Central council defers resolution supporting Delta Regional Authority culvert grant to April 22

Council members in the City of Central on Tuesday heard a staff presentation on a proposed $1.8 million culvert improvement project and voted to defer a resolution supporting a Delta Regional Authority Community Infrastructure Fund grant application to the April 22 council meeting.

The item would have authorized the city to apply for up to $2 million from the Delta Regional Authority to replace and upgrade a series of box culverts at four locations. A staff presenter identified as Spencer summarized the project budget and scope, saying the application would request $1,800,000 to cover construction and related costs and that the maximum allowable grant is $2,000,000.

Spencer told the council the $1.8 million budget includes $975,000 for construction of box culverts; $293,000 set aside as a contingency (approximately 30% of construction cost); roughly $197,000 for project and grant management; about $160,000 for design services including survey and geotechnical work; $90,000 for environmental assessment; $65,000 for construction oversight and inspection; and $49,000 for demolition and removal of existing structures. He said the grant requires the local government to attest that it will cover any overages and that scope amendments are permitted if costs exceed the grant award.

Why it matters: council members raised questions about whether the city is the proper party to assume any overages where the work is on state-owned roads and about the formal agreements that would be required with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). The council sought more information about coordination with DOTD and assurances that hydraulic modeling and final design would prevent adverse downstream impacts.

Council member De LaVeyer asked whether work on state routes would require agreements with DOTD; Spencer said coordination would be required and that the project’s hydraulic design meets or exceeds DOTD’s typical standards and had been modeled to avoid identified adverse impacts. Council member Wells asked whether a formal cooperative agreement (a construction or cooperative engineering agreement, CEA) would be required before work begins; staff said a written agreement would be negotiated with DOTD if the grant is awarded.

Council member Laverne moved to defer the resolution to the April 22, 2025, council meeting to allow time for follow-up on budget questions and coordination with DOTD; the motion was seconded by Council member McKinney. There was no public comment on the item at the hearing. The council recorded no objections and the item was formally deferred.

The staff presentation noted that, if awarded, the grant would have no local match requirement but that local governments must attest to covering any overages; staff said contingency funds and the grant’s $2 million cap provide some room to manage unexpected costs. Final design and any necessary agreements with DOTD were described as next steps if the city pursues the award.

Council members said they want written assurances about DOTD coordination and final-design hydraulic analyses before taking action. The council will revisit the resolution and any supplemental information at its April 22 meeting.