Minutes for December 14, 2010 Transportation Committee
Meeting held at the Courthouse Council Mtg. Room:

The meeting took in at 5:05 pm on Tuesday, December 14, 2010.

Present: Chairman Dempsey Lambert, Councilman Todd Lambert, Councilman Pat Bell,Parish President Tommy Martinez and DPW Director Ronnie Fairchild were all in attendance.

Absent: Councilmen Chris Loar, Adrian Thompson and Randy Clouatre.

Councilman Todd Lambert led the invocation and pledge.

Public Comment Period – Chairman Dempsey Lambert asked anyone wishing to speak on an item to please sign up.

Road Department monthly report for October and November 2010 – DPW Director Ronnie Fairchild reported that maintenance crews cleaned 4 miles of roadside ditches and cleaned 2 miles of culverts. DPW grass cutting crews cut 48 miles of state road and 143 miles of parish roads with cutting completed on November 18th. Crews sprayed 14 miles of state roads and 91 miles of parish roads with spraying completed on October 21st.
Ronnie reported that he has contacted the owners of the property in Eagles Landing which we received complaints on and the two owners are to cut those lots. Dempsey Lambert thanked Ronnie for the great work in getting parish and state ditches cleaned.

Road Projects status update report – Mr. Ben Laurie, P.E., announced that Mr. Brian Martinez from the Planning Department has been added to DPW staff as Project Manager to assist with managing and tracking road projects. Tim Ward, P. E. has also joined the parish staff. Ben reported that these two additions will be very helpful since the recent changes in staff. Ben was pleased to announce that he issued the notice to proceed for the West Worthey Road widening on October 11th. Drainage improvements have been installed of the south side of the road with the north side in progress with construction expecting to be completing around the second quarter of next year. Bids were opened on October 19th for the Roddy Road clearing and grubbing project (at La. 621 and La. 931) and the contract was awarded to Storm Reconstruction Services of Mobile, AL. DPW is still awaiting the contact to be executed for the relocation of the city water well to Roddy Road. That contract was awarded to Sun Electric Services. The Roddy Road clearing and grubbing pre-construction meeting was held today and the notice to proceed was issued for January 3rd. DPW is wrapping up acquisition of the property at St. Mark’s Church and the Bourque property located south of La. 621. The 2010 road projects have both finalized substantial completions. The intersections projects on Airline at La. 621 and AP 929 plans have been prepared and once Ben approves them we can proceed with preparing contract documents and put that out for bids. Negotiations on one property remain for the La. 932 at La. 933 intersection improvements. 30 % plans are in review at DOTD for the Parker Road Roundabout which be discussed later in the agenda. Ben will order a feasibility study as the next step for the Churchpoint Road at Roddy Road roundabout. Ben has a proposal but has not yet issued the notice to proceed.

The 2011 road list was approved by the council on November 4th and the design process is underway, and should be ready by the end of January. The committee held discussion about the addition of the St. Landry Road extension to the 2011 road list to address much needed repairs. Ben then proceeded to give updates of state projects within the parish stating that the La. 44 Sidewalks project is underway and on schedule. Councilman Todd Lambert inquired about the St. Landry Road extension with President Martinez reporting this road as being an asphalt road beginning at the last gate at Lamar Dixon. DPW will provide an estimated costs report at next month’s meeting for repairs needed. Councilman Lambert also asked if Cannon Road improvements were going to be done in house and spoke of one resident’s desire to buy materials necessary for improvements near his property. Councilman Pat Bell made a motion to add to this monthly report approval for the addition of the St. Landry Road extension to the 2011 overlay project list. Councilman Todd Lambert made a second to the motion. No objections. Motion passed to council for approval. President Martinez then requested an update on LA 73 for the next meeting, namely when is letting expected, as well as a concrete estimated costs for the sewer for that project. He would also like a report at the next meeting on the Joe Sevario Road exchange with the state as they near completion of the road improvements agreed upon for the exchange which should be taking place in the near future. We need to contact the state for the final inspection and finalize the road exchange agreed upon between the parish and the state. Chairman Lambert then asked for a status report on the Ascension Livingston Corridor. President Martinez stated that the parish needs to meeting with our state delegation to seek funding and then proceed with an environmental impact study. At that point a private company would take over. In the meantime the parish needs create the Ascension Livingston Parkway Authority and enter into a joint cooperative endeavor agreement with Livingston Parish for this 2 mile stretch toll road with no impact to residents. He explained that both entrance and exit would be on LA 42. This toll road is feasible and would pay for itself with any excess monies to be dedicated towards improvements to LA 42 project for Ascension Parish and for Livingston Parish excess monies could be dedicated to La. Hwy. 16 and La. Hwy. 447 improvements. President Martinez expressed his wishes for these terms to be made a part of and outlined in the cooperative endeavor agreement between the two parishes. He stated the parish should not be putting out any major monies on this joint project and that the toll road will be a choice for residents to use and take advantage or not use. It will be a choice for residents to use the toll road to save time and no one will mandate its’ usage. The traditional route will still be available for use by residents, they will have a choice. It would help alleviate and move much of the heavy work traffic in the mornings and afternoons from backing up at La. Hwy. 431 (occasionally up to Tureau’s Grocery), as well as traffic on La. 42. President Martinez will meet with Livingston Parish President Mike Grimmer to draft the details of the cooperative agreement for presentation at the Finance Committee meeting and then to the council for approval.

