SCOTT, La. (KLFY) -- City officials in Scott are holding a public meeting tonight to update residents on the progress of key drainage projects aimed at improving water flow and protecting neighborhoods.

The meeting is being held at the Scott Event Center. It will cover the past, current, and future status of the city's drainage improvement plan, developed in 2020, which includes projects focused on cleaning ditches and improving water flow in flood-prone areas.

Current initiatives include a Hazard Mitigation Grant Project and a Louisiana Watershed Initiative plan that could introduce a new retention pond.

Scott Mayor, Jan-Scott Richard, said officials are looking at what can be done to better protect neighborhoods and businesses.

"We've got a lot of great projects and it's just an opportunity for us to remain as an administration, transparent with our constituency, to ensure we're getting the message out and that people know what we're doing," Richard said.

Richard emphasized that the drainage improvement plan serves as a blueprint for the community and future administrations to address issues from coulees to roadside ditches and regional ponds.

"This is really a blueprint for our community and for future administrations to utilize to make sure that we're addressing everything necessary from coulees to roadside ditches to culverts to regional ponds to ensure that what we're doing is being maintained," Richard said.

Work is also underway in the Westward Heights area to enhance water movement, and residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to ask questions and learn more about the ongoing projects.

In addition to drainage improvements, Mayor Richard said the city is also focusing on infrastructure upgrades, including work along LA 93 near the Destination Pointe area and the North Frontage Road. These projects aim to improve road conditions, support future development, and help ensure the city’s overall drainage system continues to perform effectively.

"With the way weather patterns have changed, we always need to be proactive and prepared as best as possible to ensure we're mitigating our businesses and residents as best as possible," Richard explained.

Richard also highlighted the importance of keeping residents informed about the work being done behind the scenes in drainage and infrastructure.

"There's a lot of work behind the scenes being done both in drainage and infrastructure, and we want to make sure they get up to date information," said Richard.

The public meeting in Scott aims to keep residents informed and engaged with the city's efforts to improve drainage and mitigate flooding risks, reflecting a commitment to transparency and proactive planning.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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