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St. Martin Parish Council confirms board appointments, awards drainage contract and approves ARPA consultant; council backs resumption of Gulf lease sales
Summary
Council confirmed multiple board appointments, awarded a $1,979,705 contract to Rigid Constructors for the Cypress Island/Joe Daigre drainage project, authorized a contract with Postlethwaite & Netterville to assist with ARPA fund administration, and adopted a resolution urging federal officials to resume Gulf of Mexico lease sales.
On July 6, 2021, the St. Martin Parish Council adopted a series of resolutions and took administrative actions, including board confirmations, a construction contract award, and authorization for ARPA fund administration support.
Appointments and reappointments: the council reappointed Kenneth Mouton to the St. Martin Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 Board (term to July 6, 2027), reappointed Jesse Doiron and Shelby Daigle Jr. to St. Martin Parish Water & Sewerage Commission No. 1 (terms to July 2, 2024) and Eroy Acosta for a two-year term to July 2, 2023, appointed Darren Mayon to the Recreation District No. 1 Committee (term to July 6, 2022), confirmed John Williams to replace Adrienne Fontenot on the Recreation Board of Directors, and appointed Eric Martin to the St. Martin Economic Development Authority (SMEDA) Board for a term to July 6, 2024.
Drainage contract award: after bids were opened and reviewed by Duplantis Design Group, PC (DDG), the council awarded the Cypress Island/Joe Daigre Drainage System Maintenance Project'0Phase I to low bidder Rigid Constructors, LLC for $1,979,705 and authorized Parish President Chester Cedars to execute the contract documents.
ARPA administration: the council authorized the Parish President to enter an agreement with accounting/consulting firm Postlethwaite & Netterville to provide professional administrative and consulting services for the parish's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund administration; the resolution notes the parish is eligible to receive up to $11.3 million under Section 603, and the firm will assist with planning, budgeting and required reporting within statutory timelines.
Offshore leasing resolution: the council adopted Resolution No. 21-056-RS petitioning President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to resume Gulf of Mexico lease sales, citing jobs, royalty revenue for conservation (Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act disbursements), and a recent federal court ruling referenced in the resolution. The council directed certified copies of the resolution be sent to federal and state officials and relevant associations.
Why it matters: the actions advance parish infrastructure work, confirm governance of local boards, and position the parish on a national energy-policy matter. The drainage award commits nearly $2 million for Phase I of a drainage maintenance project; the ARPA consulting contract is intended to help the parish manage complex federal requirements and reporting deadlines.
