Bids for flooding projects approved

Flood control improvements on both ends of St. Mary Parish continue.
Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange told the parish council Wednesday that bids have been received for Morgan City levee improvements, specifically the Siracusa Levee Reach project.
The low bid was $1,859,572 from Southern Constructors LLC. The bid was lower than the projected $1,926,703 estimate.
That project is funded by a Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program.
LaGrange also reported that bids were received for the South Willow Street Storm Pump Station project. Low bid of $2,928,012 from Blanchard Contractors, Inc. It includes pumps for the Franklin Canal structure and is also funded by the CDBG program.
Parish President David Hanagriff was not on hand for the meeting, electing to attend the Franklin Foundation Hospital Board meeting at the same time. The board’s usual meeting date is on Thursday.
In other business, appointments to parish boards grew contentious when one position on the St. Mary Parish Tourist Commission sparked a debate regarding diversity.
Up for consideration were Cherisse Picard, nominated by Councilman Dale Rogers and Councilman Paul Naquin.
Councilman Craig Mathews offered an amendment to that motion by nominating Alfreida Bradley Edwards.
Mathews said parish boards are in need of diversity.
Mathews amendment failed 8-3 on vote, and Rogers’ nomination of Picard passed 9-2.
Other appointments included William Gill to the parish planning and zoning commission; Tanya J. Anderson to the parish zoning board of adjustments; Lauren Comeaux to the Recreation District 7 (Centerville area) board; reappointment of Wendell Bogan and Glenn Blood to the Sewer District 5 (Centerville area) board; and reappointment of Leroy Trim, Alvin Wilkerson, Roland Verret and Donald Pureau to the Water and Sewer No. 1 board, along with new member Kenneth R. Mire.
No appointment was made to the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District board for the expired term of Joseph Foret, with legal counsel Eric Duplantis suggesting the council declare the seat vacant and advertise.
Also Thursday, the council passed a resolution of respect for Paul Vella Sr. and another thanking Dr. Keidra Welch-Spencer for her service to the parish.
In other business:
—An ordinance was introduced “establishing regulations and standards relative to the proper use of wildlife-resistant refuse containers and penalties for the violation thereof.”
—A resolution authorizing the parish president to give substantial completion of the shredder building enhancements at the Harold J. “Babe” Landry Landfill in Berwick was approved.
—A resolution was approved authorizing the parish president to execute an amendment to the software license agreement for online access to the parish unified development code and zoning map.
—Two resolutions authorized the parish president to sign off with the lowest bidders on the South Willow Street and Morgan City levee improvements.
—An allocation of $2,000 from the gaming fund was approved for the St. Mary Parish Fair Association; $3,000 was allocated from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax fund to Recreation District 7 for biddy basketball; and $3,000 from the same fund was allocated to the City of Franklin for the Caffery baseball league.
—Authorizing the parish president to execute an amendment to the oil lease with Energy XXI LLC in regards to undivided 50 percent of its rights, title and interests to Fieldwood Onshore LLC.
—The council heard from Mathews and parish Office of Emergency Preparedness staff member Duval Arthur on ways to keep parents and the public informed regarding school safety, including bomb threats. Talks are ongoing.