East Ascension Drainage District No. 1 approves bridge replacement, drainage improvements, contract extension and $168,550 gas-line contract

The East Ascension Drainage District No. 1 board on Feb. 10, 2026 approved a slate of infrastructure and drainage actions, including a bridge replacement at 40259 Highway 621, surveying and channel improvements downstream of Villa Galvez, an extension of a drainage-contract term with T. Baker Smith LLC and a $168,550 contract with RLJ Construction LLC for a Bonifay gas-line replacement project.

Why it matters: The approvals authorize physical work intended to address failed crossings, undersized drainage structures and rights-of-way issues that affect local drainage infrastructure and property access. The actions include changes to servitude and access arrangements and contract-term administration that affect project schedules and delivery.

The board accepted the Jan. 13, 2026 East Ascension drainage meeting minutes by motion from Commissioner Cully and a second from Commissioner Alonzo; the chair called for objections and, hearing none, the minutes were approved.

On agenda item 6a, the board approved work to remove a failed bridge crossing serving the property at 40259 Highway 621 and to replace it with box culverts and related materials in exchange for drainage servitude and bridge access. The motion was made by Commissioner Hillingsbeck and seconded by Commissioner Cullen; no objections were recorded during the vote.

Agenda item 6b authorized surveying services, servitude work, replacement of undersized structures and channel improvements in accordance with the recommended engineering design specifications for the sides of the bayou downstream of Villa Galvez. The transcript records an initial motion associated with Commissioner Alonzo and then a subsequent motion by Jen, seconded by Commissioner Cullen; the chair reported no objections and the board approved proceeding.

Under agenda item 6c, the board approved an amendment with T. Baker Smith LLC for the Lower Bayou Conway Drainage Improvements Project to extend the contract term through Feb. 18, 2027. The amendment explicitly extends only the contract term and does not change the contract price. The motion was offered by Commissioner Hillingsbeck, seconded by Commissioner Arsenault, and carried without recorded objection.

Agenda item 6d approved a contract between Ascension Parish Government and RLJ Construction LLC for $168,550 to install approximately 1,700 feet of 2-inch HDPE gas line as part of the Bonifay gas line replacement project. Commissioner Hillingsbeck moved the contract approval, Commissioner Cullen seconded, and the board recorded no objections.

The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn by Commissioner Cullen, seconded by Commissioner Alonzo.

Actions recorded in the meeting packet list motions and seconders as described above; the transcript records no roll-call vote tallies or individual yes/no votes, only that the chair asked for objections and none were voiced. Where counts or individual roll-call votes were not provided in the transcript, the article reports that such details are not specified.