BOSSIER CITY, La. — The Bossier City Council has voted to end its investigation into the city’s $280,000 parking lot project, concluding that city officials acted within their legal authority while approving additional transparency measures.
The council voted during its regular meeting to dissolve the investigative committee that had been reviewing the city’s decision to repave and connect the parking lots of Scot’s Audio and Bossier Power Equipment following construction associated with the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway Project.
The roadway project was intended to improve traffic flow, expand access along the Benton Road corridor and support future economic development. During construction, access to several businesses was disrupted, prompting the city to negotiate settlement agreements with two affected property owners that included parking lot improvements.
Those settlements drew public scrutiny earlier this year, leading the City Council to establish a special committee to examine the expenditures.
After reviewing documents and consulting outside legal counsel, the committee received two independent legal opinions concluding that Mayor Tommy Chandler and the city attorney had authority under the city’s Home Rule Charter to settle claims related to the roadway project. Both opinions also found no evidence that city officials intentionally violated Louisiana’s Public Bid Law.
The legal opinions differed on whether the settlement agreements should have been publicly advertised before being finalized. One concluded that publication requirements should have been followed but could be addressed through ratification, while the other found that the requirement does not apply to Bossier City because it operates under a Home Rule Charter.
As part of its action, the council voted to make all records, correspondence and legal opinions collected during the investigation part of the public record.
Council members also highlighted new transparency measures, including an online spending portal that allows residents to review city expenditures, including legal settlements.
Former City Council President Chris Smith said the portal provides taxpayers with greater visibility into how public funds are spent.
“You can go in there and see what we’re spending on certain expenditures like legal settlements, so you know how your tax dollars are being spent,” Smith said.
The council also noted that a policy adopted last year requires the council president to be notified before any legal settlement exceeding $50,000 is finalized.
Stacey Tinsley of the Bossier Press-Tribune contributed to this article.