Shreveport Pausing Bids on North Market Police Substation
SHREVEPORT, LA- CITY TO PAUSE BIDS ON NORTH MARKET POLICE SUBSTATION
After recent run-ins with the Shreveport City Council, Mayor Tom Arceneaux announced on Wednesday that the City of Shreveport will pause the bidding process for the construction of a police substation on North Market Street.
“I have asked our staff to pause the bidding process to give us time to work through and
resolve some concerns expressed by the City Council about the terms of the donation
of the land on which the substation would be located. Rather than potentially penalizing
bidders by asking them to submit a bid before the issues were resolved, I think it is
better to pause the process now.”
The North Market substation is funded by a bond issue approved by the voters in late
- Once constructed, it will house Police patrol officers assigned to North Shreveport.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Shreveport City Council issued their response to the Mayor's decision to pause the bids.
Shreveport City Council Responds to Delay in Bidding Process for North
Market Police Substation
Shreveport, LA – While the City Council acknowledges the Mayor’s decision to pause the bidding process for the North Market Police Substation, we must express our concern that this action comes only after repeated requests from the Council.
This issue was flagged well in advance, and while the Council supports the need for careful review and resolution of the terms surrounding the land donation, we regret that these concerns were not addressed sooner, thus avoiding unnecessary delays.
The North Market Police Substation project is funded by a voter-approved bond issue, and it is critical that the administration acts with due diligence in managing taxpayer-funded initiatives.
We believe the community expects efficiency, transparency, and respect for their investment in public safety. This pause, while necessary, highlights a communication gap between the City administration and the Council that we hope to see improved moving forward.
We acknowledge the importance of resolving all outstanding issues before engaging bidders, but it is important to note that the Council’s input and concerns should have been addressed from the beginning. As representatives of the public, we are committed to ensuring that the City’s resources are managed responsibly and that critical projects, such as this substation, proceed without unnecessary setbacks.
In light of this, we call for increased collaboration and earlier engagement between the administration and the
City Council in all future projects of similar scope to avoid avoidable delays and ensure the best outcomes for the people of Shreveport. We remain focused on moving this project forward efficiently, in the best interest of our citizens and their safety.
Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor | District A
Councilman Grayson Boucher | District D
Councilman James Green | District F
Councilwoman Ursula Bowman | District G