Votes at a glance: Plaquemines Port approves service amendments, equipment purchases, design agreements and budget adjustments

The Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District voted on multiple introduced ordinances and resolutions at its Feb. 13 meeting. Most items passed on unanimous recorded votes; the meeting also recorded an executive session and several introductions and deferrals.

Key outcomes

- Executive session (agenda item 2): Entered to receive attorney–client privileged communications regarding a contract matter pursuant to La. R.S. 42:17(A)(10). Motion to enter was offered by Commissioner Schultz and seconded by Commissioner McCarty; vote recorded as 8–0. The board entered executive session at 4:46 p.m. and returned at 5:18 p.m.; no final or binding action was taken in executive session.

- Rebranding campaign: The board voted to proceed with the port’s rebranding effort facilitated by Palmer Advertising, authorizing the executive director to adopt the campaign. Motion seconded by Reverend Edwards; vote 8–0. Meeting remarks stated approximately $75,000 remains to fund the rollout and advertising phase.

- Alooma Marine service agreement amendment: Resolution authorizing Executive Director Charles D. Tillotson to amend the service agreement with Alooma Marine to enhance rescue‑department fire boats. The resolution inserted an additional cost of $43,000, bringing the total to $595,000. Motion seconded by Reverend Edwards; vote 8–0.

- Louisiana CAT engine overhaul: Resolution authorizing an amendment with Louisiana CAT to overhaul fire‑boat engines (four C18 engines). The record shows additional work discovered during inspection, including a cracked engine block; a board member recited a total near $286,000. Motion seconded by Commissioner McCarty; vote 8–0.

- FLIR camera purchase for shared helicopter: Resolution authorizing purchase of a FLIR camera (manufacturer listed as Grama Systems) for the port’s shared helicopter with the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. Amount inserted in the motion: $435,214. Motion seconded by Commissioner Newsome; vote 8–0. The executive director and a commissioner clarified the port’s share is one half per the cooperative‑use agreement.

- Lanier and Associates task order No. 12: Resolution authorizing the executive director to issue Task Order No. 12 to Lanier and Associates for detailed design of a new Belle Chasse security dock. Motion seconded by Commissioner McCarty; vote 8–0.

- Professional services with LADOTD: Resolution authorizing the executive director to enter into a professional service agreement with LADOTD for engineering and design services. Motion seconded (record shows “Grama Edwards” as second); vote 8–0.

- Alliance Water Booster Station resident inspection and appropriation: Ordinance authorizing the executive director to issue Task Order No. 3 to Call Associates for resident inspection services and amending the 5‑year capital improvements plan by appropriating $200,000 to the Alliance Water Booster Station from the port’s unrestricted fund balance (funding year 2025). Motion seconded by Commissioner Champagne; vote 8–0.

- MV Bridal Dry Dock project amendment: Ordinance amending the 5‑year capital improvement plan for the MV Bridal dry dock project. The record shows the project cost listed as $2,440,000, with a LADOTD projected share of $1,952,000 and a port share of $488,000; the ordinance appropriated $20,000 to the project in the 5‑year plan. Motion seconded by Commissioner Newsome; vote 8–0.

- Manpower and operating budget adjustments: Multiple ordinance introductions and one approval to amend the 2025 manpower structure to adjust funding for the legal assistant position. The board recorded that the legal assistant position has been advertised, interviews completed and that the port has a candidate in mind. Motion to approve manpower adjustment seconded by Commissioner McCarty; vote 8–0.

- Minutes approval: Approval of minutes from the Jan. 30, 2025 regular meeting passed on a recorded vote of 7–1 (motion by Commissioner Konovich; second by Commissioner Newsome) with Reverend Edwards casting the no vote.

Introductions and deferrals

Several ordinances were introduced for future consideration, including ordinances to authorize the executive director to enter into agreements with Rio Grande Pacific Corporation for container‑port extension work, to authorize surveying services for an MSRC dock property feasibility study, and to transfer human‑resources functions from the Plaquemines Parish Civil Service Commission to the Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District (introduced under a citation to La. R.S. 34:1351 and Ordinance No. 12‑139). The board also deferred items 6B, 6D, 6J and 6L.

Votes summary (selected)

- Executive session: motion by Schultz; second McCarty; 8–0; outcome: entered/returned, no action. - Rebranding campaign: 8–0; outcome: approved (authorize rollout, ~$75,000 remaining). - Alooma Marine amendment: 8–0; added $43,000; total $595,000; outcome: approved. - Louisiana CAT engine overhaul: 8–0; amount ~ $286,000 reported; outcome: approved. - FLIR camera (Grama Systems): 8–0; amount $435,214; port pays half per CEA; outcome: approved. - Lanier Task Order No. 12 (Belle Chasse dock): 8–0; outcome: approved. - LADOTD professional services: 8–0; outcome: approved. - Call Associates resident inspection & $200,000 appropriation: 8–0; outcome: approved. - MV Bridal Dry Dock amendment (total $2,440,000; port share $488,000): 8–0; outcome: approved. - Manpower/legal assistant funding adjustment: 8–0; outcome: approved. - Minutes (01/30/2025): 7–1; outcome: approved.

The meeting recorded routine seconding and unanimous votes for most measures. Where dollar amounts or contractor names were cited in the record, those are included above; if a figure or name was not fully specified in the transcript it is noted as presented by staff in the meeting record.