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Council approves construction payments; alderman presses for pavilion cost breakdown
Summary
Council approved partial payments to contractors for drainage and pavilion projects but Alderman Vernon Martin repeatedly questioned whether the pavilion work justifies an approximately $2 million contract and asked for a detailed breakdown and inspection documentation.
The Crowley City Council approved several construction-related payments on Feb. 10 while one councilor pressed for more financial transparency on a large park pavilion project.
The council approved partial payment No. 3 to CD Construction of Louisiana LLC for drainage improvements on Lawrence Acres and VFW Drive in the amount of $224,341.43; the motion was offered by Alderman Vernon Martin and seconded by Alderman Sandy Marks. The council also approved partial payment No. 15 for the park and pavilion project to Prestige Construction Group LLC for $173,479.26; the Public Buildings Committee had recommended approval and the council carried the motion.
During discussion on the pavilion payment, Alderman Vernon Martin questioned the overall project cost and value, saying the structure looked like "a glorified barn" and stating, "There's no way in the world that's a $2,000,000 job." He requested a full contractual breakdown of costs — including builder fee, builder profit, architect profit and materials — and asked who conducted inspections. Council staff pointed to continuation sheets and contract documentation in the council packet and noted an enclosed letter from the program director at CSRS LLC recommending payment and signed by the architect. Martin said his copy lacked signatures and asked for official signed copies and earlier promised notifications to council about contract milestones.
City staff responded that the packet contains the contract-value breakdown, work completed, materials on site, percentage complete and retainage fees and that the formal letter recommending payment is signed by the architect and the program director. The council did not alter the payments but Martin said he would continue to press for clearer, larger-format contingency documentation and official copies.
The items approved included standard partial payments tied to previously authorized contracts; no new contracts were awarded during the meeting.
