ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / October 14, 2000

LAPLACE – Two drainage projects affecting the residents of Garyville were the topics of some heated debate by the St. John the Baptist Parish Council.Councilman Allen St. Pierre wants the state Department of Transportationand Development to re-shape the Hope Canal behind Garyville then hand it over to the parish for maintenance.

Parish engineer Charles Savoie informed the council that the state owns the canal at the present time. Re-shaping it would improve drainage for theresidents and will not cost the parish anything. After the state is finished,the canal would belong to the parish.

Parish President Nickie Monica recommended the council adopt St. Pierre’sresolution.

“It is in our best interest to take over the canal,” Monica said.

But Duaine Duffy had some problems with the plan.

“This sounds like another mandate from the state on small governments,” complained Duffy. “This is not fair. We will be doing the state’s work.”Savoie recommended the council approve it, and the motion was passed unanimously.

St. Pierre also requested the administration go ahead with plans to installtwo 60-inch culverts under the Kansas City railroad tracks on the west side of Louisiana Highway 54 to improve drainage in the area.

St. Pierre wants the administration to go out and get three engineeringproposals on the project.

There was some confusion on the wording of the resolution because of the type of project that was needed for the culverts.

At first the parish wanted to do an open cut type of project, which meant just cutting through the track trestles and placing the culverts. However,liability for this would be very risky.

So engineers proposed doing a jack-and-bore method of construction in which the tracks are jacked up and a hole is bored under the tracks for the culverts.

This was agreed on, but the jack-and-bore method would cost over $100,000 as opposed to $25,000 for the open cut. Being over $100,000, bids wouldhave to be accepted for the project.

Because of the wording of the resolution it was moved to the next meeting.

Brett Acosta, a resident of Garyville and victim of flooding, asked, “Why can’t you do this now? We’re just asking for two culverts. What is theproblem”” Ranney Wilson answered, “We don’t have the money in place.”Acosta was not happy with the answer.

“I’m trying to avoid the problem of flooding before the rains start,” he said.

In other business:

The council gave the administration the authority to move forward with the sewer study in Reserve using URS Granier engineers.

The council gave the administration the authority to buy out the deserted car wash on River Road in Garyville so the parish can expand Ezekiel Park and get rid of an eyesore. Cleveland Farlough, said the sheriff’s office has agreedto clean up the area. Monica said the price for the 1/2 acre of land is$30,000.

The council extended the garbage collection contract with Trosclair Sanitation for six months and gave the administration permission to look for proposals with other garbage collection companies and report back to the council.

Director of Public Works Henry DiFranco told the council the Belle Terre lighting project is basically complete. However, the insurance company forthe engineering firm that installed the lights will pay for the re-alignment of the poles, and the parish will pay nothing for the repair.

Monica showed the master plans for the U.S. Highway 51 park which willinclude the library, events building, volleyball courts, soccer and football courts, jogging and walking paths, playgrounds picnic areas, concession stands and parking for 550 cars.

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