Denham Springs Wastewater Department Loaning Equipment, Personnel to Other Jurisdictions Without Compensation

An investigation into complaints received by the Legislative Auditor’s office found that the Denham Springs Wastewater Department regularly loans out its vacuum truck and operator to other jurisdictions without a written agreement, the state auditor said in a report released today.

Investigative auditors found that the vacuum truck and its operator are loaned to other government agencies approximately once per month. Among the jurisdictions that have borrowed the truck are Livingston Parish Sewer District No. 1, Livingston Parish Sewer District No. 2, the Town of Livingston, and the City of Walker.

However, auditors said, the Department does not maintain any records, such as log books, to document the use of the vacuum truck. In addition, the City was unable to produce an intergovernmental agreement or a cooperative endeavor agreement authorizing the work and does not receive reimbursements for the use of the truck or the wages paid to the truck’s operator, the Legislative Auditor said.

As a result, the City may have donated public funds, which is forbidden by the Louisiana Constitution.

Auditors also found that, between January 2014 and March 2016, GRC Construction, a company owned by the superintendent of the Wastewater Department, contracted with Livingston Parish Sewer District No. 1 and Livingston Parish Sewer District No. 2 to perform grass-cutting services. During the same period, the superintendent appears to have authorized the loan of the Department’s vacuum truck and operator to the sewer districts.

By entering into transactions with the sewer districts in which he had a personal, substantial economic interest, the superintendent may have violated the state’s ethics laws, the Legislative Auditor said.