Commissioners defer contract decision for Mercury Public Affairs after questions about scope, registration and performance

Commissioner Champagne offered a resolution authorizing the chairman to execute a contract with Mercury Public Affairs for federal and state governmental relations services, including matters before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The contract would also require oral and written updates to the port.

"It's my understanding that we're going from 10,000 15,000 a month to 17,000 a month," Commissioner Jurich said, questioning why the monthly fee had increased and whether Mercury had produced measurable deliverables in prior years.

Public commenter and some commissioners raised concerns that the individual handling the account had not been registered for state lobbying when some of the work was performed. Mr. Schultz provided a contract history, saying the original federal-only contract found from 2021 showed $4,500 a month and that the port later increased fees to include state work.

Patrice Bell, the port’s chief administrative officer, said she believed the port could wait until a new executive director was in place and that the letters of support from state and federal legislators already existed for some pending grants. Ms. Bell told commissioners that, in her professional opinion, the port could defer hiring for now.

Commissioners asked staff for documentation of Mercury’s performance and registration records. After discussion, the board deferred the matter until the new executive director could participate and staff could produce the requested supporting documents.

Why it matters: the contract carries recurring monthly costs and, commissioners said, should be evaluated for return on investment and proper registration before committing additional parish funds.

Next steps: staff was asked to gather performance documentation and registration records and to return the item after director selection.