$100 Million for Drainage

In an exclusive interview with the Central City News, Mayor Jr. Shelton announced that he has secured an unprecedented array of city, state, and federal funds to improve drainage in the City of Central. The money, totalling more than $100 million, is perhaps more than any other city in the country has received.
The interview, conducted at Mayor Shelton’s home in Comite Hills Sunday, covered the major issues that have confronted Central over the past four years and provided an inside look at how Shelton approaches his job. Topics covered included:
• Retaining Central’s rural lifestyle
• The Master Plan
• The Zoning Code
• Residential growth under his administration
• The Flood
• How Central dealt with the aftermath of the flood
The interview was conducted without any preconditions except that it would cover the working of his administration, not politics or the current campaign.
Highlights of the Mayor’s interview were:
• Central’s rural lifestyle is alive and well. Since he became Mayor, population growth has only been about 4/10ths of 1 percent, which would be less that 300 people
• In the past four years, only four subdivisions have been approved, and only two of those have started construction, resulting in a total of 31 homes built. This compares to 12 subdivisions in the previous eight years.
• The Master Plan is not law. It is a guide that does not have the effect of law. On the other hand, the Zoning Code is law and legally binding.
• Major developments are done by use of a PUD (Planned Unit Development) or a SPUD (Small Planned Unit Development), which under the Master Plan can be anywhere but must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
• The Flood of August 2018 was a defining moment for Central which tested the community. It was not only a physical disaster but also had tremendous psychological effects on the community.
• One of the most important things about the flood was how the community came together. Another was how much people all over the country helped us.
• He worked the first 72 hours of the flood little sleep and from very early to very late for a year or more after that. He provided personal attention to thousands of Central citizens and recorded many of those in a diary which he maintains.
• Central began cleanup and rebuilding long before any other city or parish in the area. He pressed FEMA to open an office in Central, which facilitated getting help for citizens.
• He, the Council, IBTS, and volunteers worked long hours to help get people the permits and the assistance they needed.
• The city is focused on drainage and has completed clearing 47 miles of canals and drains.
• The city has secured more than $100 million in city, state, and federal funds to implement a major drainage program.
• Infrastructure remains a priority, especially completing Hooper and Sullivan and building a bridge across the Amite.
• The new City Hall is necessary to begin Town Center. It will result in savings that will pay for itself.
• The development on Sullivan across from Walmart will be one of the best in the state. It will take eight years to build out.
• Economic development is going very well. Central has a lot to offer.
Use the QR Code on Page 1 to watch the interview on your iPhone.