The Zachary City Council voted Oct. 23 to accept the low bid of $642,013.89 from Industrial Enterprises, Inc. of Baton Rouge for work on water main improvements in the Avenues area of Zachary.

The low bid is contingent upon funding from an $800,000 grant previously awarded by the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program for the Water Distribution System.

Bianca Carambat, of Zachary's engineering firm PEC, said Industrial Enterprises has done work before for Zachary on a road rehab project.

Areas to be included in the water main project include the Avenues and Old Slaughter Road. An overhaul of the waterlines and other matters associated with a water enrichment program include engineering services, hiring an administrative consultant, adoption of a procurement policy and adoption of a citizen participation plan.

In August 2011, PEC said the grant considers project severity before it is awarded. Waterlines in the Avenues have needed over 13 repairs for leaks in recent years.

Carambat also updated the council on Americana. She said a water main connecting La. Hwy. 964 to the YMCA at the Americana Development is nearing completion.

The developer will reimburse the City of Zachary but not the Economic Development District (EDD).

Other Zachary Council agenda items included:

• A home occupation waiver was denied Donna Butler, 5041 Lynn St., for failing to comply with a cease and desist order for her wedding planning/catering business.

The council told Butler that anything relating to commercial business from her home, requires a waiver.

Hugh Engels, of Planning and Zoning, said Butler failed to meet him on Oct. 21 with the waiver request. She was not present at the Oct. 23 meeting.

• A resolution authorizing the termination of the donation of the Annison Plantation house was postponed for six months.

City Attorney John Hopewell said Zachary owns the house. "You can't just give it back," Hopewell said. "It's a revocable donation, meaning the owners can decide not to take the house back or take it back if they feel it's not being properly maintained."

Betty Tucker, of the Zachary Historical Association, told council members that there are enough funds to build a bathroom in the house.

A bid of $11-12,000 was received by a local contractor, Tucker said, and the association would like to move forward with construction.

A concern of the city's is that there are no restroom facilities in the house.

The Zachary City Council's next meeting will be Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m.