Calcasieu Parish police jurors on Thursday approved a bid by a local construction company to replace the roof and work on other repairs at the Calcasieu Public Library branch in Westlake.

The panel awarded the project to Shannon Smith Construction Inc. with its bid of $169,300. Jeff Kudla, the project’s architect, recommended the Police Jury accept the company’s bid.

Gabriel Morley, director of the Calcasieu Public Library, said the Police Jury — which owns the Westlake library branch building — was notified last year that the metal roof needed to be replaced. The roof is nearly 25 years old, which he said is the standard lifespan.

Morley said the project includes replacing the building’s exterior insulation finishing system, which suffered water damage.

He said the material is similar to stucco.

“The exterior is in a state of decay partly because of the way the roof and the building are connected,” Morley said. “It needs to be removed and replaced, and that work is best performed while the roof is being replaced.”

Morley said the work also calls for adding a concrete ramp and improvements to the building’s parking lot to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Other companies that submitted bids for the project were Morgan Roofing Co. Inc., with a bid of $195,000, and Daughdrill General Contracting and Roofing Co. Inc., with a bid of $229,000.

Morley said the library will remain open during the project’s duration.

(American Press Archives)

Brad Puckett