After litigation, drainage panel plans upgrade in Bayou Vista area
The gravity sub-district serving the Bayou Vista area said Wednesday that it will be making what it calls “significant improvements” to the Bertrand-Vining pump station.
St. Mary Gravity Sub-Drainage District No. 1 of Gravity Drainage District No. 2 said in a news release that after “concluding lengthy and challenging litigation, with the full support of St. Mary Parish Government, the District succeeded in obtaining settlement funds in the amount of $1.15 million.”
While Bourgeois Law LLC handled the litigation, the effort included support from many including St. Mary Parish government, Parish President Sam Jones, Emerald Land Co., Miller Engineers, former district Chairman Wayne Cantrell and the current chairman of the district’s Board of Commissioners, Chad Ross, the district said.
“I’m especially happy to see this litigation brought to a satisfactory conclusion,” Ross said.” Also, I want to specifically recognize our longtime superintendent, Mr. Alvin Lodrigue, for his invaluable input, both in firmly supporting our claim and in operating the station with complete dedication.”
With the funds now in hand, the district has already commissioned its current engineers, Miller Engineers from Franklin, and Freese & Nichols from New Orleans, to commence the design of the improvements.
The existing three diesel engines drive the pumps that currently produce about 223 horsepower each, according to dynameter testing. The improvement plan calls for them to be upgraded significantly.
The gear drives (transmissions) will be replaced as well. As a result, the pumps’ operational capabilities will be improved, giving us a much more robust capacity to deal with the worst of the inevitable future storms, the district said.
Given the upgrade project’s anticipated costs, it will have to be advertised and publicly bid. So the district plans to have the project advertised for bidding as soon as possible. The district also plans to update the public as the project progresses.