Goodness--it IS a big contract.
The actual amount is $5,090,360. The contract, dated September 9,2024, is between the City of Shreveport and Dixie Painting & Sandblasting Inc. The sixty (60) page standard city contract is for the Linwood Elevated Tank, West Shreveport Elevated Storage Tank, and 70th and Pines Ground Storage Tanks.
As reported by Settle Talk and other local media the Linwood Tank looks as if there are streaks in the paint. The contractor and the Mayor say it's just dust/dirt that has accumulated in less than three months. They say the light white background of the design on the tank shows dust and dirt.
The color schemes/designs for each of the three tanks were the subject of a contest with monetary rewards. The Settle Talk column "Was The Paint Application Company and the Design Criteria the Culprits in the Shreveport Water Tower Repainting Debacle" has information on the design selection process. See below.
When looking for the culprit(s) to blame for this mess the finger pointing has included the following:
a. SRAC (Shreveport Regional Arts Council) who was named to "administer the selection process"
b. the person(s) who submitted the winning design:
c. the "selected paint application company"--a public records request has been made for the identity of this company;
d. the manufacturer of the paint applied to the tower;
e. The project engineer--Aillet, Fenner, Jolly and McClelland, Inc.--who prepared the specification and contract documents for the water tank rehabilitation which included the repainting;
f. any city officials responsible for monitoring and inspecting the repainting of the tank;
g. the contractor--Dixie Painting & Sandblasting.
The Shreveport City Council has requested that City Attorney Marcus Edwards review the painting contract and other documents to determine if any person(s)/party(ies) can be held legally accountable for the unsatisfactory painting of the tower. Generally speaking, Louisiana law imposes an implied warranty of fitness on work performed by one person for the benefit of another. Whether or not this warranty, any contractual obligations or other legal aspects of this project will identify any legally responsible parties, is the task of the city attorney.