By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

CONVENT – St. James Parish officials introduced an ordinance to the Parish Council Wednesday to expropriate about 13 acres of land across from the parish courthouse in Convent as a site for a community center and emergency supplies warehouse.

Parish President Timmy Roussel told the council that parish officials and the property’s landowners had agreed to an appraised value, but added that the title insurance company had requested the parish go through expropriation procedures to obtain the property because of the large number of possible heirs involved.

“It’s really the only way we can get it done,” said Sid Marchand, an attorney handling the procedure for the parish. “We’ve already identified 50 heirs on one tract and 40 heirs on another tract.”

Marchand said the undeveloped tracts have remained in the same family since 1897. He said some of the heirs had moved away without a trace.

“The expropriation process will help us find as many of the heirs as possible,” Marchand said. “Once the land is transferred to the parish, the heirs would have to come in and prove their ownership to receive their share of payment on the land.”

Marchand said one tract of land was appraised at about $80,000 to $110,000. He said the other smaller tract was appraised at $22,000

The two tracts are located directly across River Road from the St. James Parish Courthouse, Roussel said. He said the parish has been trying for at least 16 years to develop the land into something for parish use.

The plans involve construction of a multipurpose building to be used as a community center and senior citizens center. A second building would be used to store emergency equipment and other supplies used during a disaster.

Councilman Charles Ketchens asked how long the process would take.

Marchand said the process began last summer and that he is ready to file suit now, but it could be at least a year before the process is concluded.

The council scheduled a public hearing on the expropriation ordinance for 6:15 p.m. May 2 at the parish courthouse in Convent.

In other action, the council approved the execution of a more than $1.08 million contract with Barriere Construction Co. for construction of a multi-use path atop the Mississippi River on the west bank. The path would stretch from Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie eastward to the Science and Math Academy. The parish received a more than $1.06 million grant from the state Department of Transportation and Development.

The council also approved a cooperative endeavor agreement between the parish and the Pontchartrain Levee District so the parish can construct a similar multi-purpose trail on the east bank levee.

Roussel said the parish has submitted a $1.17 million grant application for the 2-mile trail from the Gramercy Fire Station to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paulina.