By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In addition to naming Raydel Morris as the replacement for outgoing Councilman Richard “Dale” Wolfe, the St. John the Baptist Parish Council also approved a small bond issue for the Public Works Department, addressed the use of transit authority buses for emergencies and expanded an agreement between the parish and the Port of South Louisiana regarding use of the St. John Airport.

The council approved issuance of $800,000 in bonds for the purchase of heavy equipment for public works.

St. John Chief Financial Officer Pat McTopy said the money would be used to purchase three tractors, three grass cutters, and excavator, a truck and a trailer.

He said the new equipment would replace older equipment recently sold at a parish auction.

“It has been a number of years since we purchased new equipment for public works,” McTopy said. “Our bond attorney has gotten us an affordable rate.”

McTopy said the parish received the bonds at a 3 percent interest rate. They should be repaid within the next five years.

The bonds were approved 7-0 with Councilman Ronnie Smith absent from the meeting.

The council also approved an expanded agreement with the port regarding operations at the St. John Airport that allows the port to lease the airport from the parish.

St. John Emergency Preparedness Director Paul Oncale said the agreement allows the port to directly apply for grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration without having to go through the parish.

The port took control of the airport in July and has been embarking on improvements to convert it into a cargo hub for the port’s operation.

Oncale said the agreement creates a 30-year lease at $1 per year. The parish is still responsible for maintaining the airport access road and all adjacent property. The parish would also be responsible for paying the port 15 percent of any sale or lease proceeds from any new developments on adjacent property.

The changes were approved 6-0 with Jaclyn Hotard abstaining from the vote.

The council also voted on an agreement between the parish and the River Parishes Transit Authority for use of the authority’s five buses during an emergency event.

Oncale said the buses, which are equipped with wheelchair lifts, would be used during any emergency situation requiring a mass evacuation.

He said the mutual aid agreement, which passed 7-0, would be at no cost to the parish.