Engineering Firm

From: Chuck Le Mieux [clemieux@inascension.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 6:21 AM
To: Ascension Parish President (HMarchand@ascension.par.la.gov)
Cc: Ascension Parish Executive Secretary (pcook@ascension.par.la.gov)

With regards to the federal grant for a parish wide water and sewer system.

How is the engineering firm picked for parish projects? Wasn't this Shaheen outfit recently involved in a go round with the parish over unsatisfactory work?

Chuck Le Mieux
http://www.inascension.com
clemieux@inascension.com

From: Harold Marchand [HMarchand@ascension.par.la.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 8:03 AM
To: Chuck Le Mieux
Subject: RE:

The engineering company is picked by the Council. Yes, GSA was the company with unsatisfactory work.

From: Chuck Le Mieux [clemieux@inascension.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 9:05 PM
To: 'Harold Marchand'
Cc: WBRZ TV News (peter@wbrz.com); Ascension Citizen (citizen@eatel.net); Ascension Parish CAO (randerson@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Council CO (rloupe@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Councilman (ascpar01@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Councilman (ascpar04@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Councilman (ascpar05@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Councilman (ascpar08@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Councilman (ascpar10@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Councilman (ascpar11@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Councilman (athompson@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Councilman (savoy1@eatel.net); Ascension Parish Drainage (aallred@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Executive Secretary (pcook@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Public Works (blittle@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Public Works (broux@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Public Works (dbabin@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Public Works (dmitchell@ascension.par.la.gov); Ascension Parish Sheriff Department (abacala809@aol.com); David Young; John MacMillan (jmcmillan@theadvocate.com); Mayor of Gonzales (mayor@eatel.net); Representative Emma J. Devillier (Representative Emma Devillier); Representative John Juba Diez (webreps@legis.state.la.us); Representative Roy Quezaire Jr. (larep058@legis.state.la.us); Senator Louis Lambert (websen@legis.state.la.us); Steven Ward (sward@theadvocate.com); WBRZ TV (jennifer@wbrz.com); WBRZ TV News (MarvinH@WBRZ.com); WBRZ TV News (news@wbrz.com); Renee Withers (rwither@doa.state.la.us); Bill & Stephanie Essary (essary@attbi.com); C. Harper (SqueakH@aol.com); Cardenas Law Firm (kbolton@cardenaslaw.com); Dana Simoneaux (bandit1@eatel.net); Denise Ackerman (ackerman@eatel.net); G BLAIR (gblair@russell-stanley.com); Jennifer Braud; JOHN SMITH (JSMITH@MCKERNANLAWFIRM.COM); Julie Ashton (ashtont@mindspring.com); Robert Le Mieux (rlemieux@inascension.com); Tonya Madere (kookoobabe@bolt.com); Nancy M. Bellemare (nbellemare@eatel.net); Nella B. Duplessis (nella@eatel.net); Robert Wunstel (astech@engineer.com); Tina Achord (tina@jongries.com); Wanda Matthews (biggdaddy@eatel.net)
Subject: RE:

It would seem to me that allowing the council to pick an engineering company is not only foolish but down right open to allowing favoritism.

After all, as you admit, this GSA was just the subject for unsatisfactory work. Yet the council hires them again presumably for a large sum of money to do more work for the parish. I don't know about you, but where I'm from this reeks of favoritism.

Wouldn't it be better to go out for bids? This would more than likely save the parish money and lessen the possibility of favoritism.

From: Harold Marchand [HMarchand@ascension.par.la.gov]
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 8:12 AM
To: Chuck Le Mieux
Subject: RE:

You make a lot of good sense here......but......under State law the Council does not have to Bid out a service and this is considered a service. So, the council does not bid these items out.

But, the council can request quotes from different company based on the project scope and design. Bill Roux suggested this a year ago on three road projects and the Council decided to still keep one firm.

As, parish president my job is to follow the laws and resolutions voted on by the council. Then it is my responsibility to direct our administration to carry out the order. I am not happy with the way it is now.......but I have a responsibility to carry out the order set by the Council. And I am sure you can see what type of procrastation this has cost the taxpayers of Ascension.

Sorry .....If I am being a little direct, but I am really frustrated with the cat chasing the tail..around and around...