Gonzales Weekly Citizen
July 30, 2026
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE COUNCIL
OF THE PARISH OF ASCENSION
GONZALES, LOUISIANA
JULY 16, 2026
The Council of the Parish of Ascension, Louisiana, met in regular session on Thursday July 16, 20266:00 pm, 607 E Worthey Rd, Gonzales with Chairman Chase Melancon presiding.
The opening prayer and the pledge was offered by Councilman Oliver Joseph.
The following Council members were present:
Oliver Joseph Travis Turner Brett ArceneauxChase Melancon Pam Alonso Brian HillensbeckBlaine Petite Dennis Cullen Jenn DeFrances
Councilman Joel Robert and Councilman Todd Varnado.
Parish President Clint Cointment was present.
Chairman Melancon announced the public comment sign-in.
Parish President Cointment reported gave an update on the Donaldsonville Courthouse repairs. He said they were awaiting a written letter to limit the capacity upstairs. He also reminded everyone of the YouthFest on July 25th on the East Bank and on August 1st on the West Bank.
The Parish President read the Proclamation to recognize Mr. Shelby Ballard for his service as President of the Ascension Parish Veterans Park Committee. Mr. Ballard was present was present to receive the Proclamation. The Parish President also presented Mr. Ballard with a key to the Parish. Mr. Ballard, in turn, recognized the Veterans Park Committee members were present in the audience to include Tonya Whitney, Jared Nolen, Brent Gautreau, Jim Heintz, Michele Unitas, and Joey Cernich. He also thanked Ms. Megan Babin.
HR Director Megan Babin presented plaques for Ascension Parish Government Retirees. She said that although they were not all present, 7 retirees totaled over 162 years of service combined. The retirees honored were Scott Booty, 15 years of employment, Ronald Stevension, 35 years of employment, and Tommie Vessel, 14 years of service. Retirees who were not in attendance were Blake Bourque, 24 years of employment, Liz Breaux, 20 years of employment and Greg Berthelot with 41 years of employment.
Chairman Melancon asked the Council if anyone wished to remove any item from Consent Agenda for further discussion. With no items removed, the Consent Agenda was approved as follows on a motion by Councilman Dennis Cullen:
a.Adoption of June 4, 2026 Regular Council Meeting Minutes
b.Adoption of June 18, 2026 Regular Council Meeting Minutes
c.Approval of Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between Ascension Parish Government and Twenty-Third Judicial District Court for the Family in Need of Services (FINS) Program
d.Approval of Renewal of Participation Agreement with St. Bernard Parish Sheriff for housing of six (6) male juveniles. Cost to provider shall be per the fee schedule
e.Approval of Resolution to allow Capital Area Finance Authority (CAFA) to offer their bond programs in addition to their current grant programs to citizens looking to purchase homes in Ascension Parish
f.Approval to accept the FY 2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) in the amount of $63,960.22 and to authorize Parish President Clint Cointment to sign and execute all documents pertaining to this application and/or Dawn Caballero, CFO for financial documents
g.Approval of Renewal of Legal Services Contract with Butler Snow, LLP to represent the Parish in Legal Services, in connection with proposed creation of Infrastructure Development Districts and/or Economic Development Districts. The compensation to the provider shall not exceed $70,000.00
h.Approval of the Contract Renewal with Westwood Professional Services, Inc., for Engineering Review Agency Services. This renewal is effective July 7, 2026, and shall have a term of one (1) year, in the amount of $564,500.00
i.Approval of Change Order No. 10 (DOTD Change Order No. 11) - Richard Price Contracting Co., LLC, for the Churchpoint Road and Roddy Road Roundabout Project in the Move Ascension Program, Project H.006459, to provide for reconciliation of final quantities for the associated cost of asphalt adjustment. This change order will increase the contract amount by $206.36, for a new total contract amount of $2,001,449.79
j.Approval of Amendment No. 3 for the Move Ascension contracts with the following firms: All South Consulting Engineers, LLC, Buchart Horn, Inc., Crescent Engineering & Mapping, LLC, Evans-Graves Engineers, Inc., Forte & Tablada, Inc., G.E.C., Inc., GIS Engineering, LLC, Gresham Smith, Hartman Engineering, Inc., McKim & Creed, Inc., Neel-Schaffer, Inc., Shread-Kuyrkendall & Associates, Inc., Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., T. Baker Smith, LLC, Volkert, Inc., and Waggoner Engineering, Inc., and Amendment No. 4 for Thompson Engineering, Inc. of Louisiana, to extend the contract term through August 18, 2027 for all of these contracts. The Amendment also increases the contract amount by $4,500,000.00, for a new amount not to exceed $17,000,000.00
