Calcasieu Parish Police Jury approves new parish administrator agreement, appointments and multiple contracts

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury members on March 20, 2025 adopted a resolution approving an employment agreement with Dane R. Bolin to serve as parish administrator and approved several other appointments, rezoning and procurement actions affecting parish infrastructure and property.

The actions change leadership at parish administration and greenlight a series of public-works contracts and land-use actions, including a rezoning to allow industrial development at WM Perkins Road and acceptance of low bids for the Ginger Lane drainage project and several utility and equipment procurements.

The jury adopted the resolution approving an employment agreement with Dane R. Bolin as parish administrator after a motion by Mr. Guillory and a second by Mr. Lewis; the item carried. The body also adopted a resolution appointing Jennifer R. Wallace as parish secretary effective April 1, 2025 (motion by Mr. Steli, second by Mr. Andrew Ponte). Wallace briefly addressed the jury and said she was honored to be the “handler of the history of Calcasieu Parish.”

On land-use, the jury adopted an ordinance to rezone the 400 block of W.M. Perkins Road in Ward 4 from mixed residential to light industrial to allow industrial development (motion by Mr. Andrew Ponte, second by Mr. Bowers; the item carried). The jury also authorized the planning division to notify multiple property owners to show cause at a public hearing on May 8, 2025, explaining why certain structures should not be condemned; the list included properties in Moss Bluff, Lake Charles, DeQuincy, Sulphur, Vinton and Westlake (motion by Mr. Burley, second by Mr. Quinn).

Public-works approvals included a professional engineering contract for geotechnical services for various capital projects (motion by Mr. Abshire, second by Mr. Barty) and approval of acts of sale and servitude agreements for the Balefield Ditch multi-road crossing replacement project (motion by Mr. Quinn, second by Mr. Steli). The jury adopted a resolution supporting Phase 1 funding requests to the CWPPRA task force for the Pecony Bayou Marsh Creation and West Cove South Marsh Creation projects (motion by Mr. Burley, second by Mr. Bowers).

Procurement and bid actions: staff recommended and the jury accepted a low bid from Hicks Enterprises for the Ginger Lane drainage improvements project in the amount of $310,262 (staff note: the low bid was substantially lower than the next bidder; Juror Smith expressed concern about the discrepancy; parish staff responded that the bid had been checked and they were satisfied). The jury also accepted a low bid from Blake D. Hines for the Filter No. 2 valve replacement project in the amount of $322,400. Other accepted bids and vendor awards included parts and services for water-level monitoring stations (High Sierra Electronics; Blue Water Design Technologies; HydroLink Systems; OTT HydroMet), sewer pump replacement parts (Magnolia Pump and Equipment), and hot-mix contracts (Prairie Contractors and RE High Construction).

Administrative and routine business carried as presented: adoption of minutes for the prior regular meeting, a proclamation designating April 2025 as National Telecommunicator Week in Calcasieu Parish, approval of Burton complex 2025 rental rates, approval of the Louisiana compliance questionnaire required for the parish’s 2024 audit, authorization to advertise for bids on the McCown Road bridge repair project, and approval to continue liquor and beer permits with conditions. The jury also advised that the regular meeting originally scheduled for April 3, 2025 has been moved to April 10, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., changed operating hours for residential solid-waste convenience centers to 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. for daylight saving time, and noted adjudicated property will be offered for sale on April 29, 2025.

Several items drew brief discussion: Juror Smith questioned the low bid on the Ginger Lane project and whether the bidder had been vetted; parish staff replied that the company had been checked and the engineering team recommended acceptance. No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript; the chair repeatedly announced that items “carry,” indicating approval by the panel.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Employment agreement: Resolution approving employment agreement with Dane R. Bolin as parish administrator — motion Mr. Guillory; second Mr. Lewis; outcome: approved (item carries). Terms not specified in the transcript. - Appointment: Resolution appointing Jennifer R. Wallace as parish secretary, effective April 1, 2025 — motion Mr. Steli; second Mr. Andrew Ponte; outcome: approved. - Rezoning (Ordinance): 400 block W.M. Perkins Road, Ward 4 — motion Mr. Andrew Ponte; second Mr. Bowers; outcome: ordinance adopted. - Condemnation show-cause notices: 21 properties listed with hearing set for May 8, 2025 — motion Mr. Burley; second Mr. Quinn; outcome: authorized to notify property owners. - Ginger Lane drainage: Accept low bid of Hicks Enterprises, $310,262 — mover/second not specified in transcript; outcome: approved after staff vetting and brief concern from Juror Smith. - Filter No. 2 valve replacement: Accept low bid Blake D. Hines, $322,400 — motion Mr. Steli; second Ms. Eason; outcome: approved. - Multiple equipment/parts awards: water monitoring parts (High Sierra Electronics; Blue Water Design Technologies; HydroLink Systems; OTT HydroMet); sewer pump parts (Magnolia Pump and Equipment); hot-mix (Prairie Contractors; RE High Construction) — motions and seconds recorded in minutes for each item; outcomes: approved.

The meeting adjourned after completing the published agenda and routine advisories.