Parish Department of Public Works underway in Donaldsonville

Ascension Parish government began developing the ground to construct a 8,155-square-foot Department of Public Works (DPW) facility on five acres at Thibaut Drive, which is next to a new city DPW building whose construction is nearly complete.

The Parish Council backed the funding agreement with a unanimous vote, that ignites the West Ascension Drainage District’s commitment to kick in an extra $403,000 to build the structure.

With total funding in hand, the council also accepted the $1.33 million low bid from Blount General Contractors in a 9-0 vote.

The building will replace Ascension’s aging West Side Department of Public Works building in Donaldsonville.

The parish council had agreed in May of 2014 to boost its commitment by $355,000 for a total $930,000. Parish officials said the extra funding was needed for foundation work.

While that extra funding came from the general fund, which is funded primarily by parish-wide tax revenues, the drainage dollars come from property taxes collected only on the west bank.

The building will be used by West Ascension drainage as well as other parish departments.