Morgan City Daily Review
May 26, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
PROCEEDINGS OF A SPECIAL MEETING
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE MORGAN CITY HARBOR AND TERMINAL
DISTRICT
April 20, 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 March 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Ben Adams, President convened the meeting with Commissioners Steven Cornes, Matthew Glover, Marc Fel- terman, Deborah Garber, Troy Lombardo, Adam Ma- yon, and Michael Wise in attendance. Matthew Tycer was absent. Also present in the meeting were Raymond Wade, Executive Director; Cindy Cutrera, Economic Development Manager; Tori Henry, Office Manager; Michael Knobloch, Special Projects Manager; Gerard Bourgeois, Board Attorney; Kevan Keiser and Bill Blanchard, GIS Engineering; Councilman Les Rulf, St. Mary Parish Council; LTJG Timothy Piquette, United States Coast Guard (“USCG”); Rob Co- wan, Alliant Insurance Services; 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. Lombardo and seconded by Mr. Mayon that the minutes of the regular meeting of March 16, 2026 be approved and adopted, with said motion carrying unanimously.
It was moved by Mr. Mayon that the report of re- ceipts and disbursements for the month of March, 2026 be received and accepted and that all invoices presented to the Board for the month of March, 2026 be paid. Ms. Garber seconded that motion, which carried unanimously.
Rob Cowan presented Alliant In- surance Services’ renewal proposal for the District through their Ports Program and noted that despite a 15% increase in insured value, we continue to see a lower rate and are able to offer the continuity credit of 5%. Mr. Adams suggested increasing the loss limit to $10 million, with Mr. Cornes moving, Mr. Felterman seconding and motion carrying to accept the insurance proposal from Alliant Insurance Services for the District.
LTJG Timothy Piquette reported that: (i) there were 2,497 total transits in March through the VTS zone, averaging 81 per day; (ii) they were heavily involved in the LOOP oil spill response, which is wrapping up; (iii) they are receiving lots of requests for autonomous vessel operations but currently do not have any regulations so they are handled on a case by case basis; and (iv) despite the government shutdown, they are still committed to showing up every day.
Tim Connell reported that: (i) Dredge Arulaq continues working under task orders into next fiscal year, contract capacity into August of next year and another contract in option if needed; (ii) Dredge Mike Hooks will be wrapped up in May and the surveys are really nice to see; and (iii) Dredge Captain Frank completed Stouts Pass and is working MM157 in Bayou Boeuf, then will move to do some cleanup work at the DCAS structure.
Charles Brittingham reported that: (i) FY26 Work Plan included an additional $14 million for O&M, in addition to the $31 million that was included in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill; (ii) FY27 Work Plan in- cludes $30 million for O&M; and (iii) he is watching WRDA closely and will continue to play defense as needed.
Michael Knobloch reported that: (i) Facility Planning and Control requested a resolution from the District certifying that it is agreeable and willing to fund the amounts that could be due for the planned warehouse roof improvements, repairs and/or modifications in excess of the funds available of FP&C. Mr. Mayon moved to accept the resolution presented, which was seconded by Mr. Cornes and carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION
A resolution providing for commitment to provide balance of funding by the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District (“District”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the District (“Board”) deems it necessary for the use of its warehouse that certain improvements, repairs and/or modifications be completed;
WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana, through Facility Planning and Control (FP&C), can participate in such improvements, re- pairs and/or modifications up to the sum of $181,921.18;
WHEREAS, the District’s designer has provided an estimate of probable cost for the planned improvements, repairs and/or modifications in excess of the funds available through FP&C;
WHEREAS, the District is agreeable and willing to fund the amounts that could be due for the planned improvements, re- pairs and/or modifications in excess of the funds available through FP&C;
BE IT RESOLV-ED, that the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District do hereby resolve, approve and agree to fund and dedicate 105% of the Opinion of Probable Cost, less the funds available through FP&C, to the im- provements, re- pairs and/or modifications.
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 to such project.
(ii) Legislature is currently in session, and the Governor released his capital outlay list which included moving $8 million of our P5 funding to P1; (iii) we applied to both the Federal House and Senate Earmark programs in the amount of $7.2 million, with a match of $1.8 million for the new 35,000SF Multi- modal warehouse. He noted that if Senator Cassidy and Congressman Higgins are able to get it included in the federal budget, we will then have to go through an official grant process; (iv) we will also be applying for the new 35,000SF Multi- modal warehouse through FY26 PIDP in the amount of $7.2 million, with a match of $1.8 million. Mrs. Garber moved to authorize said resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Lombardo and carried unanimously.
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 “35,000 SF Multimodal Warehouse Facility” to the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Maritime Administration’s (MARAD’s) “FY 2026 Port In- frastructure Development Program” (PIDP) Grant Program. In addition, since the project totals $9,000,000, the MCHTD re- quests $7,200,000 from the FY 2026 PIDP program and agrees to provide a local, non-federal match of $1,800,000.
And (v) we were awarded $772,800 through the FY25 US Marine Highway for a rough terrain crane and track skid steel loader. Mr. Wade noted that during a recent call with MARAD we were notified that we were moved into the “highly recommended tier” due to us being in the oil and gas, shipbuilding and LNG markets.
Robert Karam reported the following on the West Dock Project: (1) Sealevel was the lowest base bid and Dynamic was the lowest base and alternate bid, but they were $4 million over the engineer’s probable construction cost. After much discussion Mr. Mayon moved to reject the bids, which was seconded by Mr. Wise and carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District has received bids on March 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. on the West Side Dock Expansion port improvement project under the Port Construction and Development Priority Program; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BET IT RESOLVED, by the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District in regular session as- sembled on this 20th day of April 2026, that all bids received were over the engineer’s estimate of probable construction cost and no contract be awarded per that bid process.
