Caddo Commissioner Ken Epperson, the longtime as in TOO LONG time, commissioner loves the media spotlight. Unfortunately, most media give him coverage WITHOUT researching the merits of his proposals,
The latest Epperson circus was yesterday (Tues.) when he chaired the Commission’s Public Safety Committee to discuss the data center proposal which he trashed last week at a meeting of the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission. One can expect a rerun of this diatribe at tomorrow’s council meeting. One can only hope his speaking/yelling time is NOT extended beyond the three-minute Council speaking rule.
Interesting enough, none of the Committee’s members bothered to waste their time by attending the meeting. A non-committee member did show up to voice her support for the data center. The non-attendance by committee members is a statement in and of itself.
Yesterday Epperson suggested the data center be located OUTSIDE his district to the location of the long-closed George Washington High School location on south Ellerbe Road. The proposal has NO merit
Here are just some of the factual reasons this proposal should be totally ignored:
1. The location is in Caddo Parish, not the Shreveport city limits
2. The location is owned by the Caddo Parish School Board
3. The necessary infrastructure required for the center does not exist.
4. Water piped in from the Red River will need to be treated if utilized in the data center
5. Highway access is very limited. The location is approximately 1.5 miles west of Highway 1 and 7 miles southeast of the I-49 exit at Frierson
6. The site is traversed by many oil/gas easements/leases, and one or more gas drills have been drilled in the immediate vicinity of the old school location.
7. Delaying the vote on the proposed date center deal for Shreveport.
Thankfully this soap opera will end tomorrow's (Thurs.) city council meeting. The soap bubble machine will be put back in storage, at least on this issue.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.