DELAY ON COMPLETION OF CONFEDERATE MONUMENT BOX

Caddo Parish Administrator De. Woodrow Wilson sent out the following Thursday: 
 Commissioners, please be advised that we have run into some technical issues concerning the immediate construction of the protective structure around the monument at the Caddo Parish Courthouse.

As directed by the Board at the Special Meeting on Tuesday of this week, we have been working with a local contractor to design and construct a large box around the monument. Due to the height and width of the monument, it will require building a large four-sided box-like structure to completely cover the monument. 

Out of an abundance of caution and for the public safety of those who may be near the structure after its completion, we have consulted with a structural engineer to review our plans and assist us with a design that would be safe and most cost-effective. The engineer reviewed the project this morning and we are being advised that further engineering design is needed and would not be available until the morning of Monday, July 20th.

My priority is to accomplish this project in the safest way possible and eliminate any potential liability issues that could possibly arise should the structure fail due to circumstances beyond our control.

Obviously, we will not have the project completed by tomorrow; therefore, we will need to extend the project completion time until next week.  We will work to have it completed as soon as possible. We believe that we can start work on the project on Monday once the engineering design is completed.

We have already ordered and received most of the materials needed to complete the project. It is the Administration s top priority to get this project completed as expeditiously as possible.  As we progress,  I will provide you with periodic updates.