By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — Action was postponed on the change of solid waste contractors for St. John the Baptist Parish to allow council members to study the bids and out of respect for Councilman Lester Rainey Jr.

Rainey was absent from the meeting, as his stepson, Damien Morris, died in a traffic accident Monday in Edgard.

Councilman Steve Lee made the motion for the special meeting, as the council had only received Parish President Nickie Monica’s recommendation that evening, and wanted more time to consider it.

Lee added that Rainey had wanted to participate in that important vote, but due to his stepson’s death, he was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

A special meeting is set July 6 at 5 p.m. to discuss and vote on the contract.

Four proposals had been submitted, and SWDI won Monica’s recommendation for a five-year contract.

Monica said the rate would be $11.08 per unit per month for twice-weekly semi-automated pickup services, including holidays, and makeup for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.

&#8220The contractors, Coastal Waste Service and SWDI, really came through with some good numbers and services,” said Councilman Steve Lee after the meeting. &#8220The numbers are amazing.”

Other services would include curbside trash pickup,

white goods pickup, roll-off dumpsters (two 20-cubic yards dumpsters removed daily at $150 per haul), providing garbage cans for community functions and 10 30-cubic yard dumpsters placed at designated areas throughout the parish.

SWDI has been 28 years in the solid waste business and is the largest independently-owned solid waste contractor in Louisiana. It is also ranked the 69th largest company in the country by Waste Age Magazine in 2005, and aims to move up to 50th in the magazine’s 2006 edition.

SWDI has 225 employees, with nine from St. John Parish – that number to increase. The company serves 88,000 residents twice weekly, including Lafourche Parish since 1997, Terrebonne Parish since 1998, Donaldsonville since earlier this year, Thibodaux and Grand Isle. As of Sept. 1, the company will serve Pointe Coupee, Iberville, New Roads and Port Allen.

The proposals from four contractors were accepted June 13.