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Parish president reports progress at Sunset Pump Station, council approved spillway water-main upgrade
Summary
Parish President Jewell updated the council on work at the Sunset Pump Station, including completed support structures and the start of a spillway water-main replacement project. The council previously approved a contract for a 3,470-foot phase of the work; the full project covers about 8,000 linear feet, Jewell said.
At the March 24 St. Charles Parish Council meeting, Parish President Jewell provided an update on capital and public‑works projects, reporting progress at the Sunset Pump Station and the start of a water-main replacement over the spillway that the council approved earlier.
Jewell said the “first half of the base support structure is completed” and that about a third of a bridge deck across the canal has been built at the Sunset Pump Station. On the spillway water-main, she told the council the project aims to replace a brittle line with a larger, more stable main to increase pressure, flow and volume. "The total approximate linear feet of that project is 8,000 linear feet," she said, adding that the contractor’s approved phase 3 covers 3,470 feet and the balance was done in-house by waterworks staff. Jewell said the contractor is handling sensitive sections that require direct boring.
Why it matters
Parish officials said the water-main work is intended to improve system resilience during releases and to reduce the risk of rupture in older lines. The pump-station work (including wing wall sheet driving along the canal) is meant to improve water flow to the station once the project is finished, Jewell said.
Other public‑works and community service updates
Jewell gave schedule notes for the Eastbank Bridge Park project: tennis and pickleball courts have been poured and will be surfaced in April; turf fields and the parking lot were expected to be finished in April, lights by May and the project closeout in June. She also announced a household hazardous waste collection day on Saturday, April 5, at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with ID checks to confirm residency. Officials will not accept late latex paint at the event; Jewell reiterated that residents can let paint cans air dry or mix paint with kitty litter before placing them in regular trash.
Jewell also highlighted procurement activity: in 2024 the procurement office processed nearly 10,000 purchase orders, handled 60 publicly advertised bids and added 27 vehicles and heavy equipment to the parish fleet. She said the office is working to centralize procurement to enhance cost savings and streamline processes.
No new ordinances or budget appropriations for these projects were introduced at the meeting during Jewell’s remarks.
