By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – The long-planned replacement Willowdale Pump Station was approved Monday by the St. Charles Parish Council, bringing pumping capacity to 100 percent capacity – as capacity was judged five years ago.

Public Works Director Greg Bush said the $3 million project adds two pumps to the existing station, which is located behind Willowdale Country Club.

Another bonus of the project, he said, was the addition of a turnaround for heavy equipment and the overlay of the access road from Willowdale Boulevard.

The project has been in the planning stages since July 1998, according to Bush, who added the station will have decking, rip-rap protection and increased sump area, coordinating with the existing pumps.

He said this brings the pumping capacity up to master plan capacity, as it was five years ago.

The budget for the station was set at nearly $3.3 million, and contractor D&O Construction’s bid came in at $3,091,611.

Construction is due to begin next month. Voting in favor of the project were council members Brian Fabre, Dee Abadie, April Black, Lance Marino, Terry Authement, Clayton Faucheux, G. “Ram” Ramchandran. Voting against was Barry Minnich, who doubted the screening set up to prevent clogging of the pumps was sufficient. Desmond Hilaire was absent from the vote.

The parish council also approved the 20-lot first phase of Country Cottage Estates in Montz. Planning Director Bob Lambert reported that the drainage impact study had already been completed on this, as well as a planned second phase (now awaiting preliminary plat).

Also the council voted to reduce the speed limit on Meadows Drive in Destrehan from 25 mph to 15 mph. Acting at residents’ requests, Hilaire pushed to lower the speed limit to 10 mph, but other council members argued that rate was too low for motorists to manage.

The reduction was approved 8-1, with Hilaire voting against the proposal.

Also, the council approved an agreement with the St. Charles Parish School Board for the summer feeding program, to be held June 10-July 18 at Carver Elementary, Cammon Middle, Norco Elementary, Luling Elementary and R.J. Vial Elementary schools.

The program will provide free lunches for St. Charles Parish children and bus transportation will be provided by the school board.

The council also heard Lucien Frederick of Destrehan, who complained of the unnecessary overlay of Pelican Street and the heavy road dust on Jonathan Street, which leads to the Destrehan Sewage Treatment Plant.

The area, between ADM Growmark and Bunge grain elevators, is known locally as “the Dust Bowl,” due to grain dust in the area, settling on homes, vehicles and lawns.

Finally, the council approved a letter of no objection toward relocating the Carson Cafe on Airline Highway in Kenner to just west of Almedia Road in St. Rose, adjoining the Racetrac convenience store.