SOUTH TANGIPAHOA PARISH PORT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026 9:00AM
CITY HALL ANNEX BUILDING - 110 W. HICKORY ST., PONCHATOULA, LA
The regular meeting was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at the City Hall Annex Building, located at 110 W. Hickory Street, Ponchatoula, LA. President Daryl Ferrara called the regular meeting to order at 9:04 A.M.
The invocation was given by administrative assistant, Robyn Pusey, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by STPPC Secretary, Rhonda Sheridan.
Commissioners present: Daryl Ferrara, Timothy DePaula, Rhonda Sheridan, Logan Davis, Brandon Schanzbach
Commissioners absent: Tina Roper, William Sims
President Ferrara welcomed the attendees to the meeting. Others in attendance included Patrick Dufresne, STPPC Executive Director; Robyn Pusey, Administrative Assistant; Andre Coudrain, Cashe Coudrain and Bass; Lee Barends, ITL Accounting; Brandi Fontenot, GIS Engineering, LLC; Jason Wilson, Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation; Richard Meek, Action 17 News; Dwight Williams, Ponchartrain Conservancy.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA/MINUTES
It was moved by Treasurer DePaula and seconded by Commissioner Davis that the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission approve the regular meeting agenda for April 8, 2026, as presented. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
President Ferrara told the commissioners that the minutes from the March 11, 2026 meeting had been sent to them electronically by the administrative assistant and confirmed there were no changes. After a brief review, a motion was made by Commissioner Schanzbach and seconded by Commissioner Davis to adopt/approve the minutes from the regular meeting on March 11, 2026. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer DePaula reviewed the financial reports from March 2026 with the commissioners. He said for the month of March the total revenues were $145,706.12 and noted there was a large variance in the amounts. Port accountant Lee Barends said there were two items under the current-month-actual column that she wanted to address, saying the FEMA item of $36,129.75 was reimbursement for invoices that were paid out by the port last year. Mr. Dufresne said the invoices would be paid today, that we had the invoices, but they hadn’t been paid yet. Ms. Barends also said in the General ledger that Bayou Signs was a bit more than usual at $1,200.00. Mr. Dufresne said both signs at the port were replaced due to being weathered. Treasurer DePaula had no questions.
Regarding the Edward Jones portfolio, Treasurer DePaula said the values were right under $6,000,000.00 and said there is one CD that is maturing in July. President Ferrara said he would ask financial advisor Shaun McArthur to attend a meeting and discuss with the commission before the CD matures.
A motion was made by Secretary Sheridan, seconded by Commissioner Schanzbach to approve the financial reports from March 2026. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
Ms. Barends asked the commissioners if they wanted her to move the excess over $250,000.00 in the general account to the Edward Jones account, and they agreed. The total to be moved is $123,183.15. She said she would send an email regarding the transaction.
Before moving onto the next agenda item, President Ferrara told the commissioners that the port director, Patrick Dufresne, recently gave a presentation about the port to the Ponchatoula Rotary Club. He commented that Mr. Dufresne did an excellent job with the presentation, that he answered a lot of good questions about the port. President Ferrara said that he appreciated the effort.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Warehouse Buildings #2 & #3 – lease agreement and inspection update
Spreadsheet review
Mr. Dufresne reported that Premier Chemicals’ maintenance technician will return full-time next week, putting the maintenance program back on schedule. The next project will be to remove the conduit from the warehouse building #3 rail dock. He said the port will replace five old rail dock lights with efficient new LED lights, as some of the ten original fixtures were storm damaged. A-Lert Roof Systems, who installed the new roof on warehouse building #3, will inspect the roof next week, and Mr. Dufresne said he will provide an update at the next meeting. President Ferrara asked for a recap: Mr. Dufresne said about 100 screws were replaced on the roof of warehouse building #2 by L King Company, noting there were different companies that installed the roofs on warehouse buildings 2 & 3. He said A-Lert Roof Systems planned to look at the ridgeline on warehouse building #3 and hopefully take care of any minor repairs needed while they are on the roof. Port attorney Andre Coudrain had nothing to report on the lease. There were no questions.
2. LA-DOTD Port Priority Program Application - Projects - update
Mr. Dufresne introduced Brandi Fontenot of GIS Engineering LLC who provided an update regarding the current projects. She said the land-side survey was started yesterday and should be finished by Friday, and next week the water-side survey will start. She said she hopes to have all the data by the end of the month. She said while they are waiting for the surveys, they are working with YKH Consulting to start discussion with the tenant regarding the fire suppression system. There were no questions.
3. Barge dock repair project – update
Mr. Dufresne said the engineering plans for the dock are proceeding, and there should be a construction design estimate by the end of next month to review. He said as Ms. Barends noted earlier, reimbursement had been received for two previous (engineering) invoices, and both are on today’s invoice list for review.
