Hammond Council OKs grants, equipment purchases and $2.96M lift‑station contract; investigation of building‑department action tabled

Hammond City Council members on Dec. 10 approved a slate of grant acceptances, equipment purchases and infrastructure contracts and delayed signing an outside‑counsel agreement to investigate the building permits office pending an advisory opinion from the Louisiana Attorney General.

The council unanimously approved a $236,635 Community Development Block Grant award for improvements at Martin Luther King Park and accepted state appropriations to fund downtown street/drainage work ($350,000) and $300,000 for water‑meter upgrades aimed at converting older meters to wireless reads. "This is the amount for the first year, and we're expecting that we'll receive around the same amount each year," city staff member Charles said about the CDBG award. He added the water‑meter appropriation will be used to target the oldest and the hard‑to‑reach meters first and that staff will return to council with a prioritized purchase list.

Council members also approved several public‑safety and equipment purchases: a Cummins ISL replacement engine for a 2018 pumper at $66,075.14; a Woods batwing cutter for $28,188.55; four Dodge Durangos ($183,039) and four Chevy Tahoes ($208,568) for police use; and a $16,810 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance grant to buy portable radios. Charles described the radios as replacements for equipment purchased after Hurricane Katrina that is "approaching, you know, 20 years old" and said the grant will allow the department to continue replacing aging radios.

On infrastructure, the council ratified and awarded the Heidi lift station and force‑main improvements to NCMC LLC of Baton Rouge for $2,957,000. Jay Pittman, presenting the item, said the low bid exceeded the original project budget and that the city combined remaining appropriations and ARPA funds to make the award feasible. The public works timetable presented estimates construction at about 180 days, with schedule allowances for supply‑chain variability.

Appointments and routine business included multiple reappointments to the Hammond Historic District Commission (Jessica Shirey; John Exnicius/Ignatius; Tanya Turner; Brandon Ricotta) and confirmations of new appointees (Courtney Mailer and Michael Holly). The council approved an alcohol permit for Lighthouse Coastal Brasserie (116 W. Thomas St.) and formally canvassed the Nov. 5 special election results per state law.

During public comment, residents pressed the council on neighborhood drainage, blighted and abandoned properties, sidewalk repairs and code‑enforcement follow‑through. Staff said code enforcement is compiling a demolition/blight list and will provide updates to the council; a council member asked to receive that working list by Friday.

The most contested item concerned a previously discussed outside‑counsel investigation into the building permits office after allegations that permits had been signed using a deceased employee’s signature. Outside counsel and city attorneys debated whether the council had properly opened an investigation under the city charter and whether a super‑majority was required to authorize the scope. After extended discussion, the council voted to table execution of the agreement until the city receives an advisory opinion from the Louisiana Attorney General on the council’s authority and the proper scope and procedure.

City administration also notified the public that, under new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules, the city must notify customers where the service‑line material is unknown and perform random sampling; staff said the city has no evidence of lead in system test samples but will begin the sampling work early next year.

Votes at a glance

- Introduction: Ordinance requiring budget reports each quarter — motion to introduce approved for public hearing Jan. 14 (introduction vote recorded). - Introduction: Street‑naming (Carolina St. to Willie Grant Johnson Jackson Dr.) — introduced for public hearing Jan. 14. - Introduction: Rezoning requests (517 Hewitt Rd.; 1009 C.M. Fagan Dr.) — both introduced for public hearing Jan. 14 following unanimous Planning & Zoning recommendations. - Res. 1–6: Multiple Historic District Commission reappointments/appointments — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 7: Alcohol permit for Lighthouse Coastal Brasserie (116 W. Thomas St.) — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 8: Canvass of Nov. 5 special election — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 9: Purchase and installation of Cummins engine for Engine 11 ($66,075.14) — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 10: Purchase of batwing cutter ($28,188.55) — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 11: Purchase 4 Dodge Durangos ($183,039) — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 12: Purchase 4 Chevy Tahoes ($208,568) — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 13: Accept CDBG $236,635 (MLK Park) — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 14: Accept state appropriation ~$300,000 for water‑meter upgrades — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 15: Accept state appropriation (~$305,000) for airport hangar construction — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 16: Accept $350,000 state appropriation for downtown street/drainage — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 17: Accept $50,000 state appropriation for police equipment — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 18: Accept $16,810 Edward Byrne JAG grant for portable radios — approved (recorded ayes). - Res. 19: Budget change form moving prior FY allocations into lift station and DDD sewer repairs — approved (recorded ayes). - Item 20: Ratify & award Heidi lift station/force main contract to NCMC LLC ($2,957,000) — approved (recorded ayes). - Item 21: Execution of outside‑counsel agreement for building‑department investigation — TABLED pending Louisiana Attorney General advisory opinion.

What the city said

City staff repeatedly emphasized that several of the awards and appropriations carry no local match requirement and that some appropriations will be coordinated with the Downtown Development District and the historic‑preservation commission. On the CDBG award and meter appropriation, Charles said the meter work would initially target the oldest and hardest-to-service meters and return to council with specific purchase plans and locations.

Why it matters

Council approvals commit federal, state and local funds to parks, downtown drainage, airport hangars, public‑safety equipment and sewer infrastructure. The Heidi lift‑station award advances a multi‑million‑dollar sewer project intended to reduce downstream pumping and improve system reliability. The decision to table the building‑department investigation means the council will await legal guidance before finalizing the scope and engagement of outside counsel.

Staff and council members said they will provide follow‑up information to address residents’ concerns about code‑enforcement lists, demolition candidates and drainage schedules.