The face of the City of Mansfield has been forever changed, and started in 2009 with the major Hwy 171 project that runs through the western edge of the city. The highway project claimed the historical ravine, numerous homes and businesses – but opened a new four-lane thoroughfare for prime-road front business locations. 

The City received over $1.2 million in Federal Stimulus money that came through the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. The rare funds are being used to upgrade the city’s antiquated sewer system. The aging and deteriorating sewer lines throughout the city can be dated back several decades – back to a time when clay pipes were used and the problems that plague the system range from roots, breakages, over flows, and collapsed and crumbling lines.

Construction is in full-swing on the city’s water distribution system. The upgrades will be system – wide and is slated to cost approximately $7 million with nearly $4.5 million of that allocated to replace deteriorated water mains, fire hydrants, valves, water meters and more.

These infrastructure improvements will be paid with the proceeds generated through the city’s new 1/2 cent sales tax it began collecting in 2009.

The new DeSoto Parish Multi-Agency Building Complex house the DeSoto Parish Health Unit with approximately 7,500 sq. ft. and the larger of the two buildings house the Council on Aging and the Office of Community Service at approximately 9,500 sq. ft.  These $2.2-mil facilities were completed in 2009 and were a joint effort of the City of Mansfield and DeSoto Parish Police Jury.  Each agency serves the public in great capacities and were able to move out of small and inadequate facilities into spacious brand-new buildings.