4. 5-Year Master Plan – update
Mr. Dufresne stated that the group contract agreement documents for the 5-year Master Plan are still being processed by the Blanco Research Institute at ULL; once received, the port can sign the document and proceed. There were no questions.
5. Air Products – update
Mr. Coudrain said he spoke with the local Air Products representative yesterday about the approved amended lease. Mr. Coudrain was told they had all signed off on the lease; however, it requires multiple layers of approval from Air Products. The representative told Mr. Coudrain he expects to get the approval back to the port “at some point.” There were no questions.
6. Invoice Payment Approval
The following invoices for payment were presented today for approval by Treasurer DePaula:
Cashe Coudrain & Bass
Services rendered through March 31, 2026
Inv# 133240 Matter # 4623-1 Amt. $ 200.00
STPPC General
Inv# 133242 Matter # 4623-7 Amt. $ 120.00
Lease with Air Products
Inv# 133241 Matter # 4623-13 Amt. $ 1,063.00
STPPC vs Wilco Marsh Buggies
____________________
Total Amt. $ 1,383.00
Treasurer DePaula said he felt the invoices were reasonable. A motion was made by Treasurer DePaula and seconded by Commissioner Schanzbach to approve the invoices presented for payment from Cashe Coudrain and Bass. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
Ragland Aderman and Associates
Professional Engineering Services July 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
Corps of Engineers permit & prep of construction drawings for dock repairs & improvements. Inv# 492023021.25.1 Amt.$ 26,977.50
Ragland Aderman and Associates
Professional Engineering Services October 1 – October 31, 2025
Corps of Engineers permit an prep of construction drawings for dock repairs &
improvements. Inv# 492023021.25.2 Amt.$13,500.00
Treasurer DePaula confirmed with Mr. Dufresne that these two invoices had been referenced earlier in the meeting and pertained to engineering of the dock. Mr. Dufresne said the port had been reimbursed 90% of the costs (by FEMA), and Treasurer DePaula said the port is responsible for 10% of the costs. A motion was made by Secretary Sheridan and seconded by Treasurer DePaula to approve the invoices presented for payment from Ragland Aderman and Associates. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to be discussed today.
Secretary Sheridan said Fire Chief Stormy Joiner and the Manchac Fire Department will be having an open house on Saturday, April 18th, from 11:00am – 4:00pm. Refreshments and tours of the new upgrades to the fire station will be available to anyone interested in attending and is open to the public.
LITIGATION UPDATE:
South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission vs Wilco Marsh Buggies, Inc.
Docket# 20240004367
Executive Session
Mr. Coudrain said he would like to give the commissioners an update regarding the litigation with Wilco Marsh Buggies, Inc., and recommended that the commission go into executive session to discuss the update. Secretary Sheridan made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss the update from port attorney Andre Coudrain regarding the litigation with Wilco Marsh Buggies, Inc. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Davis. A roll call vote was taken: Davis – yes; Ferrara – yes; DePaula – yes; Schanzbach – yes; Sheridan – yes. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
All guests were asked to leave the room.
Approximately 15 minutes later, a motion was made by Secretary Sheridan, seconded by Treasurer DePaula to return to open session. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims.
There were no votes taken while in executive session.
A motion was made by Treasurer DePaula and seconded by Commissioner Davis to follow council’s recommendations for the litigation as discussed in Executive Session. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
REMARKS
Mr. Dufresne reminded the commissioners that the Louisiana Ethics Administration Tier 2.1 Financial Disclosure annual reporting is due by May 15, 2026. He also reminded them that the next STPPC meeting is Thursday, May 21, 2026.
President Ferrara asked Mr. Dufresne to confirm the attendance of Paula Sziber with Jackson Vaughn at the STPPC meeting on May 21st. Treasurer DePaula expressed concern that Ms. Sziber might not have the necessary figures for the port insurance proposal. Obtaining firm information from insurance underwriters more than 30 days before the renewal date is challenging. Secretary Sheridan reminded the commissioners that this was the reason the meeting date had been moved closer to the renewal period. The commissioners remained concerned that a definitive insurance proposal might not be available at the meeting and discussed the possibility of moving the meeting date again to avoid making a last-minute decision on the port’s insurance. Commissioner Schanzbach said commercial rates had decreased over the past 12 - 18 months. He also noted that the fire protection class rating is now 6, which was previously 10. He said that if a proposal is presented at the May 21st meeting, the commissioners will have time to review it and make a decision on the port insurance at the STPPC meeting on June 10, 2026.
President Ferrara asked for a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. Treasurer DePaula made the motion to adjourn the regular meeting, seconded by Secretary Sheridan. Motion passed. Yeas: 5 Ferrara, DePaula, Sheridan, Davis, Schanzbach Nays: 0 Absent: 2 Roper, Sims
The meeting adjourned at 9:43 AM.
Rhonda Sheridan, Secretary STPPC
Daryl Ferrara, President STPPC
Cost of notice:$78.80