Cameron Parish Police Jury approves permits, appointments and project changes; ratifies special-counsel recommendations in coastal litigation

The Cameron Parish Police Jury met Feb. 3 and approved a series of routine and project-specific measures including land-use and infrastructure permits, board appointments, procurement decisions and contract change orders, and ratified recommendations from special counsel after an executive-session discussion of coastal-zone litigation.

Permits and infrastructure: The jury removed one permit (item A) from the consent list, then approved permits B–E, which included Williams Transcontinental Gas Pipeline anomaly repairs (approximately 111 cubic yards to be excavated at each worksite), VentureGlobal’s maintenance-dredging beneficial-use proposal within the CPNR NWR East Oak Unit, site-preparation and riprap work for the Harbor District, and a CenterPoint Energy natural-gas main/service installation. The chair read the items and jurors approved the block of permits by voice vote.

Appointments and local boards: The jury approved multiple appointments and reappointments across district boards, including library board and recreation and fire protection districts, and directed staff to send letters of appreciation to several departing members. Appointees and reappointments were carried by voice vote.

Contracts and procurement: The jury authorized award of a grass-cutting contract to Marshland Property Design (sole proposer) with rates noted in the record as $3.75 per acre for overgrown lots and a minimum fee in the record of $2.75–$2.70; the contract can be piggybacked by parish districts. Jurors also authorized the administrator to execute property insurance policies using the lowest quotes and approved a five-year Otis Elevator maintenance renewal at a new annual rate (about $2,600 per elevator per year).

Grant applications and CPRA IGA: The jury granted the president/administrator authority to submit the FY24–25 LGAP and CWEF applications and sign related documents if funded. It also approved IGA amendment number 3 (agreement 2000486644) with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to extend the Rockefeller Shores stabilization project termination date to Dec. 31, 2025; a juror asked specifically whether the extension carried additional cost and was told it did not.

Project change orders: The jury approved change order 00680 for the North Cameron Emergency Operations Center (Grand Lake Multipurpose Building), valued at $20,002.34 and increasing contract time by three days for primary service conduit, plus related contract increases and a decrease for a generator move as read into the record.

Payroll and personnel policy: The jury adopted a flex-schedule policy. The vice president emphasized the policy does not change parish office hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.), participation is voluntary and department heads must maintain staffing; the motion passed after roll-call comments that included several nays but a carried result.

Audit, financials and bills: Jurors authorized an audit engagement with Gradsen, Cassidy and Guillory, LLP for the year ending Dec. 31, 2024, signed a compliance questionnaire and accepted the monthly financials and budget-to-actual comparison. Approved bills were ordered paid.

Executive session and litigation actions: The jury entered executive session to hear from special counsel Chad Mudd on coastal-zone litigation strategy, potential settlement negotiations and dismissal of identified defendants. After executive session, the jury moved to approve all recommendations made by special counsel as presented; jurors voted to adopt the recommendations.

Why it matters: The approvals advance multiple capital projects and local services (from emergency operations facilities to grass-cutting and elevator maintenance), authorize competitive grant applications and extend a CPRA project deadline, and conclude a confidential legal strategy phase in coastal litigation with the jury adopting counsel’s recommendations.

Next steps: Staff will implement awarded contracts and file applications where authorized; the jury directed follow-up as required by individual actions (insurance execution, demolition notices, contract administration).