By JIM BUTLER

Scrambling to beat a December 31 deadline to use it or lose it the Police Jury on Monday committed $3.37 million of federal largesse to construction and renovation of parish properties.

The American Rescue Plan Act, an economic stimulus plan implemented in March 2021, funneled $25.1 million to the parish.

It must be spent or committed by the end of this year and any remaining unspent on December 31, 2026 goes back to Uncle Sam.

DSW Construction, a Natchitoches-based firm, was awarded three contracts Monday:

$1.77 million for the courthouse annex public meeting room;

$515,000 for courthouse restrooms renovations;

$428,000 for Registrar of Voters Office renovations.

The jury also approved change orders totaling $246,000 in those same contracts, for specific work unforeseen (plumbing, HVAC, etc) in the projects’ development and contingency for any such future instances.

Summarily, change orders totaling $408,000 on ARPA projects were issued to:

Pat Williams Construction – $85,000 for unforeseen work related to HVAC, electric and plumbing in the Adult Drug Court Building; Pat Williams – $155,000 former Gravel Building unforeseen issues HVAc, plumbing, waterproofing, access ram to connect to new Public Meeting Room ($1.4 million contract awarded in November); SAMS Air Conditioning Maintenance Service – $58,000 replacement of air handling units in the coliseum; Bernard MCC – $110,000 unforeseen HVAC courthouse modifications to accommodate historic structure.