LAPLACE — A new government complex is expected to start construction in LaPlace within the next 90 days, parish officials said.

The St. John the Baptist Parish Eastbank Government Complex will be located in front of the current government building at 1801 W. Airline Hwy in LaPlace.

Chief Administrative Officer Laverne Saulny said the new complex will consolidate all of the parish’s government offices under one roof.

“For instance, planning and zoning is in a different location (right now),” Saulny said. “Now, everything will be in the new building, which we are extremely excited about. We are going to have this beautiful state-of-the art building. We are going to be extremely accessible to our citizens, and it’s really going to have a major impact in the parish.”

The project has been on the books for a long time, Saulny said, adding it is exciting St. John Parish Council members voted unanimously in favor to solicit bids for the complex’s construction during their meeting Wednesday evening.

With this new complex, Saulny said, the Parish leaders hope to better serve residents and business interests.

“I think the citizens here in the parish are going to be extremely proud to be able to come to this building,” she said.

Communications Director Baileigh Rebowe Helm said the new complex will be a one stop shop for residents.

“It’s going to house everything the residents need as far as public services,” she said. “It will house the registrar of voters, planning and zoning, code enforcement, clerk of court, utility billing and water bills and finance grants. Right now, residents need to go to multiple locations to pay their bills or go to the registrar of voters. This new building will consolidate all of those things into one place, which is very convenient for residents.”

The only parish government office not moving is the emergency operations center.

The new government building, which will come in at 44,130 square feet, will be completed with in 17 months of the start of construction.

“The new building will also hold a state-of-the-art Council chamber,” Helm said. “The Council chamber in the current building is in dire need of renovations. It’s old and outdated, and we are using outdated equipment. The new state-of-the-art Council chamber can seat more than 100 people, where as the one now seats about 20 people. It’s going to have enhanced sound, a camera system and voting systems. It’s going to be a true Council chamber that will be able to be utilized by the public in an era where technology is moving forward.”

The current chamber will still be used for committee meetings and things of that nature, but the actual St. John Council meetings will be held in the new building.

“The new building is about public convenience and serving the community in a better way,” Helm said.

St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom said the new government complex is moving after several years of “extensive planning and design,” including workshops with all stakeholders and Parish department heads.

“The building was designed as a one-stop shop for residents and business owners and to meet the parish’s needs for today and the future,” Robottom said

According to Parish government, the project is funded through the 2009 and 2015 Bond Issues and a Capital Outlay award.