By Jeanne Claire Solis

Broussard – The City will spend nearly $77,000 on poles, lights and underground wiring for the Ambassador Caffery extension between Highway 89 to St. Etienne Road.

SLEMCO won the contract to supply the power.

Entergy will maintain service rights for the remaining portion to Highway 90, but was under-bid for servicing the extension.

Entergy declined a request for its competitor to install the three to four lights in question within the Entergy service area near Highway 90.

“If SLEMCO won’t give up their rights, Entergy won’t either,” said Liz Duhon, customer service manager for Entergy. “The answer is no.”

Following a failed attempt to negotiate an arrangement between Entergy and SLEMCO, bid consultant Southern Strategy Group required that the two utility companies submit written proposals.

“The goal (of the bid process) was to provide cost-effective options to the Council,” said Southern Strategy’s Brad Mittendorf.

Mittendorf also recommended avoiding “piece-meal” utility access by installing infrastructure now that would support development in the future.

Both bidders assured that their pricing reflected compliance with other Public Service Commission (PSC) regulations for creating the underground infrastructure along roadway, deemed as “customer choice” by the PSC.

The Broussard council agreed to pay for the preferred underground lines, which cost more than standard above-ground wires.

Street lights are not required along a state highway, but guidelines exist for municipalities like Broussard that choose to install road lights as a service to the citizens. The dual light poles bid by SLEMCO will be installed through the median of the Parkway at state-mandated intervals.