By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

CONVENT – The St. James Parish Council on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve a measure to allow the parish to expropriate about 13 acres of undeveloped land across from the parish courthouse in Convent as a site for a proposed community center and emergency supplies warehouse.

The land in question was originally owned by three separate families with deeds dating back to 1897. The parish has found nearly 100 heirs to the property but has been unable to locate them all. Parish attorney Sid Marchand told the council the expropriation process would be the best way to help the parish find as many heirs as possible.

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. Parish President Timmy Roussel said the parish and some of the property’s landowners agreed on the appraised value but added that the title insurance company had requested the parish go through the expropriation procedures to obtain the property because of the large number of possible heirs.

Marchand explained that once the land is transferred to the parish, the money from the land purchase is put in a registry of the court and heirs will be allowed to come in and stake their claim to the property. He said the Clerk of Court holds the money, and there is no end date on when people can come in and make a claim.

During a public hearing on the ordinance, Lutcher resident Sheila Jones, a representative of family members of one of the landowners, asked questions about the buildings and where they would be placed. By the end of the hearing, the family was satisfied with the decision to move forward with the process. Roussel said the proposed community center will be centered on the lots, leaving enough space on either side for a driveway and parking. The warehouse will be placed on the smaller tract and will be used to store emergency equipment and other supplies used during a disaster. He said the parish has been trying for at least 16 years to develop the land into something for parish use.

Marchand said the process could take about a year to complete.

In other action, the council renewed an existing agreement with Tangipahoa Parish regarding a point-to-point shelter for St. James residents in the event of an evacuation. Roussel said the parish had an agreement with the school board to offer buses and drivers, but the parish could also use the National Guard.

The council also approved a resolution accepting the terms and conditions of the state Department of Transportation and Development to allow the parish to accept about $1.2 million in grant funds for a multi-use trail along the east bank levee. Roussel said the grant will pay 95 percent of the project’s construction cost, and the parish is responsible for a 5 percent match.

The 2-mile trail will be placed near the base of the levee and will stretch from the Gramercy Fire Station to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Paulina.