Council awards Yonge Street West improvement contract; $315,171.69 in COG funds expected to reduce city share

Morgan City Council on Feb. 11 adopted Resolution 25-02 authorizing an agreement with Staker and Parsons Companies to construct the Yonge Street Improvements West project and to allow further negotiations and change orders necessary for the project's completion.

The project includes curb, gutter and sidewalk work on the west end of Yonge Street between State Street and East Canyon Creek, an 8-foot concrete trail on the south side adjacent to the Francis House, and a wedge mill and overlay of the travel lanes to restore road crown and drainage. Lance, the city's road supervisor, told the council the section was last overlaid about 25 years ago, has experienced major blowouts related to drainage and shows wheel ruts that trap water. The bid package drew strong interest: staff reported 23 plan holders and 13 bids.

Council and staff discussed the project's cost and funding. Ty said the full project is approximately $1.2 million. The city will budget $6,600 from the current operational budget, expect $315,171.69 from the Council of Governments (COG) third-quarter local option sales tax pending county-council approval, and cover the remaining roughly $300,000 from the city's capital improvement fund.

Lance said the contractor will complete curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements for most properties on the south side and leave two houses on the north without curb and gutter to maintain a tie-in area to the bridge. The plan includes milling about 2 inches beyond the wheel paths and placing a 2-inch-plus overlay on the travel lanes, then a full chip seal in 2026. Staff and the contractor will hold a neighborhood meeting (scheduled for the 20th at 6:00 p.m.) to review staging and schedule with affected residents; staff said they will try to provide a remote option for residents who cannot attend in person.

The council motion to adopt Resolution 25-02 passed unanimously. Councilmembers discussed the utility of planning and submitting projects for COG funding, and staff and councilmembers praised the city's ability to plan and bid projects earlier in the year.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 25-02 — motion to adopt agreement with Staker and Parsons Companies for the Yonge Street Improvements West project; mover: Tony; second: Jeff (as recorded on the meeting); outcome: approved (unanimous). The final COG allocation (315,171.69) still requires county-council approval before those funds are applied to the project.

Implementation and next steps: Staff said they will finalize contract negotiations and negotiate necessary change orders. A neighborhood meeting with residents, the engineer and contractor was scheduled to review the project scope and schedule. If the county council approves the COG funding, the city will reduce the capital contribution accordingly.