First responders, others break ground on new Thibodaux radio tower

This 300 foot tower site will be located at the City’s North Water Plant Site near Eric Andolsek Park. This estimated over 2.8 Million Dollar Project, was spear headed by Chief Bryan Zeringue dating back over 5 years. Chief Zeringue sits on the State Interoperability Executive Committee representing the Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association. This committee is a division of the Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, which had a big hand in supporting Chief Zeringue’s vision.

Starting in August of 2018, Chief Zeringue began pursuing the idea of having an additional tower being placed in the City of Thibodaux for first responders in our area. The vision of this tower was to add to the preexisting St. James and Gray Towers that have been in existence for years, but due to complications in two way radio communications with local first responders at peak and crucial times such as hurricanes and natural disasters, an additional site tower was long overdue.

Once receiving the initial approval to move forward with the project, Chief Zeringue was tasked with not only finding the funding for the initial qutoted estimate, but mid-way through was tasked with a change order that required an increase in the construction estimate based upon the soil makeup at the site location. With the assistance from Capital Outlay Funding through the State of Louisiana, Chief Zeringue was able to secure not only the 2.3 Million (Original Cost) Quoted, but also the additional $575 Million (After Change Order).

Chief Zeringue would like to personally thank Senator Mike Fesi, Representative Bryan Fontenot and Representative Jerome Zeringue for their direct assistance with this project through the process. Chief Zeringue would also like to thank the dignitaries who assisted with the ground breaking, City of Thibodaux Mayor Kevin Clement, Former City of Thibodaux Mayor Tommy Eschete, Louisiana State Senator Mike Fesi, Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell and Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department Board President Jimmy Ledet.

This project which has been supported by both former Mayor Tommy Eschete and now current Mayor Kevin Clement’s administrations is scheduled to be complete in May of 2024.