By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – The St. John Parish Civic Center is almost finished, and officials hope to have a completion date sometime in May.

Councilman Sean Roussel said only minor projects are left to be finished.

&#8220We are looking at a couple of months left,” he said. &#8220It may be a little longer than that, but around a couple of months.”

Roussel said they will be advertising for bids soon, and have a good number of people interested in using the building.

The Civic Center was about 85 percent finished at the beginning of December, and had planned a January 2006 completion date, but because of Hurricane Katrina a few delays were expected.

Sizeler Architects representative Brian Faucheux noted at the Nov. 22 council meeting that minor wind damage needed to be repaired, but that the main roof was 100 percent complete, and the building is water tight.

&#8220The exterior walls, which sustained some damage due to sheathing being wet and some membrane flashing had to be replaced,” said Faucheaux.

According to Roussel, the inside of the Civic Center is pretty much finished, leaving mostly the parking lot and paving to be done, along with minor touch-ups here and there.