Addressing Infrastructure Backlogs & Prioritizing Local Repairs
The City of St. George will officially assume independent responsibility for Public Works services on November 1, marking a major milestone for the City and its residents.
In recent months, St. George has worked closely with East Baton Rouge Parish to ensure a smooth transition. During this period, residents continued using EBR’s 311 system to report issues, which were routed to St. George. The city has been paying contractors including EBR in some cases to complete that work. Many requests have been completed, including pothole repairs, drainage cleanouts, and enhanced mowing and beautification projects.
St. George residents have submitted more than 2,400 public works requests through EBR’s system, some of which date back several months and, in some cases, several years. Mayor Yates acknowledged that the city is taking on a substantial backlog of work and said efforts will focus on projects that provide the greatest immediate impact for residents citywide.
“We know there’s a lot of work to be done,” Yates said. “We’re going to focus our resources where they can make the biggest difference first as we scale our capacities to meet the demand.”
As St. George moves forward, the city is building its own Public Works team by combining city staff and local contractors to deliver more responsive, high-quality services that residents expect and deserve.
Beginning November 1, residents can submit Public Works requests directly to the City of St. George for issues such as:
- Potholes, signage, signals, or street striping
- Roadside or drainage grass cutting
- Ditch or culvert cleanouts
- Sinkhole repairs
- Debris or junk piles
- Dead or overgrown trees posing safety concerns
East Baton Rouge Parish will continue managing drinking water, sewage, recycling, animal control, traffic signal repairs and trash services, while St. George will now handle roads, drainage, and general maintenance.
“We’re asking residents for patience as we continue to build the kind of city government they deserve,” Mayor Yates said. “This process takes time, but we’re committed to doing it the right way with transparency, efficiency, and long-term results. Each improvement brings us closer to the level of service our citizens expect.”
Residents can submit requests beginning November 1 at https://forms.bluecatreports.com/4tXQQWgL/work-request%22 or by calling (225) 312-0476.