LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / June 24, 2000

LAPLACE – Three major projects for the Port of South Louisiana took a step forward with proposals heard by the port commission during a special meeting Tuesday.

Nine engineering firms offered proposals on the demolition of the remaining Godchaux-Henderson Sugar Refinery buildings. Of those, threewere picked to make presentations to the commission – Conestago Rovers, URS Grenier and Burk-Klienpeter.

Executive Director Joseph Accardo, after staff review, recommended Conestago Rovers because of its experience in demolition work, including that of a sugar mill in Florida and cleanup of a Baton Rouge chemical plant site.

St. James Commissioner Lawrence Jackson moved to accept Accardo’srecommendation, and it was approved in a 6-1 vote, with St. CharlesCommissioner Joey Murray voting against it.

Fifteen firms offered proposals on the Globalplex master drainage plan development. Of these, three made presentations to the commission – URSGrenier, Wink Inc. and Gulf South Associates.Accardo recommended Gulf South Engineers for the job. However, Murrayproposed U.S. Grenier instead, seconded by St. Charles Commissioner JayRoberts.

The vote on Murray’s motion failed on a 3-4 vote, with only St. JohnCommissioner Bill Hubbard joining on the defeated side. The vote to acceptGulf South, moved by St. James Commissioner Gregory Gravois andseconded by Commissioner-at-Large E.J. Martin, was approved in an 4-2-1vote, with Hubbard and Murray voting against and Roberts abstaining.

Finally, 13 architectural firms made proposals on a space needs survey toward a new port headquarters office. Of these, four were chosen to makepresentations to the commission – Holly & Smith, Sizeler Architects, N-Y Associates and Meyer Engineers.

Accardo recommended Sizeler for the job, and it was approved unanimously.

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