ADDIS — The Addis Town Council declined to move forward with a proposed $10 million road extension project Monday night and later tabled a $25,000+ sewer line request for a commercial property, highlighting ongoing disagreement over how the town should handle growth, access, and infrastructure costs.

The October 14 meeting showed how public safety concerns, subdivision traffic, industrial expansion, and taxpayer responsibility are now overlapping in Addis.

Peter Messina Road Extension Falls Flat Despite State Interest

A proposal to extend Peter Messina Road toward the Sugar Mill area — described as an alternate access path for neighborhoods on the other side of two railroad crossings — failed to gain council support, even after Mayor David Toups secured roughly $760,000 in state capital outlay positioning to begin work.

The full project was estimated around $10 million, with about $2.5 million expected from the town as its share. The initial phase would have covered surveying, engineering, traffic studies, and property acquisition.

Town officials described the project as a long-term safety measure for neighborhoods that can be boxed in for hours when trains block both crossings. Town Attorney Karen White said the Federal Railroad Administration considers such access limitations a critical safety concern, noting that every minute of delay in reaching a medical emergency can significantly affect survival.

The mayor said the project was part of a broader goal to create a continuous route out toward the LA 415 connector, reducing the risk of emergency crews being delayed by rail activity.

Residents Push Back

Several residents spoke against the proposal, citing concerns about neighborhood impact, cost, and necessity.
Common themes included:

• Fear that the new road could bring industrial and cut-through traffic into residential streets not designed for heavy use.
• Questions about whether opening the connection would create more problems than it solves.
• Whether emergency access issues are already being managed through other routes.

One resident said that in past incidents, emergency crews had found alternate ways to reach the area when both crossings were blocked, suggesting the town may already have workable access options without a new multi-million-dollar road.

Council Hesitation on Cost and Impact

Council members expressed caution about moving forward. Some said it was rare for Addis to receive that level of state support but added they were not comfortable advancing the project without clearer cost and traffic data.

The $760,000 discussed at the meeting was not direct funding but priority capital outlay — essentially authorization to begin early-stage work. To continue, the council would have had to pass a resolution committing to the process, with full construction likely requiring millions more in local and matching funds.

Concerns raised during discussion included:

• Whether new cut-through traffic from industry and subdivisions would overwhelm neighborhood roads.
• Whether the town would later have to rebuild or widen Peter Messina and connecting routes.
• Whether right-of-way could be acquired without legal challenges.
• Whether the town’s limited resources would be better spent on other infrastructure priorities.

Toups said the proposal was driven by public-safety concerns, not new development, but acknowledged the council’s hesitation.
With no motion to proceed, the mayor said he would notify legislators that the town is not moving forward under the current plan.

Sewer Extension Request Stalls Over Cost, Ordinances

The council also discussed a request from the Berthelot family involving a commercial lot on Highway 1 South. The owners asked the town to consider helping with or sharing the cost of running sewer service to the property.

According to discussion at the meeting:

• The property lacks an existing sewer tie-in.
• Connecting it would require cutting through driveways and sidewalks, working around multiple utilities, and tying into a manhole located in the sidewalk.
• Contractor quotes ranged between $25,850 and $35,575.

The property owners said they did not realize sewer service had not been extended to the lot when it was purchased, discovering the issue only as development began.

Council members questioned why the issue wasn’t identified earlier and whether the town was now being asked to cover costs that should have been addressed during the original development.

Officials said the problem appears to date back to when the subdivision was first laid out, and that the developer — who is no longer active — did not install sewer service to that particular parcel.

“This fell through the cracks,” Mayor Toups said. “The developer should have paid for that, but the developer’s gone.”

That raised a broader policy question: whether Addis should use public funds to correct infrastructure gaps left from prior developments, or require each property owner to absorb the full connection cost.

Disagreement on Who Pays

The scope of the work was also unclear. The quotes were based on about 170 feet of line, but town staff said preliminary measurements showed closer to 110 feet would be required — a difference that could affect the total cost.

Town Attorney Karen White said the town does have authority under state law to extend its utility mains when it finds a public interest in doing so. However, members pointed out that local ordinances specify, “all costs and expenses are to be covered by the property owner,” leaving uncertainty over which rule governs.

Others noted that assisting one business could set a precedent for future requests, and that the work would likely require crossing another property owner’s driveway — someone who had not yet been notified or granted access.

With multiple questions unresolved, the council voted to table the item. Before reconsidering it, the council requested:

• An independent quote using verified measurements.
• An engineering scope and cost breakdown.
• A legal review confirming what the town can or cannot fund.
• Direct participation from the property owners at the next discussion.

Additional Business

Pump Station Payment

The council approved payout number four for the First Street pump station project, authorizing $62,374.50 to the contractor. Staff reported fencing is complete, the old equipment has been removed, and the bypass pump is operational. The work is part of a federally funded upgrade.

Final Plat Approved

The council approved the final plat for the MyHand property subdivision on Highway 1. The decision adds a new 20-foot servitude alongside an existing 35-foot private servitude, creating 55 feet of total access. The drainage servitude remains available to the parish for maintenance, while the road stays private. Council members also briefly discussed long spacing between fire hydrants in the area.

Halloween Hours Set

Trick-or-treating in Addis will be held Friday, October 31 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

DOTD Cutting Agreement

The town reached a new agreement with DOTD to increase grass-cutting frequency along state highways inside town limits from four times a year to nine. The state will adjust payments to the town to cover the added work.

2025 Road Rehabilitation

Bids for the 2025 road rehabilitation program are scheduled to open at 10 AM the following day. The council authorized the mayor, engineer, and legal counsel to review the bids and move forward with awarding the contract if all checks out. Council members were reminded that only two can attend the opening without triggering a public meeting.

Police and Public Safety

Addis Police reported 192 citations issued in September, 184 calls for service, and 13 arrests, including cases involving domestic abuse with child endangerment, drug possession, and theft. Officers also responded to 16 auto crashes during the month.

Sewer and Public Works

Public Works reported ongoing mechanical issues within the town’s sewer system. Basin 2 South, briefly restored in mid-September, was taken offline again after another failure. Work at the Sugar Mill lift station is nearing startup testing. Staff also reported continued repairs on the department’s remote-control slope mower.

Looking Ahead

The council set a finance workshop for Tuesday, November 18 at 6 PM to review the proposed 2026 budget. The next regular Addis Town Council meeting was moved to Monday, November 10, 2025, at 6 PM because of Veterans Day.