L’Observateur / June 24, 1998

HAHNVILLE – Taxpayers in St. Charles Parish got a tiny break as the St.Charles Parish Council voted to submit a grant application on a sewage treatment project in Killona.

At a special Parish Council meeting Monday, the panel voted unanimously to submit the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant application offered by Parish President Chris Tregre.

St. Charles Parish is currently under multiple compliance orders by theLouisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate deficiencies at several wastewater treatment plants, including the Killona treatment plant.

Last May, the parish’s voters approved a $41 million tax program to fund construction of new plants. Ever since, the Parish Council has worked tofind alternative funding to cut back on the amount of taxes levied, according to Parish Councilman Bill Sirmon.

“We told the people we would seek money to reduce the tax burden,” added Council Chairman “Ram” Ramchandran during the 15-minute meeting.

A similar Louisiana Community Development Block Grant application, offered by Parish Councilman Ellis Alexander for the Kinler Street, Boutte, area was withdrawn from consideration because it did not qualify.

Among ordinances introduced for public hearing at the July 6 regular Parish Council meeting, which will start at 6 p.m., are: * A $12.4 million construction contract with C.R. Pittman ConstructionCompany for the Hahnville Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

* A loan and pledge agreement with the Louisiana DEQ for the sale of $24 million of general obligation sewer bonds.

* To prohibit swimming within 150 feet of any public boat launch.

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