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Cameron Parish jury approves BP cleanup, accepts pavilion as substantially complete while reserving damages
Summary
The Cameron Parish Police Jury on Nov. 4 approved a BP America soil excavation of about 1,537 cubic yards and issued a notice to proceed for another cleanup. It accepted an OVP pavilion as substantially complete but left open the option to assess liquidated damages later and held retainage until liens clear.
The Cameron Parish Police Jury on Nov. 4 voted to approve several environmental cleanup actions and accepted the OVP pavilion as substantially complete while preserving the option to assess liquidated damages.
A project representative told the jury that BP America Production Company will remove approximately 1,537 cubic yards of contaminated soil and transport it off-site, after which the site will be restored to pre-construction conditions. The jury moved and carried a motion to allow the remedial excavation to proceed. "They will be taking soil excavation out which is approximately 1,537 cubic yards," the project representative said.
Legal counsel advised the jury to withhold retainer payments until a clear lien status is obtained and to begin the 45-day advertisement process to clear liens. Counsel said the parish could assess liquidated damages for delay later but recommended keeping funds available rather than releasing them and trying to recover them afterward. "Your retainer shall not be released till they get a clear lien," the legal counsel said.
On the pavilion project, staff said the work can be accepted as substantially complete to start the lien-clearance advertisement, while the jury retains the ability to evaluate liquidated damages at a subsequent meeting if schedule or workmanship issues remain. The jury voted to accept substantial completion and to begin the lien-advertisement process; any assessment of liquidated damages was deferred for later action.
The jury also issued a notice to proceed to Icon Environmental for a separate cleanup of a black vehicle and approved other contractor actions recorded in the minutes. Members discussed but declined to install cameras at the North Cameron Emergency Operations Center because doing so would add ongoing costs for off-site management and recording hardware; the building was wired for cameras but the jury took credit for removing the camera purchase from the contract.
The meeting record shows the jury entered an executive session later in the agenda and returned with no formal action taken in closed session. The decisions recorded on Nov. 4 are subject to the parish's standard lien-clearance and contract closeout procedures.
