Parish approves GIS Engineering contract for Turtle Pond pump station design after LWI study prompts downstream work

The St. Charles Parish Council unanimously approved a professional services agreement with GIS Engineering for design work on the Turtle Pond pump station and upstream drainage improvements (Project P250901). The contract is not to exceed $609,085.50 and covers site selection, preliminary design and documentation for bidding; the council and staff clarified that construction administration and resident-inspection services will be added later by amendment.

Miles Bingham (Public Works) told the council the pump station work responds to flooding complaints and that recent hydrology/hydraulic (micro) study in the watershed identified additional conveyance improvements needed before or alongside pump upgrades. Council members sought clarification about scope: some upstream drainage items are better defined and will proceed as part of the contract’s design package, while construction-phase services will be added as amendments once final layouts are selected.

Councilmember Pilar pressed for clarity on which services are included now versus those reserved for later amendment. Bingham and GIS representatives confirmed the approved amount covers the engineering package through bidding documents for both the pump station and identified upstream drainage improvements; construction-phase services (construction administration and inspection) will be added later if needed. The council approved the contract to proceed; the transcript records unanimous passage.