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Council approves East Railroad payment, final acceptance and multiple road contracts; members press staff on drainage problem
Summary
The council approved a $46,711.23 payment to Cape Construction for East Railroad Avenue improvements, authorized final acceptance of that work and approved contracts and surveys for multiple road projects, while asking staff to pursue fixes for continued standing water downstream of the project.
The Denham Springs City Council on Jan. 14 approved a series of construction payments and contract authorizations, and discussed persistent drainage and standing-water issues near the East Railroad Avenue work.
The council approved payment application No. 3 in the amount of $46,711.23 to Cape Construction for project H-014419, East Railroad Avenue Improvements, and later adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Todd Landry to execute final acceptance of that same project.
Council members raised concerns that sections of Range Avenue and the East Railroad corridor were holding water following recent street work. City staff said the East Railroad project tied into existing outfall pipe and that the contractor replaced and tied the new pipe to the same downstream inlet; staff advised the standing-water problem is likely caused by downstream restriction — possibly asphalt or millings in the storm system — and not the East Railroad contract itself. Staff said they will pursue proposals to address the downstream obstruction and estimated, if approvals move quickly, a contractor could be working on corrective drainage work in roughly three months.
The council also authorized the mayor to enter into a contract with Alvin Fairburn and Associates for sand-filter rehabilitation and grid-system removal/rehab (project described as a continuation of a multiyear effort) and approved staff moving forward with contracts for preliminary design/survey work on Home Depot Drive and a Pemko Drive/Rushing Road connector. Council discussion said the Home Depot Drive work is funded largely by a $500,000 allocation from state funds and is intended to add a lane and support a longer-term interchange improvement plan.
Finally, the council approved surplus of asset no. 10014 (an HP OfficeJet 8740 all-in-one printer) and recorded roll-call votes on the listed items.
Where debate occurred it focused on ensuring the city does not release final payments without confirming responsibility for downstream drainage problems; staff said the East Railroad project has been on the punch list since November 2023 and that this payment represents an approved pay application with limited retainage expected.
