By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

EDGARD – Following a heated debate between parish officials and council members, the St. John Parish Council requested Tuesday that the administration re-examine an existing drainage master plan to see whether it addresses solutions for flooding in the Homewood neighborhood of Reserve.

Council members, led by District 3 Councilman Charles Julien, have cast a sharp eye on the historically flood-prone neighborhood after heavy rains late last year again sent water into streets and homes in the area. During a Dec. 22 meeting, the council had requested administrators devise a plan to correct issues that have affected the area for, according to Julien, more than 30 years. Julien said he is asking for more than a “quick fix.”

“We don’t need another Band-Aid,” Julien said. “We need the problem solved once and for all.”

St. John Acting Chief Administrative Officer Buddy Boe told the council Tuesday public works crews have spent the past two weeks clearing ditches along streets and near the railroad tracks in the area. He also said a major drainage canal along Airline Highway has been cleaned out and the parish plans to blow out clogged culverts under the roadway in the next few days.

Boe said the parish is also looking to expand a canal in the area and may add additional drainage pumps at the Reserve relief canal and Trosclair canal. He said administration is requesting the council hire an engineer with an existing contract to determine where new pumps might be needed.

A handful of council members questioned the need for a new survey citing an existing master drainage plan already on the books in the parish. That study was drawn up by the same engineers administrators requested for the new study.

“They have yet to rectify the problem,” Julien said. “I would rather have a fresh set of eyes look at the issue to see if something was missed. This means a whole lot to the people of District 3. We need to act on it properly.”

Julien, along with councilmen Haston Lewis, Dale Wolfe and Ronnie Smith, requested that administrators review the master plan to see whether it addresses solutions for Homewood flooding. A few members also suggested asking the parish attorneys whether the parish contract allows the council to look at a different firm.

Verbal jabs littered the lengthy drainage discussion. At one point during a debate, Smith, the council chairman, was forced to pound his gavel to quiet a heated discussion between Julien and Acting Parish President Pat McTopy.

“We are working very diligently on all drainage projects,” said McTopy in response to Julien’s comment that the administration is not working hard enough. “We cannot exhaust 100 percent of our efforts to one part of the parish. I’m not arguing the project’s importance. I understand the importance.”