RICHARD REPORT: Building renovation going well

Published 6:00 am Monday, December 17, 2018

The Dutch-Gosnell building purchased in February by Iberia Parish Government to be used as a new public works facility is well on its way to seeing completion, with portions of the Public Works Department beginning to move to the new site within the month. 

Iberia Parish President Larry Richard said a proposed budget for renovations to the building was reported in February, and was said to be located logistically in the cent of Iberia Parish. The location would allow convenient access to service public works needs and enable the department to bring public safety needs in a more efficient manner, according to Richard. 

The 36,000 square feet complex will create a state-of-the-art operational facility that can support administrative offices, maintenance shop areas, equipment storage, an equipment wash building, a sandbag facility, a sign shop and more. 

“The Iberia Parish Government’s commitment to provide in-kind services on this project will ensure that our public dollars go further,” Richard said. 

The project will be phased into two parts in order to place the project into service in a timely manner, Richard said. The first phase of the project will include securing the site with perimeter fencing, cameras, site drainage improvements, resurfacing of driveway and parking and properly illuminating the site. 

Access control will be installed in order to encourage and control public interaction and safety. Existing office areas will be completely renovated to meet current building code standards.

The second phase of the project will be to complete the upgrade to the building and provide supplemental exterior parking on site. The budget passed by the Iberia Parish Council was $1,226,500.00.

Initial bids to complete the proposed work came in well above the budgeted amount. The Administration and Architect, Paul J. Allain worked on reducing the scope of the project in an effort to bring construction cost down, the Parish President said.

“Those efforts have proven to be successful. The project was re-bid and I am happy to report to you today the results which are Iberia Parish Government receiving a bid to perform the work within the budgeted amount.

“I am excited to get this project moving forward. Starting as early as next week we will begin moving portions of public works operations to the new facility.”

The mechanical and sign department will be the first to occupy the building. Richard said the decision to move those departments was based on space which can be made to accept them with minimal work required, as well as to provide cost savings based on flood insurance IPG is required to carry on buildings occupied by both the sign crew and mechanics at the Avery Island site.

“The existing buildings were damaged by previous storm events and resulted in FEMA claims, requiring IPG to maintain flood insurance on them which is costly when we consider the age and value of the buildings.

“By demolishing these buildings, we will no longer be required to maintain flood insurance coverage therefore we will experience a significant cost savings in that area of operation.”