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http://www.state.la.us/OIG/pdf%20reports/2002/1020033.pdf
West Jefferson Levee District Commissioner Ronald Jones
A commissioner of the West Jefferson Levee District proposed using his position on the
board to steer levee board contracts to a private company he was attempting to create.
Ronald Jones, the commissioner, acknowledged in an e-mail that he “was working to try
and get the organization some work using my position at the levee board.”
Mr. Jones later asserted that he was “blowing smoke” and his statements were all false.
Background
The West Jefferson Levee District is responsible for drainage, flood control and water
resources development in the portion of Jefferson Parish on the west side of the
Mississippi River. The levee district is also responsible for constructing and maintaining
levees and drainage systems within its district. The levee district may buy, sell or
exchange property, enter into contracts and perform any acts necessary to carry out its
assigned duties.
Currently the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a large scale hurricane
protection project on the west bank of the Mississippi river in Jefferson, Orleans, and
Plaquemines parishes. The entire project is estimated to cost approximately $300
million. The State Department of Transportation and Development is the lead non-
federal sponsor for the project.
Included in the project is $260 million for work in the area governed by the levee district.
The levee district contracted in May, 1995, with a joint venture engineering firm to
perform all engineering services required by the levee district’s participation in the Corps
of Engineers project.
Mr. Jones was first appointed as a commissioner to the levee district in 1992.
Levee district commissioners are appointed by the governor and serve at his pleasure.
Ronald Jones
Page 2
Improper Actions
Mr. Jones attempted to persuade co-workers to form an engineering company, advising
them by e-mail that he would use his position on the levee board to obtain work for the
group. Mr. Jones also stated in an e-mail sent to the group that a deal at the levee board
had been worked out which would allow him to choose levee board contractors.
Mr. Jones is an employee of a New Orleans area ship building company. All six
individuals he attempted to help organize are also employees of the ship building
company, with five of those individuals holding engineering degrees.
In an e-mail communication dated Sept. 27, 2000, Mr. Jones informed the six co-workers
the initial meeting of the group would take place that day at 5:30 p.m. According to Mr.
Jones, three of the six individuals attended the meeting. Nothing was resolved except to
meet again.
On the following day, according to levee board minutes, Mr. Jones introduced a motion
to defer action on a vote amending the existing engineering contract. The amendment
included $427,200 for bidding services, construction administration, and a resident
project representative for a pump station which was ready for bid and construction. His
motion failed to pass and the contract was amended.
Mr. Jones said he thought he could get $29,950 of these funds disbursed to other
contractors. These funds are included in the section of the contract amendment titled
“resident project representative.”
However, levee district Executive Director Jerry Spohrer stated none of the money could
be split from the contract.
Mr. Jones sent an e-mail to the six co-workers Sept. 29, 2000, the day after the levee
district meeting, in which he said:
“I was working to try and get the organization some work using my
position at the levee board however, at last night’s board it blew apart and it
does not appear that this will happen. It is not dead but it is definitely
dying.”
The second meeting of the group was held in early October, 2000. Shortly after this
meeting, according to the six individuals Mr. Jones tried to organize, three members of
Ronald Jones
Page 3
the group dropped out. The remaining members of the group talked for several more
months before disbanding in the spring of 2001.
Four members of the group said they were certain Mr. Jones would not be an owner of
the proposed company, while two felt Mr. Jones would be. All six members agree the
idea of forming a company never got beyond the talking stage.
Mr. Jones sent another e-mail to the group on Oct. 18, 2001, saying:
“Well, I had worked out a deal at the levee district for me to select the
company to do the construction management for our 100 million dollar
flood protection project which is referred to as the East of Harvey Canal
Westbank Hurricane Protection Project.
“Oh well, I awarded the construction management project to some good ole
white boys about six weeks ago for 1 million dollars. Ya have a nice day
ya hear.”
Mr. Jones general explanation of his actions is that he tries to help people. He said that
he is aware of the large volume of work in the area that could be bid. Mr. Jones said he
would not have owned any part of the new company. However, Mr. Jones further stated
that he and the company could have formed joint ventures to bid on projects other than
those of the levee board.
Mr. Jones stated his motion to defer a vote made during the Sept. 28, 2000, board
meeting was intended to allow other engineering firms a chance to bid on the
construction administration portion of the amendment. Mr. Jones said the six co-workers
could not have bid on this contract without having formed a company. Mr. Jones said he
does not think it is good to allow the firm which designed the project to oversee its own
work during construction.
Mr. Jones said the Sept. 29, 2000, e-mail he sent to the group was just “blowing smoke.”
He said he cannot do the things stated in the e-mail. He said his statements were not true
as he is only one vote on the board.
Mr. Jones stated the Oct. 18, 2001, e-mail was sent due to his frustration that he had
discussed opportunities with people who could not agree on anything. He said the
statements he made in the e-mail are false and again he was simply “blowing smoke.”
He said there is no deal with other commissioners to allow him to select a company to
provide construction management. The board currently has a contract for engineering
services.
Ronald Jones
Page 4
Mr. Jones stated the phrase “good ole white boys” was not intended to be taken seriously.
He said if he had made the statement during the course of a conversation, everyone would
know he was not serious.
Levee board commissioners said no deals have been made with Mr. Jones allowing him
to select contractors. Commissioners state Mr. Jones has questioned the levee board’s
engineering firm about its use of subcontractors.
Conclusions:
1. Ronald Jones misused his authority as a member of the levee board when, in the
course of trying to organize a group of co-workers into a business venture, he told
them he could use the power of his office to steer business to them.
2. Mr. Jones’ unsolicited role in trying to convince his co-workers to join in this
venture, taken together with his actions, creates the appearance that he had some
type of personal interest in the venture. Recommendation:
1. The Governor should take appropriate action. IG Comment:
Mr. Jones states in his response, “With regards to your mention of my motion to defer a
motion for the Sept. 28, 2000 board meeting, I suspect the correct year is 2001.”
The date used in this report is correct as supported by the Sept. 28, 2000, board minutes.
BL/GD/rp
1-02-0033