Mayor Darnell Waits outlines Baker investments, public-safety spending and priorities

Mayor Darnell Waits on Saturday laid out a list of investments and future priorities for the city of Baker, outlining grant-funded infrastructure projects, a heavy emphasis on public safety and plans for social-service and workforce programs.

In a 40-minute presentation to a Chamber of Commerce audience, Waits credited his council and staff for accelerating city work, highlighted utility upgrades and recovery after a 2016 flood, and said Baker has pursued grants and audits to support major projects. "We had, we somebody came to me and they said that FEMA wanted to have a program," Waits said, describing a strategic planning effort after the flood. He added that the city has pursued roughly $18,000,000 in infrastructure work, which he said was "mostly grants." The mayor also said the city has recorded nine straight good audits.

Why it matters: The presentation outlines near-term city priorities and spending choices for residents and local businesses. Waits emphasized public-safety investments and infrastructure as central to attracting homes and businesses, and named social services and reentry programs as upcoming policy areas.

Waits said public safety accounts for a substantial share of Baker’s budget: "50% of the budget, that we have is for public safety," he said, and argued the spending supports Baker’s standing as "one of the safest cities in Louisiana." He credited finance staff, naming finance director Mary Sue Stages as present, for budget planning and audits.

On utilities and capital work, Waits described recent projects that include a municipal gas line routed to serve a nearby zoo and park, water-line upgrades on Highway 964, new wells and generator installations, West Side gas-line expansion and sewer lift stations. He said the city’s utility system is municipally run and can be used to attract and retain businesses. "Everything that they run over there is gonna be natural gas," Waits said when describing the zoo connection.

The mayor described road and drainage work as another focus. He said Levy Lane is undergoing a road transfer to city control after required work was completed, described Groom Road resurfacing tied to drainage fixes, and said Baker has resurfaced more than 70% of its streets since the current administration began. The mayor also said the city used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to clean and upgrade ditches and canals to reduce flooding.

Waits highlighted several community and facilities upgrades: LED street-light conversions paid by the city to improve neighborhood visibility; a new generator, HVAC and kitchen equipment for the auditorium so it can serve as a certified Red Cross shelter; and park improvements including playground equipment, a resurfaced track and plans for a covered pavilion and upgraded restrooms.

On housing and blight, Waits said the city has a home-rehab program that has helped "about 20 homes" and is pursuing a clearance grant to condemn and demolish an estimated 10 to 15 houses using state grants. He said those projects reduce blight and return properties to commerce.

Economic development goals included directing zoo visitors toward Baker businesses and developing a park-and-ride with private buses and electric-vehicle charging; Waits described the concept as seeking funding. He named local economic-development staff Dante Bidwell and thanked state legislators Rep. Roy Adams, Sen. Regina Barrow and Rep. Barbara Carpenter for help with economic development districts and grants.

Waits closed the presentation by listing future priorities—social services, opioid intervention, workforce development, veteran services and a reentry program for ex-offenders—and opened the floor for a few questions. "If you got any questions real quick?" he said before thanking attendees.

Provenance: The article summarizes a single presentation by Mayor Darnell Waits that begins with the mayor's remarks and continues through the closing acknowledgments. Topic introductions in the transcript begin at SEG 006 (mayor opening) and the mayor's closing remarks appear through SEG 835.

What the transcript does not show: a formal vote or council action during the presentation; no motion or ordinance was recorded. Several numeric figures and names were given by the mayor as approximations in the remarks; where exact figures or spellings are unclear in the transcript, this article reports them as stated or as approximate.

Closing: Waits said the administration will continue pursuing grants and projects to attract residents and businesses and invited attendees to discuss items after the presentation.