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Council accepts $29.9M watershed grant, approves airport and infrastructure contracts
Summary
The Metropolitan Council approved a $29,891,960 watershed grant and moved forward with multiple airport contracts and project agreements, including airport professional-services awards and a Plank Road solar-lighting priority under a CDBG amendment.
The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council on Dec. 10 accepted a $29,891,960 grant award from the Louisiana Office of Community Development and the Louisiana Watershed Initiative to support transportation and drainage projects, and approved a slate of airport and infrastructure contracts.
Council authorized acceptance of the nearly $29.9 million watershed grant (item 124), contingent on grant review. Transportation and Drainage staff presented the grant and the council voted to carry the item.
The council also approved multiple airport professional-services contracts and related items (items 93–103). Aviation Director Michael Tafaro told the council the airport operates as an enterprise fund that must generate its own revenue through leases, concessions and grants; "that that is correct... The airport is an enterprise fund," Tafaro said when asked whether those dollars affect the general fund.
On community-development funding, the Office of Community Development explained a priority shift in a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery & Mitigation application (item 105): the food access program and the Plank Road solar lighting project (about 4.2 miles of solar lighting) will be the prioritized projects. Office staff said there is no new money, only a change in priority among previously allocated funds.
The council also moved forward on airport lease amendments and several professional services and maintenance contracts for the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, including planning, CCTV/ACS support, HVAC services, advertising and other items. The aviation director emphasized those expenditures are funded from airport-generated revenues and grant funds, not the parish general fund.
Next steps: grant documents will proceed through the grants review process; airport contracts will be executed by the mayor president and the aviation director with oversight as provided in each contract authorization.
