Gravity Sub-Drainage District No. 1 of Gravity Drainage District No. 2 of the Parish of St. Mary (District), which serves the Bayou Vista area, has announced that it will be making significant improvements to its Bertrand-Vinning Pump Station. 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, officials say the team effort included support from many including St. Mary Parish Government, Parish President Sam Jones, Emerald Land Company, Miller Engineers, former District Chairman, Wayne Cantrell and current Chairman of the District’s Board of Commissioners, Chad Ross.
Ross stated, “I’m especially happy to see this litigation brought to a satisfactory conclusion. 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 which drive the pumps 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.
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.