By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – St. John Parish officials are still looking to receive payment on past due bills from the former promoter of the parish’s community center who was fired in February.

Wayne Read, head of New Orleans Sound Stage and Illinois-based Group D-360 Inc., who handled promotions for the St. John Community Center from the time the facility opened in August 2006 until his dismissal last February, allegedly owes nearly $100,000 in outstanding bills stemming from his use of the building, according to Parish officials.

St. John Parish Attorney Jeff Perilloux said his office received authorization on August 28 to take &#8220protective action” against Read and his companies in an effort to seek retribution for what he owes.

&#8220He understands our demands, and what he owes,” said Perillioux. &#8220We are expecting him to pay the full amount right away to avoid further legal action.”

Read said that the debt is production-related expenses from a company who used the community center for filming. He said he is trying to reconcile it with the production company, they just needed verification of the invoices.

&#8220As of Friday, the company approved the last five percent of the money owed,” said Read. &#8220We intend to pay everything that is owed, the delay has been in the approval process.”

Read signed a $35,000 contract with the parish in 2005. He and Group D-360 were responsible for creating a Web site for the community center and establishing initial contacts with businesses and event organizers. Read was also responsible for bringing the Louisiana Institute of Film Technology (LIFT) in as a full time tenant for the community center. The film company, which leased the community center for $15,000 per month, recently ended its relationship with the facility in August.