St. Charles Parish Council adopts year-end budget changes, approves park and emergency contracts and accepts pump‑station transfer

St. Charles Parish officials approved a slate of administrative, procurement and capital items at the Dec. 16 council meeting in Hahnville, taking actions that range from year‑end budget adjustments to contracts for parks and emergency building repair and formalizing a transfer of a major pump station.

Why it matters: The measures affect parish operations (annual closeout of the operating and capital budgets), public infrastructure (park lighting and pump-station work), and planning for economic development (creation of the Luling Bridge Economic Development District). Several items also clarify fees or procurement arrangements that will govern parish services and emergency response.

Key outcomes (votes at a glance)

- File 2024-0399 — Change Order No. 1 (final) for Automated Water Meter Reading Installation Program: approved; contract amount decreased by $124,520. (Passed unanimously.)

- File 2024-0400 — Ordinance to rescind a prior ordinance and approve purchase or expropriation of drainage servitudes for the Munz (Muntz) Pump Station and Drainage Modification Project: approved; new appraisal set at $59,756. (Passed unanimously.)

- File 2024-0402 — Final amendment to the 2024 consolidated operating and capital budget (year‑end closeout): approved. (Passed unanimously.)

- File 2024-0403 — Road and Bridges Capital Program (FY2025–2027, Parish Transportation Act): approved. (Passed unanimously.)

- File 2024-0406 — Services agreement award (Dynamic Group LLC) for emergency repairs and building debris removal after emergency events: approved following competitive RFP (six responses). (Passed unanimously.)

- File 2024-0408 — Contract award to Jones Crock Construction Solutions LLC for East Bank Bridge Park lighting and related improvements (rebid): approved; contract amount $1,267,000 (passed unanimously). The project follows value engineering and is similar in scope to a recent West Bank lighting project.

- File 2024-0409 — Amendments to water service charge ordinance (meter installation language and rounding/proration corrections): council approved an amendment to the ordinance language and adopted the updated fee references; the amendment passed unanimously.

- File 2024-0410 — Cooperative endeavor agreement with the Pontchartrain Levee District to transfer ownership, operation and maintenance responsibility for the Cross Bayou pump station to St. Charles Parish: approved. PLD will pay $7,500,000 in staged payments (initial payment $3,500,000, then four annual payments of $1,000,000) to support required repairs and improvements; parish will assume full O&M and implement remote operations and other upgrades. (Passed unanimously.)

- File 2024-0401 — Resolution and ordinance steps to create the Luling Bridge Economic Development District No. 1: council approved creating the district boundary and the notice of intent that allows subsequent development of a TIF-like economic district if property owners and developers pursue it. (Amendment to add Councilwoman Wilson as co-sponsor approved; final ordinance passed unanimously.)

What officials said

Parish President Jewell highlighted infrastructure work completed and underway — including pump station upgrades and an east‑bank water intake project — and said the transfer of Cross Bayou pump station to parish operation will allow tighter integration into parish maintenance programs. He noted engineering work and funding are in place to bring the station up to remote operation and to address fuel and lubrication systems identified in an engineering walk‑down.

Finance and personnel reports

The council also heard annual reports from RSVP/Prime Time Seniors and the Civil Service/Personnel office. Personnel reported on Paycom implementation, benefit renewals, a new paid parental leave policy, and adjustments to leave accrual. The RSVP director announced retirement and described the transition to a new “Prime Time Seniors” program.

Next steps

Several items approved will require implementation work by parish departments: contracting, engineering work on pump stations, completion of the East Bank Bridge Park lighting/amenity work, publication of updated water service fees, and follow‑up on servitude purchases. Council minutes show unanimous votes on the major ordinances and contracts listed above; specific roll‑call tallies were not always recorded in the public transcript excerpt.