ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / June 21, 2000

LAPLACE – St. John Parish President Nickie Monica and Councilman DaleWolfe were presented with plaques Tuesday for their efforts to maintain a memorial on Airline Highway.

Elaine Tassara, who made the presentation, is the mother of Michelle Tassara, who died in an auto accident several months ago on Airline Highway.

Since the accident people have brought flowers and markers to the site as a memorial.

According to Tassara, “The memorial is still there due to the promise of two people, Dale Wolfe and Nickie Monica.”In accepting the plaque, Monica told the council he is planning to make the site near the new driver’s license office on Airline Highway a permanent memorial with a stone marker and plaque.

At Tuesday’s meeting Monica also named a new commissioner to the St.

John Public Housing Authority Board. The Rev. Donald Brown of Reservewas named the new commissioner.

Monica said he was very impressed with Brown’s relationship with kids as he coaches the basketball and baseball teams for the housing authority.

Cleveland Farlough said of Brown, “He is uniquely qualified for the post.

The reverend is a native of Garyville, a resident of Reserve and has a church in Montz.”Brown is the pastor of the Providence Baptist Church in Montz.

Allen St. Pierre said Brown is a good choice for the board because he “is avery consistent person.”Brown if filling the post vacated by Sheila Morris, who was dismissed from the board several weeks ago at the behest of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In other parish council business: Cleveland Farlough appointed Brannetta James to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Duaine Duffy got a resolution passed requesting the state Department of Transportation and Development proceed with the Intermodal Connector between Interstate 10 and the Port of South Louisiana facility in St. JohnParish.

The administration got resolutions passed that designate June 12-18 as United States Army Week and April 30-May 7 as Soil and Water Stewardship Week.

The council passed an ordinance establishing a “no wake” zone at the mouth of the Galva Canal in Pass Manchac.

Parish engineer C. J. Savoie informed the council that the work on theLions Water Plant is almost complete.

Steve Lee, chairman of the Insurance Committee, informed the council that the parish will go with LWCC as its workman’s compensation carrier.

The new contract will be $16,000 less than the old one.

Renovation will start immediately on the Cornland Community Center, formerly known as the Butterfly Lounge in Reserve.

The Finance Committee accepted the new contract with Mosquito Control Inc. for the mosquito abatement program. However, in the regularmeeting, the council tabled the motion until Dale Wolfe could research other less expensive options for mosquito abatement.

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