By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – It has been nearly a year since the St. Charles Parish Council, in a 7-2 vote, approved the acceptance of 34 acres off Interstate 310 in Luling from Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Edward A. Dufresne Jr. for a civic center.

“I don’t want you to take too damn long to build it. I want to see it!” Dufresne urged the council during discussion on that Jan. 22, 2001 vote.

Construction on the two-lane access road, dubbed “Sugarland Parkway,” by Esperanza Land Company began this week, along with installation of necessary utility lines, at no cost to the parish.

The roadwork has begun because the St. Charles Parish School Board is on the move, with approval of the $28 million bond issue last fall, to build the Raymond K. Smith Middle School on a 40-acre site across the tracks and across the street from the civic center site.

That school is scheduled to be completed and open by August 2004. The site was bought by the school district in May 2000 and only awaited voter approval of the construction financing.

However, St. Charles Parish is still stalled on whether a civic center, or at least a fairgrounds, will be built on the site.

Seven million dollars has been appropriated by the Capital Outlay budget in Baton Rouge, but appropriation does not mean sure funding, said Rep. Gary Smith.

“The overwhelming majority of projects are not funded,” Smith said. Even so, the state bond commission would have to approve the funding and their agenda is set by Gov. Mike Foster.

On the parish’s side, Smith said, the site for the center, valued at $1.8 million, could be used as a local match for state funds, but to get the project moving, he continued, “It would have to be a lobbying effort now by the parish council.”

Larry Matson, the parish parks and recreation director, said the aforementioned site “would be ideal.”

Matson hopes plans would include basketball courts to relieve the pressure of scheduling games and practices around events at the various local schools and their own events.

What’s more, the department offices themselves are located in a trailer parked under Interstate 310’s Hale Boggs Bridge, exposed to possible hurricane damage.

Matson added the new building could provide room for other parish offices such as Planning and Zoning and Economic Development, now occupying cramped office space near the Hahnville Library.

“The schools have been very good to us with the use of their gyms,” Matson said, “but sometimes there are scheduling conflicts like a science fair they didn’t tell us about.”

In addition, Orion Refining Corp., whose offices are located in the old New Sarpy Elementary School, had loaned the use of their gym for the Recreation Department’s volleyball and basketball use.

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 changed that, with increased security at the plant.

Matson added he would be willing to promote the center’s development to parents in order to get what his department needs.

“We’re in dire need of having our own indoor facility,” Matson continued. “That would be tremendous.”

At least three committees have studied the notion of such a facility. One, chaired by former councilman Clay Faucheux, fizzled out, largely through Faucheux’s opposition to the project. The second, chaired by Capt. Patrick Yoes of the sheriff’s office, likewise came to nothing in a short time.

The third effort, a citizens’ committee established in 1993 and chaired by realtor Carole Schonberg, produced a hefty feasibility study in cooperation with Burk-Kleinpeter Inc.

That study cost the parish $48,500, and included the results of public polls and reviews of several facilities in the region, from St. Bernard Parish to Houma, and the committee also solicited land proposals from major property owners.

One of those submitting was Dufresne, who eventually donated the present proposed site.

Other possible uses of the planned public center include an auditorium, where events such as graduations, proms and trade shows could be held.

One objection raised during council discussion was the determination of priorities, with the courthouse overcrowded and cramped.

Land was bought several years ago next to the courthouse with an eye toward construction of a parish office building.

However, Laque said this civic center would be easier to obtain public approval, since the public would be using it more.

Laque has said his top priorities remain parish sewerage and hurricane protection, but with the land in hand, “it’s a no-brainer.”

Dufresne’s attorney, Louis Authement, said that the agreement includes a stipulation that something is in place by the end of 2007 or the land reverts to Dufresne. However, Authement continued, that deadline is not set in stone, and could be extended if needed.

Laque agreed and noted that the $1.8 million-valued donation would mean a tax break for Dufresne.

If the judge takes back the land, though, he also re-assumes the tax burden.