Terrebonne Parish committees approve multiple funding, contract and program resolutions; staff clarifies NRCS site list

Terrebonne Parish committee members on Monday approved a package of resolutions and agreements to secure federal and state grant funding, hire professional services, and obligate mitigation funds for specific damaged properties.

In a short public-service committee session, Councilman Hamner moved and Councilman Troisclair seconded a resolution to appoint All South Consulting Engineers LLC to perform vegetation and debris removal work tied to Hurricane Francine under Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding; the motion passed 8-0. A related resolution authorizing the parish president to execute any documents needed to accept NRCS funding for the Hurricane Francine vegetation debris projects also passed 8-0.

Why it matters: the approvals make the parish eligible to receive and spend NRCS disaster funds and assign a contractor to carry out vegetation and debris removal that federal grant terms require.

Committee discussion was limited. Council member Troisclair asked whether the vegetation work would cover only “portions” of the area listed in the contract. Leeritt, a parish staff member, replied, “Specific longitudes and latitudes had to be had to be identified to get the funding,” explaining that NRCS required a submitted target list of locations rather than a narrative description.

The Public Service Committee also approved an MOU with the BISSELL Pet Foundation for veterinary services at what the agenda listed as the “Terrebonne Parish Bridal Shelter” (vote 8-0) and awarded Bid 24 WHSE-38, a six-month requirement contract for electrical inventory products (vote 8-0).

At the Community Development and Planning Committee, members approved a task order with Baroca and Barnura Engineering and Consultants LLC (BBEC) under Task Order 4 to recruit homeowners and prepare applications for elevation, reconstruction or acquisition projects tied to the 2024 Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program (moved by Hamner, second by Harding; vote 8-0). They also authorized the parish president to sign and submit the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) application with the Louisiana Housing Corporation (vote 8-0).

The committee obligated FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for mitigation, reconstruction and wind hardening at two specific properties damaged in Hurricane Ida: 328 Crochetville Road, Montague, LA 70377 (moved by Troisclair; vote 8-0) and 631 Myrna Street, (listed in the record as) Chabian, LA 70344 (moved by Babin; vote 8-0). The agenda materials and motions referenced FEMA DR numbers DR-4611-005-LA and DR-4611-0038-LA as the funding sources.

Most items passed with no extended debate. The record shows several procedural motions to adjourn and routine roll-call confirmations during both committee meetings.

Ending: The approvals bind the parish to specific contractors and grant conditions and obligate mitigation funds for two identified addresses; several steps remain administrative (signatures, task orders, and grant acceptance) before work and payments begin.