Mayor-Elect David Barrow Outlines His Plans for Future

In an exclusive interview with the Central City News, Central Mayor-elect David Barrow said he believes the people of Central sent a clear message in recent elections.
“We have a Master Plan, and people expect us to follow it as closely as possible. We have zoning ordinances, and they want us to follow those,” he said.
“Drainage is a priority, especially as it relates to new developments. The drainage plan the current administration has been working on is good, and it will be good for the future of Central.”
“Some of the technology city contractors are making available to us will allow us to foresee the effects of new developments on drainage. The new Master Drainage Plan should be ready in a few weeks. We should follow it, and we will have a great city for years to come.”
Now that the election is over, Barrow said he hopes Central can return to a period of good feelings. “I’m hoping we can bring back the Central that existed right after incorporation. If everyone pulls together, we can do that,” he said.
Asked about economic development, the mayor-elect said he has been talking to Ron Erickson of the City of Central Chamber of Commerce. Barrow said the city should focus on retention of existing businesses. “We are losing businesses. Some businesses are struggling. We want to help existing businesses and then bring in new businesses.”
He said one prime area for development is the Central Thruway but the city is or should be very protective of that area when and if it is developed. “We should have an overlay district for the Thruway. There should be strict design standards. It will say what you want and where. We will want things with low traffic impact — not gas stations and such.”
The mayor-elect said he’s been meeting on Beaver and Blackwater bayous with Fred Raiford, director of transportation and drainage for the parish. Barrow said, “We want to keep these projects moving along. We want them complete within five years.”
He said improvements to Hooper and other roads will benefit from the same kind of modeling as new developments. It will allow city officials to understand the effects on drainage of various highway projects. He said, “No other city has this kind of data.”
Barrow said one of the problems involving Beaver Bayou is a series of ridges that waters have to cross. Water has to go down Hooper to Devall to get under Hooper. Cross drains are needed under Hooper, he said. Any development in that area has to be looked at very carefully, he said. Ironically, you have to be sure the water doesn’t run too fast, he said.
As far as new developments and growth, Barrow said, “The city is open to new developments. A city has to grow, but the message is slow, controlled growth.
The mayor-elect said extending Hooper Road across the Amite to Watson would open the city to economic development. “It would be a game changer for this community,” he said.
“At 5 p.m. if you cross the Magnolia Bridge and turn left toward Watson on Highway 219, you’ll see traffic backed up to the middle of Magnolia Bridge.”
Regarding the new Parish Road Plan proposed by Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and approved by voters parishwide on Dec. 8, Mayor-elect Barrow said the widening of Hooper Road from Blackwater to Sullivan should be one of the first projects because it is shovel ready. In other words, the design is in place and it could be out for bids much sooner than other projects. “It will be very beneficial to Central and will keep traffic moving. The plan will get people through red lights and bottlenecks. Turning lanes will also be important.”
The 1/2-cent sales tax paid by Central residents under Mayor-President Broome’s plan will not actually go into the parishwide road plan but will be remitted to the City of Central for local road projects. Barrow said this will supply the City of Central will a dedicated source of funds — about $1.2 million to $1.5 million a year — for additional road improvements within the city. This is similar to the Green Light Plan, which remits the 1/2-cent sales levied by that plan to the city instead of the parish government. However, there is one important difference, Barrow said. “Under the Green Light Plan, 70 percent of the dollars remitted to the City of Central had to be used for new construction, 27 percent to rehabilitate existing roads, and three percent for sidewalks. The new 1/2-cent sales tax will be remitted to the City of Central and must be used for road and street improvements.
Barrow said he’s excited about the design for the widening of Hooper, which includes a grassy median, openings for turns, and sidewalks on both sides. A 10-foot wide lane for walking and biking is planned for the south side of Hooper from the BREC Park at Blackwater to the BREC Sports Park at the corner of Hooper and Lovett.
Barrow said the widening of Sullivan from Wax to Hooper is in the clearing and grubbing stage.
So far, nothing has been done on Wax Road, which was just approved Dec. 8, and the mayor-elect said that project will take longer.
Barrow said he is optimistic about the new Parish Road Plan. He said the Green Light Plan has been administered very well. He asked, “Can you name any controversies or scandals? No, there have been none. It has been done properly across the parish. They have the trust factor. The Central Thruway was part of the Green Light Plan, and it was well done.”