City seeks $1.5M to accelerate drainage projects, cameras and a vac truck; $4.2M state funding expected

The New Iberia City Council moved ahead with a budget amendment to allocate $1.5 million for drainage improvements, professional services and a vac-truck purchase as part of an expanded effort to repair and prevent flooding across multiple neighborhoods. City officials said work already under way includes pipe camera inspections, hydroblasting and targeted repairs while engineers develop larger projects that could be funded by upcoming state grants. City leaders told councilors the $1.5 million item covers immediate remedial work (cleaning and small repairs), engineering for longer-term projects, and the procurement process for a vac-truck; staff cautioned the truck delivery could take months and that specifications might require rebidding. Officials said the scope will fund cameraing and evaluation work in several neighborhoods and allow staff to hire contractors to supplement public-works crews when needed. Finance reporting in the meeting showed the city’s drainage fund balance was strong enough to support the request: the mayor’s office said the city had roughly $6.5 million before the adjustment, although about $3.1 million of that is reserved for a detention project and therefore not available for immediate spending. City officials also reported an expected $4.2 million award from Baton Rouge next year; that grant would require an estimated $1.2 million local match. Separately, a $3.0 million grant for a detention pond has been awarded through the engineering firm that prepared the project, and councilors said they will talk to that firm about expanding the pond project to leverage the state funds. Operationally, the city has multiple crews and contractors engaged: public-works crews continue regular cleaning and reactive repairs; a camera company is running closed-circuit inspections and providing pipe-size mapping to the city’s engineers; and hydroblasting contractors are clearing lines where roots and sediment have blocked flow. Officials gave examples of problem areas (including Saint Edwards and sections near trolley or rail corridors) where cameraing has identified undersized or damaged pipe runs that require engineering study before replacement or upsizing. Council members asked for details about timing, fund balances and procurement. City staff said camera inspections and preliminary engineering would continue while staff seeks the best value among competing contractors for repair work. The council passed the budget amendment and an associated resolution to allow a scope increase for the camera contractor to expand the inspection area; both votes were taken by machine but no numeric roll-call tallies appear in the transcript excerpt. Staff said the city will continue to prioritize projects that prevent household flooding and to pursue state and other grant funds to maximize the effect of local dollars. The council instructed staff to proceed with the immediate cleanup, cameraing and engineering tasks and to return with procurement recommendations for the vac truck and planned repair projects. Ending: Officials said work is ongoing and additional project updates and procurement items will appear on future council agendas.