The effort to build the long-awaited new jail for Evangeline Parish has taken a large step forward.
VILLE PLATTE, La. (KLFY) -- The effort to build the long-awaited new jail for Evangeline Parish has taken a large step forward.
Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory said a bid has been accepted for the construction of the jail.
"Now with a great sense of gratitude, I am pleased to announce that the Evangeline Parish Sheriffs Office along with the recommendation of Grace Hebert Curtis Architects, LLC accepted a bid offer May 7, 2024 in the amount of $21,670,000 as a base bid from Trahan Construction LLC in Lake Arthur," Guillory said, in a news release. "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."
The bid was the result of the third attempt to get the ball rolling. Two rounds of bids were rejected for not adhering to the parish's budget for the jail, one in September 2023 and once in February 2024.
The parish even tried to buy an existing facility, the Pine Prairie Detention Center, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but the operators of the processing center opted to keep it in operation.
"The coming of the Evangeline Parish Detention Center Jail Complex has been a very long process," Guillory said. "With the passing of a perpetual sales tax, securing a multi-million dollar bond from the Bond Commission, acquiring an architect to draw plans, many discussions and contracts drawn with the police jury and finally going into the bidding process takes a long time."
Guillory said a written contract was prepared and accepted between the Evangeline Parish Sheriff‘s Office, Grace Hebert Curtis, LLC and Trahan Construction Co. to begin the project, with a start date of June 25.
"The construction road has been completed and is off of Industrial Rd. next to the Ward 1 yard and 911 property," Guillory said. "This is a joint effort between the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office and the Evangeline Parish Police Jury. Once the construction begins, time line for completion and ribbon cutting is 480 days (14 months) from the start date."
