Changes

Mrs. Odom appealed her termination, but the city council in an open forum unanimously upheld the dismissal. Odom indicated that she would consider legal action against the city. Davis said that had the council voted to rehire Odom, she would have had to remain in her previous position, which no longer exists because of reorganization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/minden-city-council-denies-odoms-appeal-of-termination/|title=Minden City Council denies Odom's appeal of termination|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Bonnie Culverhouse|date=January 8, 2015|accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> The city could not hire a new director until enabling legislation passes the legislature in Baton Rouge. Then state Representative [[Gene Reynolds]] introduced a bill favored by Mayor Davis and the city council which would permit the mayor alone with council concurrence to exert all power regarding the hiring and firing of a new economic development director. Meanwhile, all seven members of the previous economic development board resigned. The city hence has no board or no director on duty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/city-must-await-legislation-before-appointing-downtown-board-director/|title=City must await legislation before appointing downtown board, director|author=Bonnie Culverhouse|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=March 12, 2015}}</ref> James Graham, an African-American native of [[Virginia]] and formerly from [[Delaware]], began work as the city's new economic development director on August 6, 2015. Davis said that the city was working to obtain land which businesses can immediately occupy upon their relocation to Minden. The focus was on water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure, he said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/new-economic-development-director-excited-to-get-to-work/|title=New Economic Development Director Excited to Get to Work|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Michelle Bates|accessdate=August 7, 2015}}</ref>​

Mrs. Odom appealed her termination, but the city council in an open forum unanimously upheld the dismissal. Odom indicated that she would consider legal action against the city. Davis said that had the council voted to rehire Odom, she would have had to remain in her previous position, which no longer exists because of reorganization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/minden-city-council-denies-odoms-appeal-of-termination/|title=Minden City Council denies Odom's appeal of termination|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Bonnie Culverhouse|date=January 8, 2015|accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> The city could not hire a new director until enabling legislation passes the legislature in Baton Rouge. Then state Representative [[Gene Reynolds]] introduced a bill favored by Mayor Davis and the city council which would permit the mayor alone with council concurrence to exert all power regarding the hiring and firing of a new economic development director. Meanwhile, all seven members of the previous economic development board resigned. The city hence has no board or no director on duty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/city-must-await-legislation-before-appointing-downtown-board-director/|title=City must await legislation before appointing downtown board, director|author=Bonnie Culverhouse|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|accessdate=March 12, 2015}}</ref> James Graham, an African-American native of [[Virginia]] and formerly from [[Delaware]], began work as the city's new economic development director on August 6, 2015. Davis said that the city was working to obtain land which businesses can immediately occupy upon their relocation to Minden. The focus was on water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure, he said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/new-economic-development-director-excited-to-get-to-work/|title=New Economic Development Director Excited to Get to Work|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|author=Michelle Bates|accessdate=August 7, 2015}}</ref>​

==Mayoral matters==​

==Mayoral matters==

 

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In 2017, Davis advanced a proposed annual municipal budget of $35,164,835 in revenues and $35,539,545 in expenses. Under the plan, the city would use its reserves to fill the $374,710 gap. "The reality is, we are either going to have to raise more revenue or cut services. I know the general public thinks we don't spend our money wisely, but we have made cuts to the budget," Davis said. To draw more revenues, Davis and city leaders planned to reconfigure water billings so that consumers will fall into one of four tiers based on usage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/new-city-budget-almost-complete/|title=New city budget almost complete|author=Bruce Franklin|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=July 28, 2017|accessdate=July 28, 2017}}</ref>​

In 2017, Davis advanced a proposed annual municipal budget of $35,164,835 in revenues and $35,539,545 in expenses. Under the plan, the city would use its reserves to fill the $374,710 gap. "The reality is, we are either going to have to raise more revenue or cut services. I know the general public thinks we don't spend our money wisely, but we have made cuts to the budget," Davis said. To draw more revenues, Davis and city leaders planned to reconfigure water billings so that consumers will fall into one of four tiers based on usage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/new-city-budget-almost-complete/|title=New city budget almost complete|author=Bruce Franklin|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=July 28, 2017|accessdate=July 28, 2017}}</ref>​

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In August 2017, Mayor Davis announced that prints of two Ben Earl Looney paintings, the [[Louisiana State Capitol]] and the Pentagon Barracks in [[Baton Rouge]], would be displayed in the Cypress Room at Minden City Hall. Davis obtained both prints from Keith Ardoin, an art collector and a town council member in Krotz Springs in St. Landry Parish, whom he met at the Louisiana Municipal Association annual convention. Ardoin made the offer after learning about Looney's Minden background.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/looney-prints-donated-to-city-of-minden/|title=Looney prints donated to City of Minden|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=August 24, 2017|author=Michelle Bates|accessdate=August 25, 2017}}</ref>​

In August 2017, Mayor Davis announced that prints of two Ben Earl Looney paintings, the Louisiana State Capitol and the Pentagon Barracks in [[Baton Rouge]], would be displayed in the Cypress Room at Minden City Hall. Davis obtained both prints from Keith Ardoin, an art collector and a town council member in Krotz Springs in St. Landry Parish, whom he met at the Louisiana Municipal Association annual convention. Ardoin made the offer after learning about Looney's Minden background.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/looney-prints-donated-to-city-of-minden/|title=Looney prints donated to City of Minden|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=August 24, 2017|author=Michelle Bates|accessdate=August 25, 2017}}</ref>​

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On July 12, 2018, Davis gave welcoming remarks for the statewide conference of the African-American Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, which met at the Mt. Zion congregation in Minden for the installation of the Fourth Episcopal District bishop, C. James King, Jr., of [[Mississippi]]. Davis bestowed King with a key to the city. Of his initial impression of Minden, King said: "Minden is really nice – I've really liked the people I've met ... they welcomed us tremendously."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/coming-together-in-minden/|title=Coming Together in Minden|author=Caleb Daniel|publisher=''The Minden Press-Herald''|date=July 13, 2018|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}</ref>​

On July 12, 2018, Davis gave welcoming remarks for the statewide conference of the African-American Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, which met at the Mt. Zion congregation in Minden for the installation of the Fourth Episcopal District bishop, C. James King, Jr., of [[Mississippi]]. Davis bestowed King with a key to the city. Of his initial impression of Minden, King said: "Minden is really nice – I've really liked the people I've met ... they welcomed us tremendously."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/coming-together-in-minden/|title=Coming Together in Minden|author=Caleb Daniel|publisher=''The Minden Press-Herald''|date=July 13, 2018|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}</ref>​