Fruge Lumber wins bid for Rice Arena warm-up pad

Bids for the planned warm-up pad for the Acadia Parish Rice Arena came in under budget, allowing for expansion of the project.
Karl Aucoin, of the engineering firm of Aucoin and Associates, explained to police jurors Tuesday that seven bids had been received with one retracted.
The contract was awarded to Fruge Lumber Co. of Eunice, who submitted the low bid of $420,489.
The bid includes a pair of alternates — 25-foot extensions on the east and west sides of the actual pad to protect it from driving rains, according to Richard “Dickie” Latiolais, jury secretary-treasurer.
Base bid for the structure covering the 15,625-square-foot dirt pad was $335,371, well under the estimated $410,000 cost.
Latiolais said the contract will include construction of the covering for the 125-foot by 125-foot pad and  the 55-foot by 30-foot connection to the existing building, along with the 25-by-125-foot “wings” on either side.
“All the fencing and dirt work will be done by us,” Latiolais said.
In a related matter, jurors approved a resolution providing for the incurring of debt and issuance of $225,000 in bonds to pay for the construction.
“The remainder will be paid out of previous years’ surplus,” Latiolais said.