Morgan City Daily Review
September 25, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
PROCEEDINGS OF A REGULAR MEETING
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
THE MORGAN CIT
Y HARBOR AND TERMINAL DISTRICT
August 17, 2026
The Board of Commissioners (“Board”) of the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District (“District”) met in regular session at the District’s office at 7327 Highway 182, Morgan City, Louisiana on August 17, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Ben Adams, President, convened the meeting with Commissioners, Steven Cornes, Matthew Glover, Troy Lombardo, Matthew Tycer, Michael Wise, and Marc Felterman in attendance. Deborah Garber and Adam Mayon were absent. Also present in the meeting were Raymond Wade, Executive Director; Simon Gottung, Deputy Director; Cindy Cutrera, Economic Development Manager; Michael Knobloch, Special Projects Manager; Tori Henry, Office Manager; Gerard Bourgeois, Board Attorneys; Timothy Connell and Victor Garcia, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”); MST1 Alberto Perez, United States Coast Guard (“USCG”); Robert Karam and Philip Chauvin, T. Baker Smith; Bill Blan-chard, GIS Engineering; St. Mary Parish Councilman Les Rulf; and members of the general public.
The meeting was called to order, and the presence of a quorum was noted. Raymond Wade led the invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
It was moved by Mr. Tycer and seconded by Mr. Cornes that the minutes of the regular meeting of July 20, 2026 be approved and adopted, with said motion carrying unanimously.
It was moved by Mr. Tycer that the report of receipts and disbursements for the month of July, 2026 be re- ceived and accepted and that all invoices presented to the Board for the month of July, 2026 be paid. Mr. Lombardo seconded that motion, which carried un- animously.
Alberto Perez reported that there were 2,541 total transits in July through the VTS zone, averaging 82 per day, which was a 19.1% increase from 2025.
Timothy Connell introduced Victor Garcia as part of their team. He also reported that: (i) Dredge Arulaq is currently in the shipyard for annual maintenance so the Dredge Newport will be heading down to the Bar Channel to keep it agitated and dredged out; (ii) a major change is tentatively coming in FY27 to dredging processes that will affect how the Corps manages contracts nationwide called the “Hopper Program” and in FY28 as the “Cutterhead Program”. It is un- known how it will affect the specialty-built Brice dredge but hopefully it can be insulated from it. The main focus is on consolidation and running it from the national level, which will offer better pricing.
Charles Brittingham reported: (i) he will do some digging on the new Corps programs Tim Connell mentioned; and (ii) the House and Senate have passed their respective CR to fund the government until December and does not believe there will be a government shutdown.
Michael Knobloch reported: (i) we have received approval from FP&C to proceed on the warehouse re-roofing project and hope to be able to begin in October after our current tenant vacates the property; (ii) we successfully submitted our FY26 Port Security Grant program application prior to the July 24th deadline; (iii) our forklift was delivered last week so we will submit our final reimbursement for the FY23 US Marine Highways grant; (iv) the MARAD agreement for FY25 US Marine Highways grant has been approved by MARAD so T. Baker Smith will provide bid specs for equipment procurement by October 1st; and (v) we will be requesting funding from FY 2026 US Marine Highways Program (USMHP) Grant Program, with application due on August 31st, which he requested ap- proval. It was moved by Mr. Lombardo and seconded by Mr. Tycer that the following resolution be submitted for $864,483.37 for equipment and be matched by $216,120.84 local funds, which resolution was unanimously adopted.
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLV-ED, that the Board of Commissioners of the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District does hereby authorize and support the submission of its proposed funding request entitled “Procuring Cargo Transloading Equipment – Phase 4C” to the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) “FY 2026 US Marine Highways Program” (USMHP) Grant Program. In addition, since the project totals $1,080,604.22 , the MCHTD requests $864,483.37 from the FY 2026 USMHP program and agrees to provide a local, non- federal match of $216,120.84.
Philip Chauvin reported the following on the West Dock Project: (i) Sealevel Construction was the low bidder at $30,626,038.25, only slightly above the engineer’s probable cost by $49,000. Mr. Glover moved to authorize Mr. Wade to execute FP&C’s Concurrence in Construction Contract Award based on T. Baker Smith’s recommendation and approve the FP&C and DOTD resolutions Certifying Compliance with Public Bid Laws and Awarding Project, which was seconded by Mr. Lombardo and carried unanimously; and (ii) he is in receipt of Sealevel Construction’s 10 day submittal documents.