Mr. Karam not-ed that he will review public bid law to ensure the correct process of going out for bid again. Also, Mr. Bourgeois suggested using value engineering in the next bid package with hopes of reducing costs and reiterated that Facility Planning and Port Priority will need to review the new bid package prior to advertising, while MARAD just needs to be notified.
Bill Blanchard reported the following on the Bollinger Projects: (i) the access channel plans are ready to be submitted to Facility Planning and Control (FP&C), but after discussions this morning with a Bollinger representative, some adjustments first need to be made to liquidated damages; (ii) slip 1 bulkhead plans are complete, but due to budget constraints for monies available through the state, they are awaiting further instructions.
Cindy Cutrera reported that: (i) our 14th Annual Hurricane Preparedness meeting will be May 12, with the quarterly Bayou Safety Committee Meeting after; (ii) Mac presented to both Mississippi River Commission and Atchafalaya Intracoastal Coalition stressing “who we are and what we do”. She noted that the Ports Association of Louisiana is currently doing a public ports economic impact study, so as we continue to promote the value of tonnage, she is trying to push participation to our stakeholders. This will provide a document that demonstrates what we have been saying and can be used for conversation with Corps, State and Federal delegation, grant ap- plications, etc.; (iii) Recently she has participated in several workforce development meetings at the local and regional level; (iv) she attended the CPRA MP 29 Terrebonne Basin Regional Workgroup meeting and she was able to have 2 proposed Atchafalaya River diversion projects that could have created problems and not provide any benefit deemed “unconstructable”; and (v) we continue to monitor the Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study and noted in early 2026 Congress approved $5 million to resume the study which had been paused; and a recent article in the Advocate titled Bonnet Carre Spillway openings scrutinized states that a Mississippi Sound Coalition is pushing for federal legislation that will reduce and re- gulate the flow of the river through the Bonnet Carre.
Gerard Bourgeois presented: (i) Ordinance No. 64 for adoption of the 2026 millage by the District of 4.45 mills. It was moved by Mr. Cornes and seconded by Ms. Garber that the following ordinance providing a rate of 4.45 mills be adopted, which motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE
NO. 64
An Ordinance levying and imposing a tax on all the property subject to taxation in the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District, State of Louisiana, for the year 2026 for the purpose of paying the administrative, operative and maintenance ex- penses of the Board in said District.
SECTION 1, BE IT ORDAIN-ED, by the Board of Commissioners of the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District, a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, acting as the governing authority of said Harbor and Terminal District; in regular session convened, that under and by virtue of the Authority of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 LSA-R.S. 34:329, as amended and Art. 7, Sec. 23 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2025 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District:
MILLAGE
administrative, operative, and maintenance expenses, 4.45 mills
(Tax for: e.g. General Alimony, Library, Maintenance)
SECTION 2, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of St. Mary, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as herein above set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2026, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.
SECTION 3, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that all Ordinance or parts of Ordinance in conflict herewith be and the same are hereby repealed, and this Ordinance shall take effect upon its adoption, the public welfare so de- manding.
(ii) Agreement for Services with Cassidy & Associates, Inc. at current amount of $10,000 per month plus expenses in- curred. Mr. Mayon moved to authorize the execution of said agreement, which was seconded by Mr. Felterman and carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION
A resolution providing for the execution of a consulting agreement for the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District (“District”), designating the terms and conditions of the contract, and granting the authorization therefor.
WHEREAS, this Board of Commissioners (“Board”) is authorized by the provisions of LSA-R.S. 34:324 to “contract with the employ attorneys, clerks, engineers, deputy commissioners, superintendents, stevedores and other agents and employees and shall fix their compensation and terms of office or employments,” and,
WHEREAS, this Board, after due deliberation, deems it necessary that a real and genuine necessity exist therefor to contract with Cassidy & Associates, Inc. in connection with governmental affairs representation before the federal government to assist the District in assuring the dependability of the existing navigation Channel, being the Lower Atchafalaya River, Bayous Chene, Bouef, and Black; to provide assistance and advice to the District on how best to achieve a dependable Channel that would enable the District to provide support and infrastructure associated with current and future activities in the Gulf of Mexico, transportation of commodities; and for other commerce and facilitation of various maritime in- terests.
BE IT RESOLV-ED, that the President, Ben A. Adams, is hereby authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the District, a consulting agreement with Cassidy & Associates, Inc., for the necessary service relative to the District, substantially in accordance with the terms and conditions of the consulting agreement presented this day.
Gerard Bourgeois also reported that after several recent discussions with Mr. Wade about his tenure at the Port and Board Members, it was suggested that the hiring of a Deputy Director would be beneficial to the District. Mr. Wade suggested that Simon Gottung matched all the requirements for the position. Mr. Wise moved to authorize Mr. Adams to hire Simon Gottung and execute the employment agreement presented, which was seconded by Mr. Cornes and carried unanimously. Mr. Wade noted that he believes Mr. Gottung will do an excellent job and Mr. Gottung thanked the Board and Mr. Wade for their trust in him.
With there being no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Mr. Mayon and seconded by Mr. Lombardo that the meeting was ad- journed.
Attest:
———————
Matthew K.
Glover,
Secretary
Adv. May 27, 2026