k.Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Master Services Contract with Corporate Mechanical Contractors, Inc. for HVAC Maintenance and Repair in Parish facilities to add an additional $425,000.00 for a total budget amount not to exceed $925,000.00. This amendment is to ensure funds through July 2027, the end of the contract term. Total budget amount may be shared by more than one provider
l.Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Master Services Contract with Dove Group, LLC for HVAC Maintenance and Repair in Parish facilities to add an additional $425,000.00 for a total budget amount not to exceed $925,000.00. This amendment is to ensure funds through July 2027, the end of the contract term. Total budget amount may be shared by more than one provider
m.Approval of Renewal of Master Services Contract with Del-Con, LLC for Parish plumbing maintenance and repairs. The total budget allowance is $250,000.00. Total budget amount may be shared by more than one provider
n.Approval of Renewal of Master Services Contract with Superior Plumbing, Inc. for Parish plumbing maintenance and repairs. The total budget allowance is $250,000.00. Total budget amount may be shared by more than one provider
o.Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Master Services Contract with Everon, LLC for fire and security maintenance at various locations around the Parish to extend the contract term to December 31, 2026, and add an additional $15,000.00 for a new contract amount not to exceed $78,120.00
p.Approval of the Ascension Parish Professional Selection Committee's recommendation to select both respondents, Del-Con, LLC and TKO Construction Solutions, LLC, for the Mechanical Maintenance Support Services RFP and to authorize the Parish President to enter contracts
q.Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between Ascension Parish Government (Owner and Operator of Parish Utilities of Ascension) and Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District, to add the City of Donaldsonville to the CEA. This CEA is for projects on the west side of the Parish, to provide potable water and improve drainage during heavy rainfall events
A motion to approve the Bid submitted by Extraordinary Flooring, LLC for the Lamar Dixon Expo Center REV Center Flooring refinish and to authorize the Parish President to enter into any applicable agreement or contract for this project was offered by Councilman Dennis Cullen. The motion passed with no objection.
Councilwoman Pam Alonso made a motion to approve the bid submitted by Bayou Irrigation, Inc. for Prairieville Park Renovations re-bid and to authorize the Parish President to enter into any applicable agreement or contract for this project. The motion passed with no objection.
A motion was offered by Councilman Brian Hillensbeck to approve the Resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the result of the special election held in Road Lighting District No. 7 of the Parish of Ascension, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, June 27, 2026 to authorize the renewal of the levy and collection of a five (5) mill ad valorem tax for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2027 and ending with the year 2036, for the purpose of providing funds to acquire, improve and equip the system of road lighting on the streets, roads, highway alleys, and public places of the District, and to provide funds to pay the operation and maintenance costs and expenses in connection therewith. The motion passed with no objection.
Bond Counsel Malcolm Duags read the Proces Verbal of the canvass of the votes cast at the election held in Road Lighting District No. 7 of the Parish of Ascension, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Councilwoman Pam Alonso made a motion to approve the Proces Verbal with a corrected paragraph. The motion passed with no objection.
Councilwoman Pam Alonso made motion to opt in to Temporary Housing and Shelter Assistance Program Expedited Temporary Housing Assistance in accordance with LA RS 726. The motion passed with no objection.
Resolution to place Entergy Franchise Agreement funds into the General Fund but to reserve them for the Recreation Department. Councilman Blaine Petite made an amended motion to approve the Resolution with the addition to Paragraph 4 or any costs associated with upgrades or improvements to Entergy infrastructure for Ascension Parish Government projects. And to add at the end of Paragraph 5 or any costs associated with upgrades or improvements to Entergy infrastructure for Ascension Parish Government projects. The Resolution as amended passed with no objection.
