Attorney’s office still unsure if Spinosa’s bond will cover Rouzan library infrastructure

It has been a week since the board that oversees the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System met and discussed, among other things, developer Tommy Spinosa’s performance bond guaranteeing completion of the necessary infrastructure work on the long-awaited Rouzan library branch. But the parish attorney’s office is still not satisfied that the developer’s $209,000 bond is adequate to cover the costs of the dirt, road and drainage work. “I’m not saying the amount is not sufficient,” says parish attorney Leo D’Aubin. “I’m just saying we don’t know yet.” The reason for the uncertainty is that Spinosa has yet to provide to the library board and the parish a detailed itemization of the project, listing specs and cost estimates, according to D’Aubin. Under the terms of his agreement with the parish, Spinosa is responsible for doing the infrastructure work on the library and the parking lot, while the library board is responsible for construction of the branch building. D’Aubin says engineers for the two sides are meeting tomorrow or next week to resolve outstanding questions. A spokesman for Spinosa says the developer is also planning to meet with the parish attorney’s office and is cooperating with them to provide any necessary documentation. Meanwhile, the contractor hired by Spinosa to build the infrastructure, Record and Associates, told Daily Report last week that the $209,000 performance bond Spinosa has secured is sufficient to cover his costs and complete that part of the project. Read that story here. —Stephanie Riegel