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Parish approves $10.5M culvert contract, advances multi‑million drainage and pump‑station projects
Summary
The council unanimously approved a $10,542,425 contract for Ormond CN Railway culverts and cleared multiple related pump‑station and drainage measures, part of a multi‑year effort to reduce flooding in Ormond, Destrehan and other neighborhoods.
The St. Charles Parish Council on Monday unanimously approved a $10,542,425 contract with BLD Services LLC for the Ormond CN Railway culverts project and advanced several related pump‑station and drainage contracts aimed at reducing recurring flooding in Ormond, Destrehan and adjacent neighborhoods.
Parish President Jewell told the council he was “never so excited to attend a council meeting in my entire life, to where we are voting on this historic project in Ormond and in Destrehan,” and described the approvals as the culmination of a five‑year effort to secure grants, clear permitting and negotiate with the railroad.
The council voted to approve the BLD Services contract for project P20801 with roughly $6.3 million in grant funding applied to the contract. Council members and parish staff said the culverts will increase conveyance beneath the CN railroad, which residents and officials have identified as a constriction point that causes water to back up into neighborhoods.
In related business the council: - Approved change order No. 1 for the Sunset bar screen cleaner project to add piles and extend time and cost (project P080905‑11C; CPRA BADash0270). Officials said the additional 14 piles were required after pile load testing showed one pile did not meet the two‑to‑one safety factor. - Approved contracts and amendments advancing the Munn’s pump stations project and related East Bank/West Shore pump‑station work. Parish staff described the combined investment as “nearly $30,000,000” for permanent capacity at the Munn’s stations, and additional work on an $18,882,865 contract for what was presented as “Vermont’s pump station number 2 and drainage improvements” (project P210806).
Engineers and parish staff said the combined work increases pumping capacity and conveyance, separates portions of neighboring parishes’ watershed flows, and will reduce how often positive drainage is lost during heavy rains. Officials repeatedly framed the work as part of the parish’s master drainage plan and said the projects are designed to reduce the need for emergency response after large rain events.
Residents who live near Ormond spoke in support during the public hearing. Tina Berto of Destrehan described repeated flooding in the neighborhood and urged passage; another resident who identified her address at 213 Beauregard Lane North told the council she had photographs from a 1995 flood and said “we flood because the water can't get past that railroad track.”
All drainage‑related votes taken during the meeting passed unanimously.
Background: Parish staff said the projects required extensive permitting, agreements with multiple landowners and coordination with utilities and railroad owners. Officials thanked in‑house engineers, the legal department and outside consultants for permitting work and grant management. Parish leadership said construction will be disruptive in the short term but will produce long‑term reductions in flooding risk.
The council did not set a construction start date at the meeting; staff said contracts would move to procurement and scheduling steps and that separate public notices will follow.
