings
Several ordinances were introduced on first reading, each sending the matter to a public hearing:
- Designation of a city attorney: hearing set for July 13.
- Lease for water meters: hearing set for July 13.
- Professional services contract for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI): hearing set for July 13.
- Rezoning on Highway 190: hearing set for July 27.
- Special exception for a telecommunications tower: hearing set for July 27.
Other recent meetings held
The Economic Development Advisory Board met June 24 with a scheduled virtual presentation by Lacey Bacchus, Senior Director of Community Partnerships at Retail Strategies. Minutes from that session were not yet published as of Friday.
The DeRidder Main Street Advisory Board convened July 2 to discuss the SmartStart DeRidder grant, 2026 event planning, a fundraiser for board training, and appointment of new members. No decisions were reported in the agenda-only materials.
Coming up
No regular meetings of city boards or the council are scheduled in the next week, but three public hearings are set for the July 13 City Council meeting: city attorney designation, water meter lease, and AMI professional services. A July 27 council meeting will take up the Highway 190 rezoning and the telecommunications tower special exception.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.