WALKER, La. — The Walker City Council unanimously approved rezoning for a future Sombreros restaurant on Pendarvis Lane during its Sept. 14 meeting, which also included action involving potential mineral leases and remarks from Assistant District Attorney Brad Cascio.
Before the council took up its agenda, Cascio spoke about his career as an assistant district attorney and his reasons for running for district attorney.
Cascio described how, after attending LSU Law School, he “tried a few different intern spots, and I never really enjoyed what I was doing. So one day I show up unannounced at the DA’s office and asked for a part-time job … and I truly fell in love with the work. I’ve been there now as an assistant DA for 13 years.”
“Everything the DA’s office does, from speeding tickets to murder trials to juvenile cases and even some civil work, I’ve spent the last 13 years doing it,” Cascio explained. “This job is not a stepping stone. This job is not something that you can walk into because you want it for the power or the authority … this is more than just a position. The DA’s office is the last and final stop for public safety in our community.”
“Your heart has to be in it to be effective,” Cascio added. “There’s nothing else I see myself doing.”
Following Cascio’s remarks, the council considered a resolution authorizing the Louisiana State Mineral and Energy Board and the Office of Mineral Resources to accept nominations, award bids, and execute oil, gas, and mineral leases on behalf of the City of Walker.
The resolution involves a 4.39-acre section of the industrial park on the eastern edge of the city, where a water treatment site and water storage facility are located.
If bids are received and a lease is awarded, the city will handle matters involving payments and assignments. The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution.
The council also considered a resolution declaring several pieces of city property as surplus to be sold. The property included a 2010 Ford Explorer, a 2017 Dodge 1500, miscellaneous scrap metal, a pressure bladder tank, a broken fire hydrant, centrifugal pumps, old signage, hot water heaters, a condemned sewer trailer, 200 manhole lids and covers, trailer ramps, broken lawnmowers, a field groomer, and a four-door utility vehicle.
“We’re just trying to get things cleaned up … and we’ll try to get the best value on these as we can,” Chief of Operations Jamie Etheridge said.
Two ordinances were introduced during the meeting, but no action was taken on either. The first would amend Chapter 12, Section 12-34, concerning parking spaces designated for people with disabilities. The second would amend the city’s Unified Development Code.
An item was also introduced for consideration at a future meeting to amend the 2026 budget to fund repairs to the Dawn Street Bridge.
The council later held a public hearing on an ordinance to rezone the future Sombreros location at 13407 Pendarvis Lane from RC to RC-CAB-1. The new zoning designation matches that of the restaurant’s current location.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and the council voted unanimously to approve the rezoning ordinance.
