By LEONARD GRAY

LAPLACE – First quarter tonnage reports from the Port of South Louisiana indicated a a 12 percent increase in export tonnage but a 12 percent decrease in import tonnage.

Executive Director Joseph Accardo Jr. reported to the port commission at a recent meeting that out of the top four commodities handled, two showed a decrease (petrochemicals and crude oil), and two showed an increase (maize and soybeans).

Overall handling of exports increased by 12 percent, with maize up by 2.1 million tons and soybean up by 1.3 million tons. However, animal feed and wheat exports decreased by 16 and 18 percent, respectively.

Overall, imports decreased by 12 percent, with crude oil down by 280,000 tons, chemicals/fertilizers down by 1.5 million tons, steel products by 128,000 tons and petrochemicals by 18,000 tons.

Elsewhere in his report, Accardo said the demolition of the Godchaux-Henderson sugar refinery buildings is progressing, with the Community Club building gone and the boiler house 50 percent gone.

Accardo also said the Port has received a $250,000 federal grant toward the internal road project at Globalplex and talks are continuing to progress toward construction of the intersection for Reserve and connecting road to Globalplex.

The Port’s Guest House, adjoining Globalplex, will soon get a new roof. Six contractors received bid packets, three of those had historical house restoration experience.

However, only two submitted bids (Hi-Tech Services and Continental Roofing) and Hi-Tech had the low bid.

The project, though, was placed on hold, as the difference in price between the two bidders struck the commissioners as unusual, and the fact that the bids were not opened by the commission as well.

The bids will be readvertise to solicit new bids.

Roofing repairs at the Guest House will include completely removing three layers of roof and using a synthetic slate, one-third the cost of real slate.

In another project related to the Godchaux-Henderson demolition is the removal of thousands of feet of underground pipe.

A contract for the removal of 900 feet of pipe was affected when the contractor removed 8,000 feet, and then asked for a $66,000 change order.

“Everywhere they dug were additional underground pipes,” Accardo said.

The Port commission agreed to pay $44,573.50 to settle the matter.

The commissioners also approved a cooperative endeavor agreement among the Mississippi River deepwater ports, the agreement worked out with the La. Department of Economic Development, Metrovision and the University of New Orleans. “It’s good business for us to do this,” Accardo said.