Parish council members with industry experience push back on lime pricing they call "crazy excessive"

PORT ALLEN, La. — The West Baton Rouge Parish Council tabled a $133,300 change order for the new Erwinville Fire and Sheriff's Substation on Thursday after council members questioned whether a subcontractor's lime pricing was three to five times above market rate.

The change order, submitted by general contractor J.W. Grand LLC, covers lime stabilization needed after the site failed multiple proof rolls during wet winter conditions. Architect Matt Daigrepont of Fusion Architects told the council the soil treatment is common in the river parishes, noting that more than 65 percent of the Brusly High School site required similar work.

But the price tag drew immediate scrutiny.

Subcontractor Rad-Ton LLC, a Port Allen-based civil and utility construction firm, quoted 105 tons of lime at $51,660 for materials alone — roughly $492 per ton. Combined with $48,400 in labor and equipment, plus overhead, profit, and bond premiums layered through both the subcontractor and general contractor, the total reached $133,300.

Council member Brady Hotard challenged the figure. Hotard told the architect he receives fly ash deliveries to Dow Chemical at $100 per ton and called $500 per ton for lime excessive.

"I don't know if there's anything in the aggregate space that costs $500 a ton," Hotard said. He pressed Daigrepont for a breakdown of raw material costs versus delivery logistics and requested competitive pricing.

"It just sounds like we're getting screwed," council member Kirk Allain said.

Daigrepont acknowledged the concern and agreed to obtain competitive quotes. "I can have prices from a few different people by next week, mid next week," he said.

The council weighed the savings against the risk of delay. The substation project has not yet received a formal notice to proceed, and the general contractor has been pre-ordering materials particularly steel to stay ahead of rising prices. Council members acknowledged that a two-week delay to the February 26 meeting could expose the project to material cost increases but concluded the potential savings justified the pause.

The item was tabled unanimously.

The substation, located at the corner of U.S. 190 and Rougon Road near Erwinville, is designed to house both fire department and sheriff's office personnel to improve emergency response times in the northern part of the parish. The project has taken on added urgency following two deadly house fires in the Erwinville area since December 2025.

Parish Addresses ICE Detention Rumors

Parish President Jason Manola read a prepared statement addressing a Washington Post report that identified Port Allen as a potential site for an ICE processing facility on Commercial Drive.

Manola said the parish has received no formal proposal, request, or notification from any federal agency. He told the council he contacted the governor's office for ICE contacts, eventually reaching an official in New Orleans who confirmed no property has been purchased in West Baton Rouge Parish or anywhere in Louisiana for such a facility.

Manola also outlined concerns he raised with the federal official about the Commercial Drive location, citing heavy truck traffic, proximity to the Convention and Visitors Bureau and multiple hotels, an existing residential development, and the adjacent Waste Pro facility.

Parish Introduces New Public Information Officer

Manola introduced Madison Cassiopo as the parish's new public information officer. Cassiopo, who started Monday, previously worked at WBRZ as a producer, photographer, and reporter. She told the council she plans to expand the parish's social media presence through employee highlights, video content, and improved public outreach.

Solar Farm Ordinance Approved

The council unanimously approved a comprehensive solar energy ordinance that had been in development since its introduction on January 8. The ordinance creates a new SO (Solar Power Plant) zoning district with detailed requirements covering setbacks, vegetative buffers, decommissioning plans, noise limits, aviation glare assessments, road maintenance guarantees, and environmental protections.

An amendment was added on the floor to update Appendix A of the zoning code, removing solar panel farms from the special use category in agricultural zones and establishing them as a permitted use exclusively in the new SO district.

Council members discussed whether a special use permit process would have provided an additional safety net for unforeseen issues but concluded the ordinance was detailed enough to stand on its own. A moratorium on solar projects remains in place until the council formally lifts it, which is expected at the March 1 meeting.

Plant Nursery Gets Green Light

Grand Bayou Nursery LLC received unanimous approval for a special use permit to operate a plant nursery at 9268 Highway 190 West in an I-1 industrial zone. The 2.22-acre property, owned by West Baton Rouge Diesel & Auto Repair LLC, already has wooden fencing in place. Council members briefly discussed whether additional screening was necessary but determined it was not appropriate for the location or use.

Council Certifies November Election Results

The council formally canvassed and certified results from the November 15, 2025 election. The drainage tax renewal passed with 4,018 votes in favor and 1,012 against — an 80-20 split. The library tax renewal passed 3,863 to 1,159, a 77-23 margin. Both millages authorize 10-year collection periods running through 2035.

Manola noted a third item on the November ballot — a school board tax — was not addressed because it falls outside the parish council's authority.

The estimated cost of the election was $22,584, split equally between the two propositions.

Infrastructure Updates

Intercoastal Bridge: Director of Public Works Brandon Bourgoyne reported that pile driving on the intercoastal bridge replacement is nearly halfway complete on the south side. A large crane is expected to remove the middle span of the existing bridge by the end of March. The main deck is projected to become visible in the fourth quarter of the year.

Highway 415: The design team for the 415 project is preparing a public outreach exhibit. Coordination is underway between the treatment plant and the highway project to ensure force mains and other infrastructure align.

Sewer Rate Study: Manola said the parish is proposing to restrict a portion of the general fund to cover a critical infrastructure reserve required under the new consolidated sewer treatment plant grant, rather than building that cost into consumer rates. The Water Sector Commission is reviewing the proposal. A final decision is expected within two weeks.

CRPC/DOTD Projects: The council approved a resolution committing to a 20 percent local match for Capital Region Planning Commission projects, covering the Rosedale Road/LA 415 intersection improvements and the Emily Drive turn lane extension. Engineering costs for the intersection project are 100 percent parish-funded and already budgeted.

Mental Health Training Resolution Heads to State

Councilman Atlee Walker sponsored a resolution supporting expansion of Mental Health First Aid training programs statewide. Walker thanked the parish president, sheriff's department, and fire department for sending staff to recent training sessions funded in last year's budget.

The resolution will be submitted to the Police Jury Association of Louisiana at its March meeting, with copies forwarded to the Louisiana Municipal Association and the parish's state legislative delegation.

Coming Thursday: Public Hearings and the Return of the Change Order

The council's next meeting is Thursday, February 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the governmental building on North Alexander Avenue in Port Allen.

The agenda includes public hearings on the 11.3-mill tax renewal ordinance, the 2025 year-end budget adjustments, and the $240,000 purchase of a 2.5-acre tract in the West Bank Commercial Park from New Orleans Bail Bonds LLC — property adjacent to existing Law Enforcement District land.

The tabled Erwinville substation change order returns under old business, this time with three competitive quotes in the packet.

The parish also experienced severe winter weather in recent weeks. The council is expected to address related matters as they develop.

The West Baton Rouge Parish Council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

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