Parish OKs short-term contract with South Central Planning for inspections, amid staffing shortage

Terrebonne Parish council members voted to authorize the parish president to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with South Central Planning and Development Commission to provide supplemental plan-review and building-inspection services while the parish recruits a permanent inspector. The measure passed following debate about cost, contract terms and whether outsourcing reduces long-term capacity.

The agreement is intended as a temporary fix after the retirement of a long-time building inspector, Mike Oquan. Parish staff said permit volumes rose sharply after Hurricane Ida — from roughly 3,000 permits annually before Ida to about 8,000 at peak — and currently run near 6,000 per year, stretching in-house staffing.

Parish staff described two billing options in the agreement: a month-to-month option costing $15,335 per month that would include use of the contractor’s vehicle, and a day-rate option of $700 per day. Staff said the day-rate could be used on heavier inspection weeks and the month-to-month option only when sustained coverage is needed. The contract includes a standard no-assignment clause drafted by parish legal staff, which staff said prevents South Central Planning from reassigning work to a third party without parish approval.

Council members questioned whether the agreement unnecessarily expands the contractor’s scope beyond inspections to plan review. Councilmember Steve Trostclair urged keeping services in-house when possible, saying the parish had successfully brought those services in-house previously and that outsourcing can raise costs for constituents. Trostclair also suggested increasing recruitment efforts rather than relying on contractors.

“Mike Oquan retired,” a parish staff member said, “He was a building inspector.” Staff added they have run a job advertisement since early April and have had only one applicant who was not certified. Human Resources and staff told the council that the job posting is on the parish website, linked to Facebook and posted on other job platforms such as Indeed.

Legal counsel confirmed that the contract contains a standard no-assignment clause. “South Central Planning cannot just go give the work to somebody else,” the counsel said.

Several council members pressed staff for clearer cost comparisons between hiring a full-time inspector (including benefits and vehicle overhead) and long-term use of contractors. Staff estimated the day-rate option typically covers 20–30 inspections per day on the East Side and said weekly scheduling would be coordinated in advance so the parish only pays for days coverage is needed.

Council members also raised concerns about continuity and asked whether the parish could request a consistent inspector from South Central Planning; staff said the parish can request the same inspector but cannot guarantee the contractor will assign the same individual.

The motion to authorize the cooperative endeavor agreement was made by Danny Babin and seconded by Kevin Charles Champagne. The council approved the agreement (vote tally recorded by meeting as yes:5, no:3, abstain:1). Staff said the arrangement is intended as an interim measure while recruitment continues.

Members asked staff to continue aggressive recruitment, to provide copies of the candidate contact information, and to seek opportunities for local certification and career pipelines to address a wider shortage of certified inspectors.

Clarifying details: the month-to-month rate cited is $15,335 and the day rate option is $700 per day; the job posting was first advertised in April and had produced one applicant not yet certified, staff said. The International Code Council (ICC) certification standards were referenced as the certification benchmark for inspectors.

The council did not adopt a change to permit fees; staff said permit fees would not increase as a result of this temporary agreement.

Votes at a glance: Resolution authorizing a cooperative endeavor agreement with South Central Planning and Development Commission — moved Danny Babin, second Kevin Charles Champagne; outcome: approved (yes:5, no:3, abstain:1).