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Water Sector Commission denies St. John Parish request to use leftover grant funds to demolish closed treatment plant
Summary
The Water Sector Commission denied St. John Parish’s request to change the scope of a Round 2 sewer grant so leftover funds could be used to demolish a decommissioned wastewater treatment plant. Commissioners cited precedent and pipeline need for remaining program dollars.
The Water Sector Commission on an oral motion denied a request from St. John the Baptist Parish to use unobligated Round 2 grant funds to demolish a now‑inactive wastewater treatment plant.
The request, presented by Tracy Watts of the division, asked the commission to approve a scope change using about $643,000 left in the parish’s $5,000,000 grant. Rob Delon, engineering consultant, and Reid Alexander, assistant director of Saint John utilities, told commissioners the parish estimates demolition construction costs at $1,450,000 and that the parish would cover any costs beyond the grant remainder.
Commissioners pressed staff and the parish about precedent for allowing a completed project to expand into a distinct additional project after construction finished. Senator Reese moved to deny the scope change, citing the commission’s limited available funds and a desire to be consistent with prior decisions. Chairman Ziering called for objections; none were raised and the motion to deny was adopted.
Commissioners who questioned the request said the program still has many pending projects that may need additional funds to finish their original scopes and that allowing post‑completion scope expansion could set a precedent. St. John Parish representatives said the treatment plant is vacant, poses an environmental and liability risk, and that funds became available because parts of the original consolidation work came in under budget.
No formal roll‑call vote with named tallies was recorded in the transcript; the denial was made by voice and approved without objection.
The commission’s decision leaves the parish to seek other funding for the estimated remaining demolition costs.
The commission then moved to the next agenda item.
