The Jefferson Parish Council on Wednesday: Grass cutting: Gave H&O Investments a three-year contract capped at $2.5 million to cut the grass on parish medians and thoroughfares. H&O was the second-lowest bidder, but the council chose it after the lowest bidder, Task Force, withdrew its offer for a cap of $1.5 million. Public Works Director Kazem Alikhani said Task...
The Jefferson Parish Council on Wednesday:
Grass cutting: Gave H&O Investments a three-year contract capped at $2.5 million to cut the grass on parish medians and thoroughfares. H&O was the second-lowest bidder, but the council chose it after the lowest bidder, Task Force, withdrew its offer for a cap of $1.5 million. Public Works Director Kazem Alikhani said Task Force quit the process because of a fear it hadn't calculated a proper price for the work. Parish President John Young said the new contract will save the parish $1.5 million over three years, compared to the preceding two-year contract with Ramelli Janitorial Services. The deal also marked the administration's switch to a bid process from a request for proposals, which lets the Parish Council select any qualified offer regardless of cost.
Sewer fix: Chose low bidder BLD Services to restore and repair sewer mains for the next two years at a cost capped at $5 million.
St. Peter's Ditch: Approved the state Department of Transportation and Development's selection of low bidder B&K Construction to improve drainage at St. Peter's Ditch in Elmwood. B&K offered to do the work for $4.5 million.
Right turn: Picked low bidder Fleming Construction Co. to add a northbound right turn lane on Manhattan Boulevard between Gretna Boulevard and West Bank Expressway in Harvey. Fleming quoted less than $3.5 million.
Hard streets: Picked low bidder Hard Rock Construction to improve drainage and fix sections of Bellemeade and Brookmeade drives. Hard Rock offered to do the work for more than $2.6 million.
Inflow sewerage: Added $1.4 million and another year to an $8.4 million contract with Hartman Engineering to plan, engineer and design work for the Sewerage Department. Hartman has had that contract since 1995. It has undergone 14 previous change orders, ballooning its original cost from $388,000 to $8.8 million.
Public cleaning: Named low bidder Empire Janitorial Sales & Services to clean various parish buildings for the next two years at a cost capped at $1.2 million.
Library clean-up: Selected OJS Systems Inc. to provide janitorial work to parish libraries for two years at a cost capped at $640,000.
Asphalt supply: Contracted with low bidder Barriere Construction Co. to supply asphalt products to the Streets Department for the next year at a price capped at $600,000.
Wastewater work: Awarded low bidder Gottfried Contracting a $338,000 contract to improve the Harvey Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Gym repair: Selected low bidder K-Belle Consultants to complete $336,000 in renovations to the Jesse Owens Playground gymnasium in River Ridge.
Enterprises: Entered Craig Borges' New Orleans Seafood, RJQ Management and GMRI Inc. into the Louisiana Enterprise Zone Program. Those businesses may qualify for a full refund on sale taxes for construction materials. In return, they must prove that 35 percent of their new workforces was previously unemployable or receiving some form of public assistance.
Citizens' assistant: Created the assistant director of citizens' affairs position, a civil service job with an annual salary of $42,787 to $60,206.
Emergent manager: Approved the administration's hiring of David Dysart as emergency management director.
Internal auditor: Approved the hiring of Thomas Fikes as internal auditor.
Hospital sale: Gave permission to East Jefferson General Hospital to sell a parcel of land appraised to be worth $830,000.