Brian Cox

The Commission meeting covered several business items related to Project Henry, including the 2026/2027 capital budget amendment, a guaranty agreement, and the extension of a Memorandum of Understanding. Additional discussions focused on advertising for the construction of a heavy haul road and a new guard station at Globalplex, amending an existing task order for grant advisory services, and final acceptance of road and drainage improvements. Furthermore, the agenda included extensions for professional service agreements, the entry into new general and environmental legal service agreements, and a resolution regarding commissioner per diems and expense reimbursements.

The committee meeting addressed new business items including the consideration of advertising for the construction of a heavy haul road for Project Henry and the authorization to advertise for the Globalplex new guard station planning and construction project. The agenda also included an executive session for the receipt of attorney-client privileged communications from legal counsel.

The commission meeting included updates from the Executive Director and a port projects report. Key business items addressed included the approval of an 8th amendment to the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Nicholls State University and the establishment of maintenance escrow accounts for capital outlay funding. The board also authorized advertisements for guesthouse critical repairs, ratified a change order and project completion, and approved several task orders and final acceptances for infrastructure projects, including airport terminal design, taxiway signage, parking lot expansion, and a ditch enclosure. An executive session was held to discuss legal communications and confidential economic development negotiations. Additionally, the commission resolved to request a formal opinion from the Attorney General regarding the non-applicability of local land use regulations to port-owned property.

The meeting focused on several new business items, including the review of the Airport budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The committee considered proposals for project planning and implementation services related to the new terminal project, ratified a change order for the hangar development project, and evaluated a fee proposal regarding an obstruction removal project.

The special meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and no public comments. Key discussions and actions included the ratification and approval of the Financial Report for November 30, 2025. The Executive Director's Report detailed the dissolution of the LMRP Security Council and the potential formation of a new marketing entity for the five deep water member ports. The report also included the reintroduction of Rebecca Davezac Howell as the Port's Chief Projects & Planning Officer and an expression of gratitude from the outgoing Interim Executive Director before formally welcoming Julia Fisher Cormier as the new Executive Director. New business comprised several critical actions: entering into an Employment Agreement with Julia Fisher Cormier for the Executive Director position, adopting a resolution to waive notice requirements for amendments to the organizational chart, adopting a resolution granting new Executive Director banking signatory authority, considering amendments to the October 28, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes, and authorizing execution of amendments/task orders related to a MARAD Grant Agreement, WSP Task Orders (#24-11D and #24-25D), an AIMS Group, Inc. Task Order (#9) for inspection services, and an agreement with Shi International Corp for cyber security.