Parish to take ownership of Cross Bayou pump station; council approves contracts and park lighting work

The St. Charles Parish Council on Dec. 16 approved a range of infrastructure and parks items, including a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Pontchartrain Levee District (PLD) that transfers ownership, operation and maintenance of the Cross Bayou pump station to the parish.

Under the agreement approved unanimously, PLD will pay a total of $7.5 million to the parish in staged payments to assist with station improvements: $3.5 million on the initial payment (expected in January 2025) and then $1.0 million per year until the $7.5 million is reached. Parish staff said the funds will address major repairs and upgrades identified during an engineering walkdown and allow the parish to integrate the pump station into its existing operations and remote‑monitoring systems.

Mister Matt Palamon (project lead) said parish crews plan immediate work to enable remote operation, install automatic lubrication for gearboxes, add water‑cooling safeguards and improve fuel delivery and day tanks. Palamon said the station is currently manned during events and that the parish expects operating and maintenance costs to decline once the facility is brought into the parish’s maintenance program and telemetry is installed.

Council members and staff praised the cooperative approach. Parish President Jewell said the parish has worked with the levee district and outside engineers to identify needs and the funding approach. PLD and parish staff will finalize property transfers, permit assignments and any overlapping servitudes through implementing documents that the parish attorney and PLD will sign following council approval.

In other infrastructure business the council:

- Approved a change order that reduced the automated water‑meter installation contract by $124,520 after work items were revised; the change order passed unanimously.

- Approved the final 2024 consolidated operating and capital budget amendment (a routine year‑end adjustment), and adopted the Parish Transportation Act three‑year Road and Bridges capital budget for fiscal years 2025–2027.

- Approved Jones Crock Construction Solutions LLC for East Bank Bridge Park lighting rebid work in a contract of approximately $1.267 million following a second, lower round of bids and modest value engineering. Staff said splitting turf and lighting work reduced overall costs and the new price is lower than the first round of bids.

- Awarded a services agreement to Dynamic Group LLC for emergency building repairs and debris removal following an RFP; staff said Dynamic Group scored highest on technical criteria and submitted the lowest cost proposal.

Parish President Jewell also highlighted other capital work in his remarks: the Destrehan pump station and Dunleith Canal improvements (a combined program near $12 million), East Bank water‑intake repairs and upgraded dolphins to protect against future barge strikes, and ongoing courthouse first‑floor renovations that will return offices from temporary space next month. Jewell noted a planned bid for the Muntz pump station (permit 408) in January and expected projects to continue into 2025.