Former Sweedee owners’ new service gets contract

Come Nov. 1, a new company will take over garbage collection in the unincorporated areas of St. Mary Parish.
A five-year contract was awarded by the parish council Wednesday to Pelican Waste & Debris LLC of Houma. The company is owned by Corey Callais and Roddie Matherne, former operators of the defunct Sweedee garbage disposal company that provided service in St. Mary until the company was bought out by Progressive Waste Solution.
Before passing a resolution to hire Pelican, the council heard from Gus Bordelon of Progressive, the company now providing service in the parish. Both companies had submitted proposals for the new contract, according to Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange.
Bordelon asked that Progressive be recognized for its years of experience by the award of the contract.
“We feel that the proposal we put forth for the parish is most advantageous to you,” he said. He added that Progressive is the third largest waste hauler in the U.S. and the largest residential waste hauler in the state.
“It’s my understanding that the company that may be chosen is a new company that’s only been in existence since 2013,” he said. “So they have no track record of service in the industry and they’re asking you to be the Guinea pig.”
Upon addressing the council, Matherne corrected that assertion saying that the combined experience in the industry by the Pelican leadership is better than 60 years.
The Callais family has operated several southern Louisiana businesses including Sweedee which was started in 1978. Matherne said the tragic sudden deaths of Peter Callais and Paul Callais in separate incidents in 2008 led the family to downsize its operations. According to earlier news accounts, within a period of four months in that year Paul Callais was presumed dead after going missing from a boat in the Caribbean and Peter Callais died in his sleep of apparent natural causes at his hunting camp.
Both companies have had their share of residential service complaints, but Pelican submitted the lowest proposal amount.
LaGrange said the contract with Pelican that begins on Nov. 1 will mean a $405,552 annual savings to fees currently being paid to Progressive. The Progressive proposal was $364,542 less than its current contract price.
He added that the five cities in the parish expected to award contracts to Pelican will also realize savings.
The company has promised all new trucks, equipment and waste containers.
In other business the council:
—Agreed to accept the settlement offer in regard to BP oil spill following a brief executive session. Legal counsel Eric Duplantis said the amount will not be disclosed at this time due to a court order that could be made public by next week.
—Introduced an ordinance on a lease agreement with the state Division of Administration in relation to the Grand Avoille Cove Boat Landing.
—Passed resolutions on contract negotiations for improvement projects at the Harold J. “Babe” Landry Landfill in Berwick and Jones Drive in Patterson, both with Byron E. Talbot Contractors; a professional services agreement with W.L. Gaiennie Co. on technical assistance with economic development; a change order reducing the price by $10,169 and notice of substantial agreement on Centerville Bridge Approach Road project; and an agreement with Acadiana Area Human Services District relative to Fairview Treatment Center.
—Approved a request by Councilman Charleston Middleton for transfer of $500 from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax fund for the St. Joseph Community summer youth program.
—Approved a $4,000 allocation to the Berwick Lighthouse Festival to be held on Oct. 2-4.
—Heard from Councilman Logan Fromenthal that he will not seek reelection to the District 6 seat.
—Heard from Franklin resident Dianna Alexander who asked everyone to extend their appreciation to U.S. military veterans, especially those who served from 1965 to the present.