44 new lots approved, federal pipeline grant moves forward, and insurance costs climb 14%

PORT ALLEN — The City Council worked through a packed 23-item agenda on February 11, approving new subdivision development, advancing a federal gas line grant, and redirecting funds from an over-budget levee bathroom project to the city's Welcome Center.

All action items passed unanimously.

Westview Crossing Adds 44 Lots

Engineer Jim Tatum of Tatum Engineering Consultants presented the second filing of Phase 1 for the Westview Crossing subdivision — 44 lots extending Westview Crossing Street with approximately 22 lots on either side.

Tatum said the front third of the overall development is finished, two-thirds is built, and the remaining third is under construction. The project required no waivers, variances, or deviations from the city's ordinance.

"We're not asking for any waivers or variances or deviations from the ordinance. We're fully consistent with what our preliminary plat represented," Tatum said.

The council also approved a minor revision to the preliminary plan involving lot renumbering to maintain consistent sequencing as the development advances.

Tatum indicated the next council appearance will be for final approval on the third filing — 82 lots.

Federal Gas Line Grant Moves Forward

The council authorized Mayor Pattan, Finance Director Adrian Daigle, and Chief Administrative Officer Phillip Mason as the city's representatives for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety Grant.

The grant, applied for in 2023 under the former administration, covers the replacement of 3,000 feet of gas line on Court Street. Daigle said the application was approved and the city has been awarded the funds, but federal paperwork needed to be updated since the original submission carried former Mayor Lee and former CAO Lance Joseph's names.

Daigle explained the three-person authorization as a proactive measure. "I'm trying to be, or we're trying to be proactive that if there is an absence, we can continue and not have to start back all over again," he said, noting the bank account changeover from the previous administration took nearly a year.

The council also approved publishing a Request for Qualifications — not a Request for Proposals, as the agenda incorrectly stated — for engineering services on the project. Daigle explained the distinction: an RFQ scores firms on qualifications using a rubric, followed by negotiations with the top-scoring firm, while an RFP solicits bids on a defined scope.

Daigle said the city's current engineer could not assist in drafting the RFQ because they may want to bid on the project, creating a conflict of interest. Tommy Lejeune of Faulk & Winkler assisted instead, having completed similar work for the City of Donaldsonville on the same type of grant.

Levee Bathrooms Over Budget — Funds Redirected

The council approved tabling the construction of restrooms on the levee and diverting those funds to update the Welcome Center on LA-1.

Rose Roche, presenting for Community Development, said bids for the levee bathrooms came in approximately $100,000 over budget. The original project had faced repeated delays — first from controversy, then from levee heights preventing construction, and finally from material cost increases by the time work could have started.

The Welcome Center funds will be combined with money already appropriated for the facility.

Brownfield Grant for Special Needs Park

The council authorized engaging a company to work with the city on obtaining a Brownfield grant for a proposed special needs park. The property has been verbally donated but the city is not accepting it until environmental conditions are evaluated.

"We don't want to physically take it until we know that we are capable of having a safe park for our kids in the community," Roche said. The site needs evaluation for potential underground tanks before any equipment can be installed.

Insurance Costs Rise 14%

The council approved renewing the city's employee health insurance with Gallagher Insurance Company. The plan initially faced a 23% increase due to high claims, but the nonstop card benefit brought the actual increase down to approximately 14% — roughly $9 to $10 more per employee.

Tamika Derson told the council that Gallagher obtained quotes from competing companies, but none could match the existing plan's benefits, particularly the nonstop card that employees specifically asked to keep.

Facilities Automation — Access Card Discussion

The council approved a revised contract with Facilities Automation at an $815 increase, driven by higher costs from their software provider, Honeywell.

Mayor Pattan used the discussion to flag a future budget item: transitioning City Hall to a building-wide swipe card entry system rather than traditional keys. She noted that departed employees under the previous administration left without returning keys or access cards.

The discussion revealed that council members have never been issued access cards to the building. Councilwoman Gordon noted that council members have had to wait for someone to let them in when meeting with constituents — a situation Pattan said she was unaware of and would address.

Financial Report — Strong but Front-Loaded

Daigle presented the monthly financial report showing revenues collected above projections through January. He cautioned the numbers are misleading because December and January are when the city collects nearly all property tax revenue.

"We may have a cushion right now, we may not have a cushion in June," Daigle warned.

Still outstanding: occupational licenses due February 28, and insurance premium taxes from all companies selling policies within city limits, due May 1 — which explains why that revenue line sits at just 24%.

Curator Appointed for Blighted Properties

The council authorized Mayor Pattan to appoint a curator to represent the owners of blighted properties at 451 Harry Brown Street and 1205 Avenue C. The appointment, made under Ordinance Section 34-29, allows condemnation proceedings to move forward when property owners cannot be located.

The City Attorney  explained the process: informal courtesy notices are sent first, followed by formal legal notices if there's no response. If owners still can't be found, a curator is appointed to represent the property at condemnation hearings.

For the Harry Brown property, the city said outreach efforts date back to the previous administration with no response. A neighbor confirmed the owner is believed to be living with a niece in Baton Rouge.

Traffic Congestion at LA-1 and Walmart

A citizen raised concerns about evening traffic congestion near Performance Contractors and the Walmart intersection on LA-1, where a sheriff's deputy directing traffic for the construction project is creating backups due to poor coordination with the existing traffic signal.

Mayor Pattan said she has a pending call with DOTD about possibly installing a traffic signal at the racetrack and Waffle House area, where accidents have been a concern. She noted a similar red light was installed near Benedetto's — but only after a fatal accident.

"Unfortunately, that seems to be the case," Pattan acknowledged when the citizen asked whether someone had to be killed before action was taken.

Upcoming Events

• Neighborhood Watch meeting: February 24, 6 p.m., City Hall third floor (pushed one week for Mardi Gras). District Attorney Tony Clayton will be the guest speaker.
• Town Hall meeting: February 25, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
• Prayer Breakfast: February 28, Cohn Elementary
• City cleanup day: April 18 (river-focused locations)
• Keep WBR Beautiful garbage cans: Being donated to the city; a local muralist who painted the Kingdom Life mural will add the city logo before placement around town.

For more Port Allen city government coverage, visit wbrindependent.com