Jeff Davis Police Jury Rejects Rail Facility Bids

A $2.2 million project to export rice, soybeans and other grains from rural Jefferson Davis Parish will be delayed as officials collect a second round of bids.

The police jury voted Wednesday to reject all bids for the high-speed grain-loading facility after they came in nearly $1.7 million over budget last month.

Police Juror Mark Pousson  said the South Louisiana Rail Facility board is re-evaluating design plans in an attempt to scale back the project and lower the costs.

Pousson said he hopes to see the project up for bid again within the next 60 days and the plans back on track this fall.

Preliminary plans for the facility include grain tanks, conveyors, grain elevators, grain-handling equipment and an overhead rail scale.