Shreveport City Council members on July 22 questioned city staff about procurement and follow-up for a multi-tower repainting and rehab project after council members said the Linwood tower and others already look worse less than six months after work finished.

Council members asked for documentation showing who served on the committee that selected the contractor, how the $1.2 million figure was calculated, and why parts of the work apparently did not go to the A&E committee. Councilwoman Bowman said she wants closer involvement going forward and asked that staff “listen to what the professional told us.”

The council heard a series of technical and budget details from staff. A city staff member identified as Brandon said on the call with the contractor engineers “we discussed the design of the tank. We discussed the way it was painted. We also discussed the layers of painting versus what was originally painted on that tank. I believe the original coating was 3 layers, and this is 5.” Brandon said painters were likely subcontractors to the tank supplier and that tank work had been bid as a package.

Council members pressed on costs. Brandon reported the exterior paint cost at about $415,000, the logo at $60,000, pressure washing at roughly $75,000 and repaint/rehab work overall at about $300,000 for that tank, which he said put the total near $1.2 million for that site. A council member said she remembered earlier estimates near $1.3 million for Linwood and pressed for exact figures.

Council members described visible deterioration and said the contractor had suggested a power wash as a next step at another $60,000–$70,000. Councilman Brooks told the room, “There is no way that the city of Shreveport pay $1,300,000 for less than 6 months to go back to a tower that needs to be repainted,” and asked for legal options if the work did not meet standards.

Councilwoman Bowman said she was on the contractor call and was surprised by the choice of black for one tank’s color scheme; she said professionals on the call warned black “holds a bunch of heat for a water tower” and also shows dirt. Bowman said the city should follow specialists’ recommendations and that $75,000 to clean a single tank is “a lot of money to keep 1 tank clean.”

The council directed staff to provide the committee membership and documentation for the procurement, the selection process, the bid/award history and detailed cost breakdowns. The chair set a 10-day expectation: “Within the next 10 days, you can get us those answers.”

Council members also discussed grant and matching funds used on the project; Brandon said the project combined city matching funds and “water sector money.” Councilmembers said they will consider legal recourse if records or warranties show the city received substandard work.

Staff said they will return with the requested documentation, paint-swatch options and a proposed maintenance program to extend the life of the coatings.

The topic included public-comment questions and more than 30 minutes of council discussion; no additional formal ordinance or contract award was adopted during that exchange.