Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Committee Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ascension Parish Finance Committee forwards audit renewal, state appropriations and multiple contracts to council
Summary
The finance committee approved renewal of the 2025 audit engagement, accepted several state appropriations totaling over $1 million in planned projects, and moved multiple procurement and contract items — including a $2.8 million roundabout bid — to the full council for final action.
The Ascension Parish Finance Committee on Dec. 9 moved a series of routine finance and procurement items to the full council, including renewal of the parish's 2025 audit engagement, several cooperative agreements with state agencies and nonprofits, and a set of contract awards and change orders.
Committee staff introduced the renewal of the 2025 audit and state-mandated agreed-upon procedures, noting the RFP allows up to five additional one-year renewals; the committee approved the motion to renew the engagement. The committee also considered and moved to forward a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs for office space and support (parish contribution of phone/internet costs not to exceed $28,488.54 for 2026).
The committee accepted multiple FY2025 state appropriations referenced in the agenda packet and authorized the parish president and chief financial officer to execute related agreements and documents, including $100,000 for West Ascension Early Childcare Learning Center teacher salaries and seats, $100,000 for a covered pavilion at Oak Grove Park, $50,000 for the Fifth Ward volunteer fire department, and $750,000 for Roddy Road improvements and expansion of the Amite River boat launch. Member Ruth publicly thanked the state delegation for securing the appropriations: "With the help of the card group, we've got an exceptional amount of money this year for the parish," he said.
On procurement, the committee moved to accept the lowest responsive bid of $2,802,464.85 from LA Contracting Enterprise LLC for a roundabout at Broad Road and Germany Road and authorized the parish president to execute the contract. The committee also moved several lower-dollar quotes and change orders for repairs and upgrades at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center (commissary, RV lot bathhouse and trademark building), and approved a change order for Cypress Roofing to add $12,087.50 to the West Billing Office roof contract.
The committee approved renewal of a master professional-services contract with HNTB (extension to 11/30/2026; not-to-exceed amount unchanged at $4,508,778.57), renewed a master feeding contract with Ralph's Market for emergency feeding (fee schedule to apply), and accepted a mutual aid agreement with Our Lady of the Lake Ascension and Saint Elizabeth Hospital for medical support during declared emergencies. Most items were moved, seconded and referred to the council; the committee did not record roll-call tallies during the meeting.
The meeting concluded after staff noted the contract report had been emailed to members and that no new parish classification positions were added in November. The committee adjourned.
