By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Plans for St. John the Baptist Parish’s 2015 Road Improvement Program — a project targeted at removing and replacing damaged concrete sidewalks, driveways and street sections in the parish — are underway.

Parish Director of Purchasing and Procurement Kia Price was granted permission Tuesday by the St. John the Baptist Parish Finance Committee to open bids for the 2015 project. Parish Public Information Officer Baileigh Rebowe said in addition to annual concrete replacement, over $1 million will be allocated to the 2015 Road Improvement Program.

“Parish administrators are currently assessing all parish roads and taking input from Council members to derive a list based on road condition, need and funding,” Rebowe said.

The Committee also awarded a 2015 annual contract for liquid chlorine cylinders and sulfur dioxide to DPC Enterprises L.P. of Reserve, the only bidder in the process.

Parish President Natalie Robottom said finalizing annual contracts prior to the end of the year is important for continuity of services, adding “having contracts in place for routine purchases improves efficiencies and saves money.”

The Committee authorized to award the Airport Road wastewater collection, pump station and force main system to Durr Heavy Construction Inc.

Durr, of Hammond, was the low bidder in the process and will be awarded just under $450,000 — contingent upon sufficient grant funding approval — to complete the construction project of a new conventional gravity wastewater collection system, submersible pump station and force main on Airport Road in Reserve.

Rebowe said the project is aimed at improving wastewater collection, and will be funded through a Delta Regional Authority Grant and the parish-wide sewer construction fund.

The Committee also authorized a five-year contract, totaling $339,000, for the parish’s backflow prevention program to Backflow Prevention Services LLC of Baton Rouge.

The company is the current service provider for the parish, and has worked with the parish since 2004.

According to the parish’s website, St. John Parish first developed a Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program in accordance with mandates established by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

Parish officials said the program benefits the parish’s water customers, and is implemented to protect the public water supply from accidental contamination. Rebowe said the program in no way impacts water bills.

Parish Engineer C.J. Savoie said the Backflow Prevention Services contract serves as an insurance policy, in that the company would be liable for any backflow-related contamination.