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District has solicited bids for State Project No. H.014774 (332) in accordance with the current bid laws of the state of Louisiana, including, but not limited to R.S. 38:2211 et. seq; and
Whereas, the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District has submitted to DOTD Certification of proof of publication, one (1) copy of the bid proposals and bid bonds as submitted by each of the three (3) lowest bidders, a legible copy of the bid tabulation of all bids received, and certified to be correct by the En- gineer and an authorized official of the Sponsor, a copy of the engineer’s recommendation, contract documents, Notice of Award of Contract, and a copy of the recordation data in the Clerk of Court’s Office.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Morgan City Harbor and Termina District has re- ceived bids on August 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. on the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal’s West Side Dock Expansion project under the Louisiana Port Construction & Development Priority Program; and
WHEREAS, T. Baker Smith has recommended that award of contract be made to the lowest qualified bidder; Sealevel Construction, Inc.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RE- SOLVED by the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District, Regular session, assembled on this 17th day of August, 2026, acting pursuant to the recommendation of T. Baker Smith that the Base Bid in the Amount of $30,626,038.25 by Sealevel Construction, Inc. be accepted and a contract be awarded to them.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District (“District”) has received bids on August 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. for its West Side Dock Expansion, which is identified by Louisiana Facility Planning and Control under Project No. 36-P15-23-01; and
WHEREAS, T. Baker Smith, the District’s engineer on this project, has recommended the award of the contract for this project to the lowest qualified bidder: Sealevel Construction, Inc.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RE- SOLVED by the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District at a Regular Meeting, as- sembled on this 17th day of August, 2026, that the Base Bid in the Amount of $30,626,038.25 by Sealevel Construction, Inc. be accepted, a contract be awarded to Sealevel Construction, Inc. and the District provide all appropriate funding needed to award the base bid and any change orders for said West Side Dock Expansion project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Raymond M. Wade, Executive Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to do any and all acts and things on behalf and in the name of the District that he deems necessary, proper, or that may be required in regards for the award and execution of said contract and ap- proval of any or all alternates and any related change order.
Bill Blanchard reported the following on the Access Channel Dredging Project: (i) tomorrow will be a pre-bid meeting, with bids due on August 25th; and (ii) a gate code has been received for contractors to be able to view the right of entry.
Cindy Cutrera reported: (i) the Mississippi River Commission will hold their annual public low water meeting on August 21st at our dock and is currently working on our public testimony and public comment letter. She and Simon will be riding the boat down from Krotz Springs then will meet up with Mac and take some of the commissioners on an industry boat tour and hopefully return in time for the reception at Nico Bella. She reminded commissioners if they plan to attend the reception and are bringing a guest to please RSVP so that we can have the name tags ready; (ii) she, Mac and Simon attended GICA in New Orleans, which always provides an excellent way to communicate with the Corps, Coast Guard, DOTD and marine operators; (iii) she made a presentation at the BTNEP Quarterly Management meeting held in Morgan City about port operations, industrial activities around our area, channel maintenance and beneficial use. Mike Brocato of the Levee District also presented on flood control in St. Mary Parish; and (iv) she, along with Mac, Simon, Mike, Tori and Shelley attended USCG Day and thanked them for having us. Mac reminded the commissioners that we are hosting the monthly CPRA meeting here at the Port Wednesday and asked any available commissioners to please attend.
Simon Gottung reported: (i) lots of preparation has gone into preparing our facilities for not only the Low Water Tour but also for the CPRA meeting, including rebranding; (ii) we received the 55,000 lb forklift last week with attachments; (iii) we have agreed to provide Saronic support services during their sea trials for 2 more vessels this year, progressing to 14 in 2027 and 25 in 2028; and (iv) we provided a de mobilzation lift for Weeks Marine Captain Frank.
Gerard Bourgeois presented: (i) a lease agreement between the District and St. Mary Levee District with a term of five (5) years and an option of another five (5) years in the annul amount of $44,940. Mr. Tycer moved to authorize Mr. Adams to execute said lease, which was seconded by Mr. Lombardo and carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLV-ED by the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District (“District”), the governing authority of said District, that Ben A. Adams, President, be and is hereby authorized to sign a lease agreement in consideration of the sum of $44,940.00 per annum, with the St. Mary Levee District, for the lease of approximately 2,685 square feet of office space located at 7327 Hwy. 182 East, Morgan City, Louisiana together with parking and lobby access areas.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Ben A. Adams, President, be auth-orized and directed to do any and all act and things necessary, proper, or that may be required to carry out and accomplish the transactions contemplated with regards to said lease and/or supplemental agreement with the St. Mary Levee District.
(ii) Right of Entry from the Corps for open water dredging around Crew Boat Cut above Disposal Area I. Mr. Tycer moved to authorize Mr. Adams to execute said Right of Entry, which was seconded by Mr. Lombardo and carried unanimously; and (iii) presented proposed tariff rate changes due to recent market re- search by Mr. Gottung and Mr. Wade. Mr. Lombardo moved to ratify the Tariff as proposed, which was seconded by Mr. Wise and carried unanimously.
With there being no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Mr. Wise and seconded by Mr. Mayon that the meeting was adjourned.
Attest:
________________
Matthew K.
Glover, Secretary
Adv. Sept. 25, 2026