3-1 vote sends reduced $70,000 request to Water Sector for funding decision

BRUSLY — After heated debate over contractor accountability, the town council voted 3-1 last Monday night to approve a reduced $70,000 change order for the troubled sewer lagoon project—but only after successfully negotiating nearly $24,000 off the contractor's original demand.

The dramatic cost reduction from $93,706 to $70,000 came through aggressive negotiation that removed bush-hogging costs and contractor markups, with the parish agreeing to clear access roads at no charge to taxpayers.

"We Got It Down"

Mayor Scot Rhodes walked the council through the negotiation process that trimmed the change order by $23,706.

"The change order initially came in at $93,000, give or take a little bit," Rhodes explained. "We asked him and he accepted. If we got a lump sum of $70,000 on this change order, would he accept that? He agreed."

The savings came by eliminating a $16,500 bush-hogging line item after the parish agreed to clear the# Brusly Council Approves Reduced Sewer Project Change Order

Council negotiates nearly $24,000 reduction before 3-1 approval

BRUSLY — The town council voted 3-1 last Monday night to approve a $70,000 change order for the sewer lagoon project after successfully negotiating down the contractor's original $93,706 request by nearly $24,000.

The approval came with a critical condition: Water Sector must agree to fund 70% of the cost, leaving Brusly responsible for only $16,568.96 if the regional authority approves the request.

Negotiation Success

The council's committee meeting last week proved effective in reducing costs. The original change order was trimmed by removing a $16,500 bush-hogging line item after the parish agreed to clear the access road at no cost to the town.

"We asked him and he accepted. If we got a lump sum of $70,000 on this change order, would he accept that $70,000 lump sum? He agreed to accept that $70,000," Mayor Scot Rhodes explained to the council.

The change order stemmed from a bridge weight capacity issue that prevented heavy equipment from accessing the sewer lagoon work site, forcing the use of smaller trucks and alternative routes that significantly increased project costs.

Split Vote Reflects Ongoing Concerns

Council members Chris Kershaw, Blake Tassin, and Sheri Young voted in favor, while Rusty Daigle cast the lone dissenting vote, maintaining his position that the contractor breached contract terms.

"I'm still in the opinion that there was a breach of contract," Daigle said during the meeting. "He had a time period from what I understand... he had a threshold that he needed to meet to change order. He failed to do so."

Daigle also criticized contractor Spinks Construction's absence from both Monday's meeting and the previous week's committee session, saying "Spinks' absence tonight speaks volumes to me."

Practical vs. Principled Debate

Mayor Rhodes acknowledged the validity of concerns about contractor accountability while arguing for a practical approach to complete the $3.6 million project.

"Do I want to spend that money? No. But you're asking me, would you spend $16,500 to finish a $3.6 million project versus hiring an attorney to sue him?" Rhodes said. "I'm not sure we even get to court before December of 2026."

The December 2026 deadline is critical—if the project isn't completed by then, the town could be forced to repay millions in federal infrastructure grants.

Water Sector Decision Pending

The approval is contingent on Water Sector Commission agreeing to fund their 70% share. Mayor Rhodes and engineer Toby Fruge plan to present the request to Water Sector, which has indicated some federal funding remains available that must be spent by the December 2026 deadline.

"Early on, they were tight on the change order," Rhodes noted about Water Sector's previous stance. "But now they're realizing if we don't spend it, we're going to lose it."

Project Near Completion

The change order covers the final major component—a polishing reactor that officials say will complete the sewer system upgrades and provide 20 years of reliable service without major maintenance needs.

Council members approved contractor payments of $76,877 for already completed work on aerators and system improvements, with only the polishing reactor remaining to finish the multi-million dollar project.

The council is expected to learn Water Sector's decision within the coming weeks, as the regional authority typically meets monthly and must provide decisions within 45 days of formal requests.