Ascension Parish finance committee forwards multiple contracts and amendments to full council

The Ascension Parish Finance Committee met Jan. 13 and voted to forward a slate of procurement awards and contract amendments to the full parish council.

Chair (Speaker 1) led the meeting and introduced agenda items that included an amendment to a claims-administration contract, renewal of a vector-control master services contract, multiple lowest-responsive-bid awards for courthouse and fairgrounds projects, a sizable flooring change order at a health unit, and an increase to the legal-services contract with Nagel, Feis & Kysnich. Each item was moved and seconded during the meeting and recorded as sent to council for final action.

Why it matters: the items carry budgetary implications and, in one case, sparked questions from committee members about scope and cost. Several projects affect parish facilities and public health services, and the legal-services increase was explained as a response to additional lawsuits transferred to outside counsel.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the committee meeting):
- Amendment No. 1, claims and administrative services agreement with Louisiana Claims Administrators — not to exceed $67,800 for year 3. Motion moved by Mister Chase; seconded by Miss Pam. Outcome: sent to council (motion moved and seconded; no roll-call tally recorded in transcript).
- Renewal, master services contract with Vector Disease Control International LLC (vector spraying) — rates specified (half-ounce per acre; minimum acreage 10,000 at $2.35/acre). Motion moved by Mister Todd; seconded by Mister Chase. Outcome: sent to council.
- Award, Central Perris Westbank Courthouse slate roof replacement (Coleman Roofing and Construction Gonzales LLC) — $440,000. Motion moved by Mister Blaine; seconded by Mister Brett. Outcome: sent to council.
- Award, Donaldsonville Courthouse Renovation Phase 2 (KTB Contractors LLC) — $633,847.88. Motion moved by Miss Pam; seconded by Miss Chase. Outcome: sent to council. Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether Phase 2 covers interior systems and the contractor said Phase 2 addresses interior repairs after the building was leveled.
- Quote acceptance, South Louisiana Fairgrounds fencing renovations (Supreme Fencing LLC) — $87,450. Motion moved (Chase); seconded (Miss Pam). Outcome: sent to council.
- Change Order No. 1, Central Perris Health Unit flooring replacement (Land Rover Construction LLC) — additional $57,180.08 and 21 days; total contract $113,927.68; revised substantial completion date listed as 01/21/26. Motion moved by Mister Blaine; second by Chase. Outcome: sent to council. Committee members raised concerns about the size of the change order and confirmed the unforeseen glued-down flooring and vapor barrier were handled under the change order.
- Amendment No. 2, legal services (Nagel, Feis & Kysnich) — increase $195,000 to a not-to-exceed $395,000 through 04/22/2026. Motion moved and seconded; committee members questioned the doubling of the amount for four months. Speaker 5 stated, "I think we've transferred the new Lawsuits to them to handle, so I think that's what the increases for." Outcome: sent to council.

Next steps: The committee took no final contract awards at the meeting; each item was forwarded to the full parish council for approval. The committee also received a personnel classification report for December 2025 and adjourned.