The Louisiana Water Sector Commission on an October meeting approved a request from the city of Tallulah to apply $5,000,000 in Water Sector funding to complete a filtration system and repaint an elevated storage tank, commissioners said.

The approval follows months of emergency response and a state receivership after Tallulah’s water system declined. Mayor Yvonne Lewis, who said she was appointed in July, told the commission the city had bid a full rehabilitation project twice and that both bids exceeded available funding. She said the state moved into a receivership and contracted Magnolia Water as the certified operator and Patterson Professional Services as the contractor carrying out field repairs.

"I am Yvonne Lewis. I am the mayor of the city of Tallulah. I was appointed to this position in July, so I have inherited a big water issue in our community," Mayor Lewis said, describing a triage phase in which the state-paid contractors stabilized water service. Engineer Jeffrey Benora of Barroka and Benora Engineers and Consultants told the commission he reviewed the previously bid project and the state’s triage work and recommended breaking out portions of the original scope that could be completed within Water Sector funding and the program deadlines.

"We believe those two items pulled out of the original project will satisfy the use of the Water Sector funding," Benora said, referring to the filtration system and the painting of the elevated tank.

Heather Paul, appearing for the division that administers the program, clarified matching rules raised by the commission. "State funds can't be considered as match, as local match. You could use them in the project, but they wouldn't go towards your match," she said. Paul confirmed the city’s original local-match percentage was based on USDA funding and that the USDA letter of agreement the city provided would still supply match under the revised plan.

Commissioners pressed for certainty that the work could be permitted and completed before the program deadline. Benora said plans and specifications for the selected pieces had been previously approved by Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), though he acknowledged permits had expired and would need reissuance. The city and engineer said they believed reissuance would be feasible and that the Water Sector portion could be spent by the September expiration date next year.

Senator Reese moved to approve the scope change; there was no objection and the motion was approved by voice vote.

The commission’s action allows Tallulah to use Water Sector dollars to pursue near-term, bid-ready work intended to preserve funds and keep components of the broader rehabilitation moving forward. Mayor Lewis said the state’s triage work and operator training are ongoing and that the city will continue to coordinate USDA, state and governor’s office resources to complete the full rehabilitation.

The commission also noted questions remain about longer-term operations, rates and staffing; Benora and the mayor said a previously completed rate study exists but may need updating given recent population changes.