Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parish says port‑roads bids exceed earlier estimate; council approves road project funds in finance committee
Summary
Iberia Parish reported bids for port‑roads work came back near $5.4 million, leaving a local funding gap the parish will cover; the finance committee also approved a $4.83 million amendment for road‑project phases A–C and a $122,990 emergency transfer to replace jail sprinkler heads.
Parish president and staff told the Iberia Parish Council on March 11 that bids for port‑roads work returned substantially higher than the $2.9 million figure the council had previously discussed, and that the parish will cover a $1.8 million local gap while the original $2.9 million commitment remains in place pending any change orders.
"The bids came back and they came back under 5.4 million," the parish president said, adding the parish will put up about $1.8 million to cover the difference between state contributions and the bid. He said the $2.9 million previously discussed remains on the books while final procurement details are resolved.
Separately, the finance committee unanimously approved an amendment to the road‑projects construction fund to provide $4,834,580 for road improvement phases A, B and C after bid results. Council members who questioned the timing and monthly material budgets were advised to defer a separate $100,000 transfer for Road District 10 until staff review; that item was deferred for further review.
The committee also approved a $122,990 amendment to replace jail sprinkler heads after a fire‑marshal inspection flagged noncompliant equipment. Parish staff described the expense as "non‑negotiable." No council member opposed the emergency funding votes.
Council members asked multiple questions about contractor schedules, contractor reporting (invoices that subtract elapsed days from work periods) and whether lane closures would be partial during work. Parish staff said they are negotiating maintenance and infrastructure responsibilities for related projects such as Innovation Boulevard lighting and expect DOTD reimbursements to be used to repay TIFF funds advanced for installations.
The council recorded no formal roll‑call tallies in the chamber beyond repeated "that motion carries" statements; the finance committee’s votes were unanimous per the record. Next steps include finalizing change orders and working with contractors on schedules, and bringing deferred transfers back for council consideration.
