By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – A proposal to freeze sewer rates met approval at the Aug. 5 meeting of the St. Charles Parish Council, yet according to Parish President Albert Laque it failed to do what it intended to do.

In a message recently released to council members, Laque said it appeared the council’s intent was to suspend the fee increase scheduled for January 2003. However, he added, in the amendment process during the meeting that language was not included.

The ordinance, after amendments, deleted the line calling for suspending the schedule rate increase, Laque noted.

What is left is an ordinance calling for an evaluation of income and expenses, to be completed within 30 days, Laque said, and added he signed the ordinance anyway, as what remains is also good-government in nature.

Laque also said the intent of the council was to suspend all scheduled rate increases, but he declared it would have the effect of “a return to the political arena for the establishment of future rates instead of an orderly process driven by independent analysis of the department.”

A good-government element of the ordinance which Laque said he supports is to allow the accounting data set the rates.

Councilwoman Dee Abadie’s proposal to freeze the parish sewer fee ended with approval by most of those in attendance. The ordinance intended to lock down the rate at the current $4.10 level, while an independent audit reviews the books.

Abadie responded, “I think it was an error, a mix-up,” but added she felt it was “extremely interesting” that Laque had his own ordinance in the wings to be introduced to accomplish the same rate freeze.

“Why did he do that?” she asked.

Laque’s response to that question is, “I still think my ordinance is the one that should go. The only question is about the timing.”

Another question on Abadie’s mind is why engineer Art DeFraites of Gulf South Engineers could say a rate freeze is appropriate with one year of operation, yet sewer supervisor Sammy Accardo cannot say if he has enough funds to operate the system.

Likewise, J. David Stagni of Stagni & Co. accounting firm added the system “has not yet been in operation long enough” to give an accurate read as to the cost to operate and maintain the sewer system. “Enough time hasn’t passed,” he said.

Laque pointed out Stagni’s firm is approved by the state legislative auditor’s office.

At the Aug. 5 meeting, Laque introduced an ordinance of his own for consideration at the Aug. 19 meeting which points out a rate study and audited financial report concluded no sewer rate increase was necessary.

Laque said of his proposed law, “This ordinance leaves the remaining components requiring independent review to automatically adjust future rates according to sound economic principles as it is currently contained in the code.”

He added, “I think mine is the only sensible one,” but commented, “If somebody wants to make political hay out of this, that’s all right, too. I think the people will see through this.”

Sewerage Director Greg Bush suggested at least a three-year history of finances would be best before considering any rate cut, and added that if the rate is cut after only one year, the parish risks an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency permit violation.

The vote on the ordinance during the Aug. 5 meeting was 6-1, as Councilman Brian Fabre voted against the Abadie ordinance, and Councilmen Lance Marino and Barry Minnich were absent from the meeting.