$16 million facility to break ground in Reserve

By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — A $16 million, 40,000 square foot Louisiana National Guard Readiness Center will begin construction in Reserve, starting in September, St. John the Baptist Parish President Nickie Monica said in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

&#8220This is a great day for St. John Parish,” Monica said while introducing Col. Douglas Mouton, a construction facility maintenance officer for the Louisiana National Guard. The facility will be located on a 16-acre site next to the War Veterans Home under construction on Airline Highway in Reserve. It will host the 1084th Transportation Company’s 176 personnel, as well as tanks, heavy-equipment and bulldozers.

The site also includes room for future growth, to the north of where the first phase will be located, according to Mouton.

Originally due to be built in the parish in 2008, Mouton said Hurricane Katrina and the need for a Guard facility of this type close to the New Orleans area prompted stepping up the schedule. &#8220This will allow the National Guard to better serve the citizens in this area as well as improve our overall readiness in the state,” he added.

The facility will take 12-18 months to build, Mouton said. &#8220This represents progress at a time when steps forward are so very important.”

He continued, &#8220We look forward to our continued relationship with St. John Parish,” and added, &#8220The concept of neighbors helping neighbors is alive and well.”

With that thought in mind, Monica said the Guard facility will be expedited through the parish, waiving construction permits, providing utility

hook-ups and donating up to $50,000 in fill. An access road will also be provided to the site from the Airport Road, located west of the facility.

The site itself is owned by the parish and will be leased to the National Guard at a dollar-a-year rate for 99 years.

The facility will also be an addition to parish facilities as a community center for activities such as Boy Scout meetings, Monica said. &#8220The building can be used by the community.”

Monica continued that enlistment in the Louisiana National Guard entitles the enlistee to a $9,000-$20,000 signing bonus, the opportunity to learn a marketable skill and free college tuition.

Also in attendance were Rep. Gary Smith, Economic Development Director Julia Remondet, and Parish Council Members Cleveland Farlough, Steve Lee, Sean Roussel, Jaclyn Hotard and Lester Rainey Jr.

Roussel commented, &#8220This is a great opportunity for St. John Parish. I look forward for them to come as soon as possible.”