Oakdale city audit reveals $1.2M paid to contractor with no written contract, bid rigging, council overpayments

OAKDALE, La. (KPLC) - A new state audit reveals the City of Oakdale allowed a contractor to complete more than $1.2 million worth of work with no written contract, no inspection records, and no proof the vendor was even licensed.

That’s just one of eleven findings listed in the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report covering the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

According to the audit, several projects were completed for the city’s utility system and streets with no plans or documents defining the scope of work. The primary vendor was paid simply by presenting invoices, with no formal contract establishing the scope of work or compensation arrangements. There was also no documentation showing that the work was inspected before payment was made.

Oakdale Mayor David Vidrine identified the contractor.

“It was Elite 360,” Vidrine said. “All those contracts were signed during the last administration on the way out.”

Vidrine, who took office in January 2025, says the work was ultimately completed. However, he acknowledged the city had concerns about the cost.

“The issue is not that the work wasn’t getting done,” Vidrine said. “The issue, I think, was the price tag on it. When we had pulled everything, we didn’t see where they were asking for multi-bids.”

The audit notes the city may have violated public bid law. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office says the matter has been referred to the state Attorney General’s office.

The audit also found that former administrative assistant Alison Doyle allegedly collected bids on adjudicated property and prepared bid amounts for a specific bidder, ensuring that person was able to purchase certain properties.

Vidrine confirmed Doyle’s identity but was cautious given the ongoing criminal process.

“I’ll be honest, I’m a little bit hesitant on that one because she’s still going through that criminal process right now,” Vidrine said. “What I can tell you is it was the prior police chief’s wife who was the last mayor’s administrative assistant.”

The corrective action plan included in the audit states that Doyle was arrested and terminated. The matter was referred to the local District Attorney’s office.

Vidrine says the city has since overhauled its bid process to prevent future manipulation.

“Now what we do is we don’t bring them to any individual employee here,” Vidrine said. “There’s a box that’s put out front underneath the security cameras that we’ve had installed since I’ve been here.”

The audit also found that some City Council members received compensation in excess of the amount established by the city’s ordinance.

Vidrine says the overpayments stemmed from a conference council members attended in 2024, which they paid for out of pocket and later sought reimbursement for.

“When they turned in their receipts for reimbursement, it ran through payroll instead of it being reimbursed directly to them,” Vidrine said. “They put it through payroll, which is why they were $500 to $600 over.”

The audit recommends that the mayor review the ordinance, consult with legal counsel, and address the issue promptly.

Assistant Louisiana Legislative Auditor Judy Detwiller says any municipality with more than seven audit findings is automatically designated as a high-profile audit.

“Troublesome,” Detwiller said. “Based off of what I’m seeing in this audit report and the fact that they had a qualified opinion over their general fund, there’s definitely some troublesome items happening within the town.”

Detwiller added that while the city is not currently at risk of state intervention, it is on the auditor’s radar.

Mayor Vidrine told 7News most of the findings in the audit stem from the previous administration. The city says it has already taken steps to address several of the violations.