The Council unanimously agreed to hold a public hearing on August 6, 2026 at 6:00pm in Donaldsonville, at the Ascension Parish Courthouse, 300 Houmas St, to consider an ordinance to accept a donation of a certain piece of property from The Church International, formally owned by The Church of St. Amant pursuant to a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement dated May 25, 2023 on a motion by Councilwoman Pam Alonso.
.The Council unanimously agreed to hold a public hearing on August 6, 2026 at 6:00pm in Donaldsonville, at the Ascension Parish Courthouse, 300 Houmas St, to consider an ordinance to revoke and abandon rights of way in accordance with LA RS 48:701 for the rights of way referred to as Noel Road and an unnamed right of way located off Louisiana Highway 405, Ascension Parish, State of Louisiana on a motion by Councilman Oliver Joseph.
Legal Counsel Kenneth Dupaty read the ordinance Budget Amendment No. 2 approval to amend the Ascension Parish Budget. A public hearing was opened on a motion by Councilwoman Pam Alonso. With no speakers, the public hearing was closed on a motion by Councilman Oliver Joseph. The ordinance was unanimously adopted on a motion by Councilman Brian Hillensbeck:
ORDINANCE
(BUDGET AMENDMENT NO. 2)
AN ORDINANCE to amend the ordinance approving, adopting, and appropriating the 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets for the Parish of Ascension, adopted by the Ascension Parish Council on the 20th day of November 2025.
SECTION ONE. THE ASCENSION PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS, that the ordinance approving, adopting, and appropriating the 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets for the Parish of Ascension, is hereby amended, approved, and appropriated as follows:
OPERATING BUDGET:
General Fund (Purchase of property and closing costs associated with purchases)
General Administration (Bourg Street Property, Donaldsonville- 1.42 acres - $20,000 appraisal; Edenborne Parkway Property 110 acres - $2,550,000 appraisal; Rondinaud Lane, Donaldsonville, approximately 4.5 acres - $100,000 appraisal)
Expenditures & Other Financing Uses
Acquisitions - Land $3,000,000
This ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: Oliver Joseph, Travis Turner, Brett Arceneaux, Chase Melancon, Pam Alonso, Blaine Petite, Brian Hillensbeck, Dennis Cullen, Jenn DeFrances
NAYS: None
NOT VOTING: None
ABSENT: Joel Robert, Todd Varnado
And this ordinance was passed on the 16th day of July , 2026.
/s/ Cinnamon McKey
Secretary
/s/ Clint Cointment
President
Legal Counsel Kenneth Dupaty read the ordinance to declare surplus and authorize the sale and/or transfer of miscellaneous movable equipment. The public hearing was opened on a motion by Councilman Blaine Petite. With no speakers, the public hearing was closed on a motion by Councilman Blaine Petite. The ordinance was adopted unanimously on a motion by Councilwoman Pam Alonso:
ORDINANCE
PURPOSE:
To declare surplus and authorize the sale and/or transfer of miscellaneous movable equipment.
WHEREAS, the Parish of Ascension has certain assets that are surplus and no longer viable to retain; and
WHEREAS, these assets no longer serve or have any public purpose; and
WHEREAS, the Parish of Ascension desires to declare said assets as surplus and provide for the sale and/or transfer of same.
WHEREAS, BE IT ORDAINED by the Ascension Parish Council, acting in its capacity as the governing authority, that it hereby declares the listing of assets attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit A as surplus and authorizes the sale and/or transfer of same.
SEVERABILITY: In the event that any portion of this Ordinance is ever held invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction over it, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provisions and shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Ordinance.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be in full effect as permitted by law.
This ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
Yeas: Oliver Joseph, Travis Turner, Brett Arceneaux, Chase Melancon, Pam Alonso, Brian Hillensbeck, Blaine Petite, Dennis Cullen, Jenn DeFrances
Nays: None
Not Voting:
Absent: Joel Robert, Todd Varnado
And this ordinance was passed on this 16th day of July , 2026.
/s/ Cinnamon McKey
Secretary
/s/ Clint Cointment
President
There being no further business to come before the Council of the Parish of Ascension upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 6:25 PM.
/s/ Chase Melancon
Chairman
/s/ Cinnamon McKey
SECRETARY
12505776 7/30/26 ($234.48)
Miscellaneous Notices