Erin McCarty on KEEL Radio reported on air today, many times, that the Caddo Commission is finalizing the deal for pickleball complex with approval of YWCA lease at Thursday’s meeting.
This report is INCORRECT.
Yes, Caddo Parish requires a long-term lease to build the complex.
However, executing the lease does not “finalize the deal.”
The Commission’s agenda for Thursday includes approval of an ordinance authorizing the Parish Administrator to lease the YWCA land for the complex for “an annual rent of $1 per year.”
The ordinance does NOT include the proposed lease terms, not even the LENGTH of the lease.
But the elephant in the room is who will manage the complex and at what cost if any to Caddo Parish.
Initially the pitch made to the commissioners was that the YMCA would provide ALL the services at no cost to the Commission.
Then the former YWCA executive director said that the Parish must pay for the employees, insurance and maintenance.
The YWCA has a new executive director who is a nuts-and-bolts person focused on bottom-line finances which will certainly include the cost for operating the pickleball complex 7 days a week with extended hours.
Today there has been NO public disclosure of the financial responsibilities the YWCA will have versus the Parish to operate the complex.
The YWCA lease is the first step, but that is the low-hanging fruit that does NOT have any real effect on the finances of the Parish or the YWCA. The operating costs are a very significant factor that will have a major impact on the financial projections for the return of the investment for the parish.
Enthusiasm for authorizing the Administrator to sign a $1 lease per year with NO term or any other terms should be tempered by the reality that the parish administration has disclosed very few details on the pickleball complex much like the proposed sports complex that will be on the November ballot.
Bottomline, the land lease with they YWCA for the pickleball complex is just a small hill while the management costs are the mountain that has not even been publicly approached.
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.