LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / March 4, 2000

LAPLACE – Members of the South Louisiana Port Commission are taking a closer look at construction spending in the port’s Globalplex facility at Reserve.

The result is a more thorough search for more bidders on several projects.

Bruce Carmichael of River Consulting advised the port commission Tuesday of a $64,648 opinion of probable cost for a waterline routing change order at Globalplex.

St. Charles Parish commissioner Jay Roberts pushed through delayingapproval of the contract, saying it is his opinion that of the three bidders none had experience in laying water lines.

“I’ll get you three more bidders by Friday,” he said. “This is ridiculous.”Roberts also pushed through granting authority to Executive Director Joseph Accardo to sign a contract with the low bidder, using his own discretion.

“At the rate you’re going, Jay, you should’ve been here three years ago,” St.

John Parish commissioner E.J. Martin commented.Roberts again wielded his red pencil on design of the Globalplex entrance road and submittal of a Community Development Block Grant application.

Carmichael said a $300,000 grant is available.

Roberts asked why the contract wasn’t offered to area engineers and asked for proposals. This, though, was approved for River Consulting.The water line matter came up again during discussion of the Globalplex drainage master plan by River Consulting when Roberts asked why moving the line wasn’t in the original plans when it was known all along.

“I don’t feel you’ve answered the question as to why the water line move was not included on the original work,” St. Charles Parish commissioner JoeyMurray said.

“I’m here to watch the wasteful spending,” Roberts declared.

Carmichael said the change order for the water line move was known but it was scheduled to be added, as needed. He added that change orders on thatcontract have totaled less than 1 percent of the total contract. The changewas approved.

Another Globalplex change order came under scrutiny, this on re-alignment of the gantry rail lines on the dock extension to match those on the original dock. A total of 190 feet of track was added to the original line.Murray asked why that project was not in the original dock extension plans.

Carmichael said it was a timing issue. Roberts said he would support it – “butI don’t like it.”The commission also approved asking for sealed bids to install underground power lines to replace four utility poles at Globalplex. These will be openedMonday at a special 10 a.m. meeting.In other matters at special Tuesday’s meeting: Lawrence P. Jackson of Gramercy, a DuPont retiree, took his seat asnewly-appointed St. James Parish port commissioner. He replaces J. CartDavis.

Accardo’s report to the commission noted progress in moving Harbor Services to its new location downriver from the Reserve ferry landing. A six-month lease has been signed and temporary permits acquired, and permanent permits from the U.S. Coast Guard have been applied for. Thebarge has already been moved to clear the Globalplex dock extension area, which made the move necessary.

Commissioners learned that on March 14 four stevedoring companies will make their proposals for providing cargo handling services at the general cargo dock.

Accardo said he would hire an attorney to take over the wastewater treatment pond litigation.

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