Abbeville Council awards bids for work on tennis courts, grass cutting at parks

The Abbeville City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday at its regular meeting to accept a pair of bids for work to be done in city parks.
The council accepted low bids for improvements to the tennis courts at A.A. Comeaux Park, as well as for a grass-cutting contract for the city parks.
The council accepted a bid of $21,000 from Vesco Tennis Courts, Inc., to resurface the five courts at A.A. Comeaux Park. The city also received a bid from No Fault Courts for $25,730. Abbeville Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Smith presented the bids to the council.
“I researched both companies and they each appear to be very reputable,” Smith told the council.
Vesco, in business since 1994, is expected to begin in January. Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., whose District C includes the park, made a motion to accept the low bid. Councilman-at-Large Francis Plaisance offered a second.
Mayor Mark Piazza did point out an issue still lingering with a bid awarded earlier this year for work on the courts. That bid went to William A. Clark of Baton Rouge. Work was set to begin in the spring but got delayed on multiple occasions. Clark reportedly dealt with health concerns that ultimately prevented his company from completing the work. The city is in the process of recovering the $9,600 deposit paid to Clark for the work. Vesco does not require an advance down payment.
“They have always done work for us,” Public Works Director Clay Menard said of the city’s history with Clark’s company. “The last contact we had with (Clark), he was under a doctor’s care.”
Again, Piazza said the city is taking legal recourse.
“We are pursuing a suit against the gentleman to get our money back,” Piazza said.
The city is saving more than $14,000 after it awarded the contract for grass cutting, weed-eating and debris pick up for the city parks. The new contract with Russell’s Lawn Service, owned and operated by Russell Alexis, is for three years. The city will pay $86,400 if the contract reaches its maturity. The contract can be voided at any time if the city feels terms are not being met. Don’s Lawn Service, which held the contract for the last three years, submitted a bid that would total $100,800 during three years.
“I have been extremely satisfied with Don Gaspard and he has done and outstanding job maintaining the parks,” Plaisance said of Don’s Lawn Service. “The parks are so important to us.”
Councilman Francis Touchet, District B, agreed. Touchet, who made the motion to accept, one seconded by Broussard, said that the savings are difficult to overlook.
“It’s a $14,4000 savings over a three-year period,” Touchet said. “I have a hard time saying that’s money we are going to leave on the table.”