By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

EDGARD — Pushing aside claims that the new St. John Community Center, nearing the end of construction in LaPlace, St. John Councilman Steve Lee declared, &#8220It’s not all about the movie industry. That’s just not true.”

The Parish Council during its Finance Committee meeting instead unanimously approved empowering the Parish President to seek proposals from potential tenants. Those tenants would only have available to them 25,000 of the total 46,000 square feet of the U.S. 51 facility.

Several meetings have been conducted by the parish’s recreation advisory committee, which urged more use of the facility by parish recreation. Rumors had been flying for months that the building would be solely utilized as soundstages for Hollywood film projects.

Last summer, the Louisiana Institute of Film Technology offered to lease the facility for a year to use as movie soundstages. It offered $12,000 a month for use of the entire facility, setting off a public outcry against the proposal.

Economic Development Director Julia Remondet explained that use of the facilities by any tenants would be at least one year in duration, with montly rental fees to be negotiated, once proposals are received. Those fees would help offset expenses, and the tenant would still be responsible for its own utilities and janitorial expenses.

Councilman Sean Roussel pointed out as well that the parish is not obligated to accept any proposals offered to the parish government.

Just more than 20,000 square feet, some 35 percent, would still remain for other uses by the parish and its residents.

The resolution was approved with motion by Roussel and seconded by Lee and passed 8-0 with Councilman Ronnie Smith absent from the meeting. In the regular meeting of the council, the matter was again approved unanimously and without further comment.