By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE – New harbor service fees, the first upgrade since 1991, will go into effect May 1 in the Port of South Louisiana.

A 45-minute public hearing Wednesday in LaPlace produced no opposition to the fee schedule, according to Executive Director Joseph Accardo Jr. during his final meeting at that job. Accardo is the new executive director of Port Authorities of Louisiana.

The new fee schedule is as follows:

For vessels less than 77 meters, the fee goes from $150 to $200.

For vessels 77-198 meters, the fee goes from $300 to $400.

For vessels more than 198 meters, the fee goes from $450 to $600.

Dock fees for midstream loadings, transferred cargo, the fee stays at $900.

For inland non-self-propelled barges when transferring cargo, the fee goes from $12 to $16.

The supplemental harbor fee when transferring cargo at anchorage, the fee goes from .021 cents a ton to seven cents a ton.

For self-propelled inland watercraft under 500 HP, the fee goes from $5 to $110.

For such watercraft, 500HP to 1,000 HP, the fee goes from $10 to $15.

For such watercraft, 1,000 to 2,000 HP, the fee goes from $15 to $20.

For such watercraft, over 2,000 HP, the fee goes from $30 to $40.

For ocean-going barges less than 198 meters, the fee goes from $150 to $200.

For ocean-going barges greater than 198 meters, the fee goes stays at $300.

Additionally, a new security fee of $125 per vessels was approved by the commission.

In other matters, the lobbying contract with Adams & Reese was approved, with Tim Coulon and Chris Coulon in attendance. Tim Coulon, the former Jefferson Parish President, represents the Port in Baton Rouge before the state legislature. His son, Chris, represents the Port before Congress.

A property exchange with PepsiAmerica was approved in Reserve, where a five-acre tract the Port owns was swapped with a similar tract. Accardo said that as the Port’s tract is assessed at $36,000 more than the other, PepsiAmerica will also pay that amount to the Port.

The property exchange was done to clear the way for construction of a road from Globalplex toward Airline Highway and possibly beyond to Interstate 10.

The commission also approved a change order to the transit shed construction contract with Civil Construction Inc. For $48,000 for installation of a rail car switch. Commission Jay Roberts voted against it, and said the matter should have been discovered earlier.

The commission also voted to settle a long-standing dispute with Peavey Grain over rents. According to Legal Counsel, and new Executive Director Joel Chaisson, Peavey will pay $500,000 to the Port, plus cover the Port’s $10,000 in legal fees, and Peavey will turn the St. Elmo grain elevator to the Port’s ownership.

As Chaisson takes on his new executive director responsibility, the Port Commission voted to hire attorney Nathan Folse to succeed Chaisson as the Port’s legal counsel.

Finally, at the suggestion of Commissioner Jay Roberts, the commission voted to name the new port security boat the “MVP Accardo,” in honor of Accardo.