By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

EDGARD – The St. John Parish Council on Tuesday delayed passage of the parish’s $51.9 million budget after one member said he wanted more time to review the plan.

Division B Councilman-at-Large Steve Lee, who also heads the council’s finance committee, said he and his fellow members have only had “a short period of time” to look over the parish’s annual spending plan.

“It is an excellent budget that has been carefully drawn up,” Lee said. “But there is no need to rush into approving it.”

The council voted 7-0 in favor of tabling the budget, with council members Ronnie Smith and Darnel Usry absent from the meeting.

In other action from Tuesday’s meeting, the council also approved a pair of contracts for design work on projects tied to the parish’s $29.5 million bond issue.

The council authorized Meyer Engineers and Chenevert Architects to begin work on two bond issue projects for the West Bank.

Meyer Engineers was awarded a $24,759 contract to design an entrance road, landscaping and a parking lot for the West Bank Recreation Complex in Edgard. Estimated cost of construction stands at about $220,000.

Chenevert Architects has been hired to draw up renovation and expansion plans at the St. John Parish Courthouse. The expansion is expected to add secure parking, expanded office space and more security features. The parish is expected to spend about $1 million on the improvements.

For more on Tuesday’s council meeting see Saturday’s edition of L’Observateur.