Bid for new parish jail is accepted

(Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory.)
The coming of the new Evangeline Parish Detention Center Jail Complex has been a very long process. With the passing of a perpetual sales tax, securing a multi-million dollar bond from the bond commission, acquiring an architect to draw plans, having many discussions and drawing contracts with the police jury, and finally going into the bidding process takes a long time. As previously stated, bids were rejected twice, once in September 2023 and once in February 2024.
Now with a great sense of gratitude, I am pleased to announce that the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office along with the recommendation of Grace Hebert Curtis Architects, LLC, accepted a bid offer on May 7 in the amount of $21,670,000 as a base bid from Trahan Construction LLC, in Lake Arthur. An additive alternate bid for $315,000 was also given for a Sheriff’s Office Maintenance Shop which we are looking closely to decide whether to accept this offer or bid it separately.
What happens next?
A written contract is being prepared between the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, Grace Hebert Curtis, LLC, and Trahan Construction Co. to begin the project. This process should take approximately two weeks. In the meantime, a construction road will be built off of Industrial Road next to the Ward 1 yard and 911 property. This is a joint effort between the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Evangeline Parish Police Jury. Once the construction begins, the time line for completion should be 12-18 months. Let’s grow towards a better Evangeline Parish together.
I wish to thank the Evangeline Parish Police Jury President Mr. Bryan Vidrine and the entire police jury for working hard towards this project. Also, I wish to thank the bonding attorneys; Judge Greg Vidrine and Mr. Eric Lafleur for securing the bond and making this process less complicated.