Abbeville Council lines up contracts for disaster response, debris removal

To assure that things go as smoothly as possibly in the aftermath of a hurricane or other disastrous event, the Abbeville City Council lined up appropriate contracts for engineering services and debris removal.
The council voted on the measures Tuesday evening during its regular meeting.
City Engineer Richard Primeaux explained that the procedures are standard, certainly for this time of year. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires the contracts be in place prior to any event.
“If there is that extraordinary event,” Primeaux said, “and you have the possibility of FEMA repaying you, you have to have these contracts established ahead of time. It’s a contract you don’t want to use. It’s mainly used for a hurricane event. That’s the only time (Abbeville) has ever used it.
“I hope that’s the only time you ever have to use it.”
Along with engineering services, contracts for emergency debris removal are also required.
“If you have a natural, or any kind of disaster,” Primeaux said, “you need contracts ahead of time.”
Contractors must agree to all FEMA regulations prior to agreeing to the contracts with the city.
“If it is an emergency you need them right then and there,” Primeaux said. “They pretty much have to agree to drop what they are doing and mobilize as quickly as possible.
“The three contractors (lined up) do have the proper equipment and man power to assist in clearing the roads if there is a need for debris removal.”
The three companies are Vermilion Shell, Acadiana Shell and Glen Lege Construction. All three have been under similar contracts with the city in the past.
“We have a good history with them,” Primeaux said.
The contracts will only be triggered in the event of a disaster.
“They only become effective if there is a declaration of some kind of disaster,” Primeaux explained.
The council also took action Tuesday in regards to spots on two boards related to the city.
The council voted to re-appoint Russell Frederick to the Municipal Civil Service Board. The council is required to receive a nomination for the board from a civic or fraternal organization. Links des Pinks, a group that helps cancer patients promotes cancer awareness, nominated Frederick, whose term expired on June 30.
“Mr. Russell has served for many years,” Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza said.
A task for Frederick, who serves as the board’s chairman, and the other members will be to hire a new civil service director. Former director Elaine Livers recently announced her resignation.
“She did a very good job,” Piazza said. “Unfortunately we are in the process of (filling) that position.”
Civil Service Board member Joseph Vallee, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, informed the mayor and council that one interview took place last week and another is set for this week.
“We have two qualified applicants,” Vallee said.
The council also accepted the recommendation of Steve Delino to the city’s Parks and Recreation Board. Councilman Louis Joe Hardy, District A, offered Delino’s nomination. Delino, pastor at Harvest Time Tabernacle in Abbeville, replaces Ricky Frederick, who stepped down due to scheduling conflicts.
“We want to thank Mr. Ricky for the time that he has served,” Councilman-at-Large Francis Plaisance said.