By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / June 5, 1999

LAPLACE – A proposed subdivision expansion near Garyville was shot down by the St. John Parish Council, and the action provoked a flare of angerfrom Councilman Kevin Duhon, who represents the area.

“The war is on!” Duhon declared as he thumped the table before him, saying he would refuse to support other councilmen who failed to support his efforts.

Developer Carl Monica attempted to push for the council to grant preliminary approval of the Phase Two expansion of Plantation Oaks Subdivision.

Meanwhile, current residents of Plantation Oaks continue to lodge their protests, saying drainage improvements must first be made, including larger culverts under Airline Highway, north of the proposed development.

Discussion opened with Duhon making the motion to approve the request and Councilman Dale Wolfe seconding for discussion purposes only.

Mitch Lebas of Shred-Kuyrkendall, at the council’s prior request, performed a drainage analysis of the drainage concerns and said that impact would be “minimal, at most.” He agreed with the residents, though,that culverts would be needed under the Kansas City Southern tracks, as well as Airline Highway.

Councilman Ranney Wilson pressed Monica, “Why would you want to put more houses when you know there’s a drainage problem?” Monica insisted he would include drainage improvements in his development and added, “I got the railroad to come out and I’m trying to help.”The drive for approval derailed, however, as Councilman Dale Wolfe declared, “I can’t approve this without the drainage improvements. Itdoesn’t make any sense.”Wolfe then took back his second to the motion, which then died for lack of a second and sparked Duhon’s table-thumping outburst.

Resident Remy Amedee thanked the council for its support and concern.

In other activity, the Parish Council: Heard from several residents on an “outhouse” stink from the sewer treatment ponds of the Globalplex facility west of West 10th Street, Reserve.

Area residents have contended with a foul odor since early April due to a breakdown in the treatment plant’s aerator. Deputy Port Director Don Hayssaid excess solids in the ponds were the cause of the odor and added that dredging would begin in a few days and finish in two weeks.

DEQ air quality inspector Jim Stone said the odor was similar to that produced when a group of teen-agers were confined to a room after consuming red beans. “Unpleasant, but not deadly,” he termed it.”I don’t think that’s funny!” resident Sylvia Clayton responded.

Clayton, concerned about a further stirring up of the odor, asked the port to put her and her neighbors up in motels until the work was done.

Resident Mary Belvin added residents have certainly been sickened by the weeks of foul odors, 24 hours a day, suffering from headaches, nausea and diarrhea.

Witnessed as a representative from Sen. Louis Lambert’s officepresented a $15,000 check of Rural Development Fund money toward the Garyville Fire Department’s new rescue truck.

Approved $1,200 for the New Orleans Southern Belles, AAU 14-year-old girls’ basketball state tournament, set June 17-21 in the gyms of Riverside Academy and St. Charles Catholic High.Board member Keith Gillies said up to 16 teams from across the state would attend, with an average of 12 members per team. The money is forpromotional purposes for St. John Parish. First- and second-place winnersin the tournament will go on to the nationals at Virginia Beach, Va.

Wolfe cautioned the Council that to give such grants to private organizations would “open the flood gates” of similar requests.

Approved a $110,423 change order for a ground storage water tank in Edgard while refurbishing of the water tower is corrected.

Changed the June meeting dates to June 15 and June 29. Both meetingsare scheduled for LaPlace.

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