Parker Road at AP 929 Roundabout contract continuation – Ben presented this item to the committee to report a costs increase for this project. DPW budgeted $20,000 for 2011 for design fees and $65,000 for surveying for a total of $85,000 in professional services. The state (LTAP Grant) is providing $500,000 for construction costs but the latest proposal from Buchart Horn, Inc. for completion of design plans would require an additional $23,000 for design fees while construction costs have increased by $365,000 for a total increase in costs of approximately $380,000. Jacob Loeske from Buchart Horn then addressed the committee on the history and latest figures to move forward with this roundabout. He explained how the redesign was done to avoid impact to the pipeline crossings while lowering costs and working with DOTD to meet their requirements. Currently the 30 % design plans have been approved by DOTD and are in geometric review. We are waiting for comments to proceed with the final designs from DOTD should this project move forward. President Martinez asked if anyone has approached DOTD to request possible additional funding. Jacob informed the president that they have not asked for additional funding from DOTD. President Martinez suggested that we proceed with a resolution seeking additional funding after receiving more accurate costs and that he would be glad to speak to Mr. Richard Savoie on the matter. Jacob reported this project is expected to begin construction this upcoming summer anticipating road closures to coordinate with the summer school closure. Construction is expected to take 20 to 30 days. Ben informed President Martinez that $85,000 for professional services and $300,000 for right-of-way acquisition was put in the 2011 budget for this roundabout. Jacob gave President Martinez a rough estimate of $100,000 for right-of-way acquisition. Councilman Todd Lambert also noted that the parish would probably have to pay for maintenance of the lighting at that location which Jacob agreed and added would be done by resolution and was done on LA 431 improvements. He expressed his concerns about funding this project in the budget. President Martinez suggested coming back to the next meeting with a better estimate for this project as well as, LA 73 before making any decisions. Ben did inform the committee that in order to meet
the projected construction date for the roundabout a decision needs to be made in a timely fashion. Councilman Lambert suggested calling a special meeting if necessary to avoid any delays. President Martinez wonders if the $500,000 would carry over should that happen while encouraging the committee that we may be able to find the money. Chairman Lambert asked to not give up just yet and come back with some concrete numbers at the next meeting. Mr. Loeske stated that we can’t get a concrete number on right-of-way acquisition until a boundary survey is completed which he estimated at $30,000. Councilman Lambert made a motion to have the Parker Road Roundabout on next month’s transportation committee agenda and get it to finance if necessary. Councilman Pat Bell made a second to the motion. No objections.

“No Parking” signs on Billy Decoteau Road – Councilman Todd Lambert presented this request and required petition sent to DPW from residents on Billy Decoteau Road. Ronnie Fairchild confirmed receipt of the required petition according to DPW’s new policy and procedures for signage. Councilman Todd Lambert made a motion to approve the signage.
Councilman Bell made a second to the motion. No objections. Motion passed to council for approval.

Councilman Lambert made a motion to adjourn which was seconded by Councilman
Bell.

Meeting adjourned at 5:35.