The Caddo Commission has funded $250,000 for two community lighthouse projects--one at Morningstar Baptist Church and the other at the Highland Center. Morningstar's center was opened in late September of this year. The Highland Center's project is under construction.

Commissioner Roy Burrell is pushing to have the Commission fund $500,000 for a lighthouse center at Galilee Baptist Church. He has not explained why Galilee should be funded at twice the amount as Morningstar or Highland Center. Nor has he justified establishment of another inner center lighthouse before consideration of other areas of the parish.

The lighthouse centers provide needed services when disasters interrupt power to residences. Additionally, they will provide water in emergencies and limited shelter. These services will be needed all over Caddo parish in the event of another snowmageddon or tornado/high wind occurrences.

If the full Commission wants to expand the lighthouse network they should consider establishment of centers in north Caddo and southwest Shreveport before adding another at Galilee. These major weather events do not just happen in inner city areas, and they affect all portions and population in the parish. Citizens in north Caddo and southwest Shreveport are just as deserving of this community resource as the Galilee community.