By VICKIE JAMBON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Stating they needed time to review the parish president’s budget, the St. John the Baptist Parish Council flexed its muscles when it banned Nickie Monica from approving ‘any’ new contracts before the end of the year without its approval. Moments later, the council agreed unanimously to immediately issue a new contract for a backflow prevention program.

At a parish council meeting held Tuesday, Nov. 23, Chairman Joel McTopy said he proposed the resolution – clipping the parish president’s power – so the council would have time to study the 2005 proposed budget. He said he did not want ‘any’ new contracts to be carried over into next year.

Councilman Lester Rainey said he did not want the Parish to get heavily involved in contracts and that contracts issued for lobbying purposes could be counter-productive to what the council was trying to accomplish.

Councilman Ronnie Smith asked Monica if the new mandate would hinder him in everyday operations.

Standing at the council’s microphone, Monica stoically told Smith, “This will not affect administration. We are not spending the parish’s money frivolously. We are finishing projects we already began.”

Councilman Steve Lee asked the council to approve spending money for a backflow prevention program.

Lee said, “This program is dear to our hearts. We need to get it by the end of the year. I know we are reviewing the budget. However, we could fund this from interest generated on the $9 million dollar bond.”

Lee gave a price tag of $38,000 for the first year of a three-year maintenance project.

Councilman Ronnie Smith later explained the $9 million bond was borrowed to address an administrative order issued against the parish by the state. He said the project cost $18,000 to design and that the parish would be required to pay a $2,000 maintenance bill each month. “Every year the contract will have to be renewed,” said Smith.

By approving the plan, the council has now agreed to hire Backflow Prevention Services, LLC of Baton Rouge to prepare a comprehensive cross connection and backflow prevention program for the parish.

Mitchell J. LeBas, owner of Backflow Prevention Services, LLC said the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) requires water system owners to protect their systems from potential contamination. He said DHH regulations currently in place are being enforced more stringently in an effort to keep water systems safe from accidental contamination.

LeBas later said his program is a proactive approach in complying with state regulations.

“The council is approving the parish administrations appeal for a new backflow prevention program,” said LeBas. “A backflow prevention service will help you meet and protect parish water from contamination.”

LeBas maintained a written document would be a valuable tool in assisting the parish with implementing the program. “The key element in complying with DHH’s regulations is to target high health hazard water users,” said LeBas.

Department of Public Utilities Director Ralph Beam also addressed the Parish Council on the matter.

Beam said the parish is currently under an administrative order to correct deficiencies in the water system. The order was issued on Dec. 12, 2003. “They have until the end of August 2005 to correct the problems cited by the DHH,” said Beam.