New Iberia council reallocates ARPA funds for community center restrooms, Steamboat Pavilion repairs, sewer work and roofs program

The New Iberia City Council voted to reallocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to upgrade restrooms at two community centers, add lighting on Bank Avenue, treat corrosion at the Steamboat Pavilion, address sewer pump failures and advance a homeowners roofs program, council members and staff said during the meeting.

The moves are intended to lock in ARPA money the city had to obligate by a deadline and to allow contractors to begin work, Mayor Freddie said. “30,000 is going to Martin Luther King Community Center,” Mayor Freddie said, adding the same amount for Seargate and $20,000 for Bank Avenue lighting. He also described a $45,000 allocation to treat corrosion at the Steamboat Pavilion and other allocations to sewer and housing work.

Why it matters: the reallocations fund upgrades in several public facilities, add exterior lighting intended to improve safety in parks and commit one-time dollars to a housing repairs program the administration says targets the city’s neediest homeowners. Officials said securing the funds now prevents the city from having to return federal ARPA dollars.

Most important facts

- Mayor Freddie summarized the package of allocations: $30,000 for Martin Luther King Community Center restrooms, $30,000 for Seargate (community center restrooms), $20,000 for Bank Avenue lighting, $45,000 for Steamboat Pavilion corrosion treatment and gutter work, $100,000 toward sewer needs and $124,000 toward an initial block of housing work (roofs and related repairs). “We have 2 years to spend the money,” Freddie said.

- City staff identified an immediate contract action: a formal change order to the Delcon Construction contract for the community centers and Bank Avenue restrooms. “We’ve already gotten the contract over to both parties, and they’re in the process of signing it,” said Dave, a city staff member who presented the change order details.

- The council also approved a separate change order to treat rust, reprime and repaint steel members at Steamboat Pavilion and to replace damaged gutters and downspouts where funding allows. Staff said the work includes rust treatment rather than simply painting over corroded surfaces.

- The council discussed a housing repairs program often described in the meeting as the “one block at a time” roofs initiative. Officials said roughly 27 roofs were selected for initial assistance and alternates are lined up; staff said some houses may require only targeted repairs (flashing or limited patch work) rather than full reroofs.

Discussion and implementation details

Council members pressed for details about equipment and safety improvements. Freddie proposed spending an estimated $10,000 per gym to install higher-capacity, power-assist or automatic-flush toilets at the two community center restrooms. He said exterior lighting where dark spots were identified would be prioritized for safety. Dave told the council the change order will add contingency days (about 50 calendar days) to the contract to cover the additional scope while staff refine the final line items.

On sewer infrastructure, council members described recent equipment failures that drove part of the allocation. Freddie and other officials cited a Jean Street pump station failure and a separate “money pump” on McIlhenny as examples. A council member asked whether an indicator light signaled a backup pump operation; Freddie said he would confirm whether both pumps run automatically and report back.

On the roofs program, Freddie and other officials said they reviewed selected houses with contractors and that a limited number of applicants dropped out; alternates signed up as backups but staff said they plan to complete the most urgent roofs first rather than immediately reassign funds to alternates. Freddie said the city will obtain pricing and decide which properties should be bid to licensed roofing companies and which require general contractors.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 202437 (amend approved budget allocations for ARPA funds): approved; motion and second recorded and council voted by machine. (Vote tallies not specified in the transcript.)

- Resolution 24170 (change order No. 1 for ARPA Community Centers and Bank Avenue restrooms upgrade project; authorize mayor to execute documents): approved; council moved and voted by machine. (Vote tallies not specified in the transcript.)

- Resolution 24171 (change order No. 5 for ARPA upgrades to Steamboat Pavilion): approved; council moved and voted by machine. (Vote tallies not specified in the transcript.)

- Resolution 24172 (authorize mayor to negotiate and execute agreements for ARPA community projects participation): approved; council moved and voted by machine. (Vote tallies not specified in the transcript.)

What council members and staff said

- Mayor Freddie (paraphrase and quotes): described each allocation and the need to obligate funds by the deadline. “30,000 is going to Martin Luther King Community Center,” he said. He urged prudence on implementation: “If you rush, you can make a mistake,” and noted the city has a two-year spending window for these ARPA funds.

- Dave (city staff): explained the change order process and the status of the Delcon Construction contract. “We’ve already gotten the contract over to both parties, and they’re in the process of signing it,” he said.

Next steps and timing

Councilors directed staff to finalize change orders and proceed with contracting for the restroom and pavilion work and to gather pricing and options for the roofs program. Staff said additional scope details and prior-to-work procurement steps remain; they also committed to report back to the council with clarifications on pump operation and any further cost estimates.

Ending

Council members welcomed the ability to secure the funds and move projects into the procurement and construction phases. Officials stressed they will return with implementation details and pricing as contractors submit bids and change-order work is finalized.