Terrebonne Parish committees approve transit safety plan, vet services contract, equipment purchases and multiple contracts; votes at a glance

Members of the Terrebonne Parish Policy Procedure & Planning Committee and the Budget & Finance Committee approved a slate of routine resolutions and procurement actions during a combined meeting. Most items passed unanimously or by strong margins.

Among the measures approved were: - A resolution authorizing the parish president to sign the Good Earth Transit public transportation agency safety plan, prepared by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and to certify compliance with “49 CFR 6 73.” The motion was moved by Mr. Amity, seconded by Mr. Champagne, and passed 9-0. - A contract authorizing the parish president to execute an agreement for primary professional veterinary services for the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter with Dr. Michael Greenberg, DVM. Council members asked why a New Orleans-area veterinarian was selected when local practices exist; a staff member identified as Miss Neil said shelter staff had reached out locally but did not receive sufficient interest for the part-time work. The motion passed 9-0. - A resolution obligating FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding (grant references transcribed as “Doctor 4 6 1 1 0 0 0 5 LA” and “Doctor 4 6 1 1 0 0 3 8 LA”) for reconstruction and wind hardening of a residence at 2911 Express Boulevard, Houma, following Hurricane Ida. The motion passed 9-0. - Multiple budget and procurement approvals by the Budget & Finance Committee, including the purchase of a John Deere 5100E cab tractor through Louisiana contract number 4400025672; a personnel-staffing agreement for the Solid Waste and Vegetation department with Lofton Industrial Services LLC; awards for transmission improvement work to Bridal Incorporated; declaration of surplus equipment; a cooperative endeavor agreement with Gulf Coast Teaching Family Services to operate three senior centers; rejection of all proposals for landscaping RFP NO24-LANDSCAPE-40; award of refuse-container and community-recycling services to Pelican Waste & Debris for the Solid Waste Department; ratification of the ESRI GIS license renewal for 2025; and introduction of an ordinance to declare two police vehicles surplus. Most motions passed either 8-0 or 9-0, as recorded on the meeting log.

Questions and clarifications during the meeting included whether local veterinarians were contacted for the animal-shelter contract (Miss Neil said locals had been contacted but declined because the work is part-time), and whether temporary staffing agreements are used as a recruiting pipeline for solid-waste positions (the solid-waste representative said about half of current staff began as temporary workers).

Votes at a glance: - Item (Policy) 1 — Good Earth Transit safety plan: moved by Mr. Amity; second Mr. Champagne; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. - Item (Policy) 2 — Veterinary services contract (Dr. Michael Greenberg, DVM) for Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter: moved by Mr. Amadee; second Kim Chauvin; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. - Item (Policy) 3 — Obligate HMGP funding for reconstruction/wind hardening at 2911 Express Boulevard (Hurricane Ida): moved by Kim Chauvin; second Mr. Amity; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. Grant references transcribed in the record. - (Budget & Finance) Item 1 — Purchase John Deere 5100E cab tractor via Louisiana contract 4400025672 to Deere & Company: moved by Danny Babin; second Carl Harding; vote: 8-0; outcome: approved. - Item 2 — Staffing agreement with Lofton Industrial Services LLC for Solid Waste & Vegetation personnel: moved by Danny Babin; second Clyde Hamner; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. - Item 3 — Award RFBS for transmission improvements (Project 22-ELT-24115 kV) to Bridal Incorporated: moved by Danny Babin; second Clyde Hamner; vote: 8-0; outcome: approved. - Item 4 — Declare surplus computer equipment, desks, tractors, forklift, etc.: moved by Kim Chauvin; second Clyde Hamner; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. - Item 5 — Cooperative endeavor agreement with Gulf Coast Teaching Family Services to operate three senior centers: moved by Clyde Hamner; second Carl Harding; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. - Item 6 — Reject all proposals for RFP NO24-LANDSCAPE-40 (landscaping/grass cutting/maintenance): moved by Clyde Hamner; second John Amity; vote: 8-0; outcome: approved (rejection). - Item 7 — Award RFP24-REFUSE-27 (refuse containers and community recycling services) to Pelican Waste & Debris: moved by Clyde Hamner; second John Amity; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. - Item 8 — Ratify renewal of ESRI GIS license for 2025: moved by Clyde Hamner; second Kim Chauvin; vote: 9-0; outcome: approved. - Item 9 — Introduce ordinance declaring two vehicles from the Houma Police Department surplus and call public hearing for Feb. 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.: moved by Clyde Hamner; second Clayton Wasan; vote: 9-0; outcome: introduced/called for public hearing.

Many measures were routine procurement, contract renewals or introductions for public hearing. Questions from council members focused on vendor selection, local availability of service providers, and the use of temporary staffing as a hiring pipeline. No measure in this group was rejected on substantive grounds; several items required follow-up administrative steps such as contract finalization, budget amendments where noted, or public-hearing notices.