WILL CADDO COMMISSION DUMP PICKLEBALL TO BUY AUTOPLEX FOR SHERIFF

On Thursday, the Caddo Commission is set to approve the sale of $10 million in revenue bonds.
 
Under the terms of the ordinance there are very few restrictions on the proposal:
 
1. The bonds are to be utilized “for the purpose of capital projects, including but not limited to acquiring, constructing, improving, equipping and furnishing public buildings and projects.”
 
2. There is NO requirement that bonds be issued in the amount of $10 million, just that the sales are limited to $10 million.
 
3. There is NO requirement that any of the bond sales be utilized for the construction of a proposed pickleball complex in southeast Shreveport.
 
4. The bond sale proceeds could be utilized to buy an auto mall complex for Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn.
 
Whitehorn wants Caddo Parish to pay 2.75 million to purchase an auto mall complex. The sheriff is proposing to pay the same amount for the transaction.
 
Whitehorn wants the parish to pay other expenses regarding the sale. See column below for more details.
 
Soo…the future of pickleball in Caddo Parish is in the hands of the 12 Caddo Commissioners. In reality, the 7 Democrat Commissioners control the expenditure of the proposed bond sale.
 
So...all you pickleball advocates. You may get dropped completely, or substantially downsized in the plans to accommodate Sheriff Whitehorn.

INFO CADDO COMMISSION NEEDS TO EVALUATE SHERIFF’S REQUEST TO PURCHASE AUTO COMPLEX
The Caddo Commission’s Long Range Planning Committee meets Monday at 2 p.m. One agenda item is a continued discussion of Caddo Sheriff Whitehorn’s request to purchase the former Mitsubishi auto complex.
 
Information that should be provided to the Committee by Whitehorn includes the following:
 
1.  Copy of the appraisal for the complex
 
2.  Projected cost to move the two substations to the auto complex IF the Commission is to pay a portion of these costs
 
3.  Projected costs of renovations needed for use by Sheriff IF the Commission is to pay a portion of these costs
 
4.  Projected maintenance costs for the auto complex If the Commission is to pay these expenses at some time in the future
 
5.  Copy of a phase one environmental report
 
6.  Report from reputable contractor on condition of the roof on all structures at the auto complex
 
7.  Report from reputable contractor on the condition of all HVAC units at the auto complex IF the Commission
 
8.  Balance of the Sheriff’s reserve funds on day Whitehorn sworn into office as Sheriff
 
9.  Balance of the Sheriff’s reserve funds as of Nov. 30, 2025.
 
Currently the Commission is subsidizing the operations of the Caddo Juvenile Complex and the Caddo Correctional Center. The purchase of an additional facility by the Commission that will require major expenditures, both now and in the future, is a major financial decision that will impact Caddo Parish for the long term.
 
 
QUESTIONS ON WHITEHORN’S PURPOSED BUILDING PURCHASE WITH SHERIFF/PARISH FUNDS
 
The presentation by Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn to the Caddo Commission’s Long Range Planning Committee raised many questions. (See article below for background information)
 
Here is a list that most likely is incomplete:
 
1.  Have other buildings been reviewed TO RENT to replace the North Market substation versus BUY a building for the substation
 
2.  If the Parish pays 50% of the $5.5 million purchase price for the former auto dealership, who will own the building—the Parish solely or the Parish and the Caddo Parish Sheriff Office
 
3.  Will the Sheriff or the Parish pay for the cost of relocating the substation to a new location, either rented or purchased, and what is the cost estimate for relocation
 
4.  Why should the Parish pay for 50% of the renovations needed at the auto facility which are estimated to be $1.7 million
 
5.  Will the Sheriff pay for utilities, insurance, cleaning etc. at the auto facility if it is purchased
 
6.  The Sheriff offered to pay for maintenance for 4 years at the auto facility. How did he determine 4 years, what is his definition of “maintenance” and what is this estimated expense
 
7.  The Parish owns Caddo Correctional Center, the Caddo Courthouse, the Caddo Juvenile Justice Center, the former regional lab building on Creswell, the Walter B. Jacobs Nature Park, the Bickham Building, and other buildings. Can the Parish afford to maintain this auto facility on a long-term basis along with the buildings the Parish currently owns
 
8.  The Sheriff advised the Committee that there are problematic issues with the auto facility. What are these, and if the owners do not correct prior to the proposed sale, what are the estimated cost and who will pay these costs-- the Sheriff or the Parish
 
The Long-Term Planning Committee will meet soon to further review the Sheriff’s proposal. It would be helpful to all if the information identified above was provided, in writing and released to the public, before the next committee meeting.
 
SHOULD CADDO PARISH SPEND $2.75 MILLION TO BUY FORMER CAR DEALERSHIP WITH CADDO SHERIFF
 
It’s a long story that will be explained in a future column.
 
The skinny is that Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn wants Caddo Parish to purchase with his office a former car dealership in the Shreveport auto mall. The appraised price is $5.8 million, and it can be purchased for $5.5 million. The Sheriff will pay 50% of the purchase price.
 
This location would replace the two Sheriff substations at 4910 North Market and 1501 Corporate Drive. The planned purchase is the former Yokum Mitsubishi campus at 8750 Business Park Drive. It is a 42,750 square-foot facility.
 
Currently the Parish leases the two substation locations for the Sheriff.  The Parish must provide office space/facilities for the Caddo DA, the Coroner, the Registrar of Voters, Clerk of Court and the Sheriff.
 
Many details must be fleshed out before the Caddo Commission can make a final determination. The Sheriff offered to pay the maintenance costs for the first four years. Other issues that must be resolved include ownership of the facility—the Parish solely or the Parish and the Sheriff Office. The Sheriff indicated that certain renovations would be needed although he did not say if his office would pay the costs.
 
More to come on this issue.