By Kimberly Hopson

L’Observateur

CONVENT – The St. James Parish Council took action on several proposed ordinances, including 2013 tax millage, imposing a no wake zone in the Gravois-Vacherie Canal and the previously discussed moratorium on RV parks and campgrounds, during its regular meeting Wednesday.
Before voting on the ordinances, the council also agreed to add several amendments, all of which were introduced on the same evening, during the public hearings for the ordinances in question. All ordinances passed with no opposition.
Three amendments were made to the RV and campground or  dinance, the most important of which will require those filing for an extension beyond the designated six-month residency period to apply with the St. James Parish President’s Office.
Second or third requests may be submitted to the parish’s planning commission office, as previous practices dictated. Another amendment said that RV parks or campgrounds with current licenses will be not be required to adhere to new licensing policies.
Before the amendment, RV park users were only required to apply for extensions with the planning commission, but council members agreed that it may be a burden for the planning commission to handle the expected amount of paperwork each month.
“If it’s a true recreation vehicle park, it’s supposed to be there for six months maximum, then you come out. A lot of these RV parks are being used by people who have been working on job sites for an extended period of time,” explained Director of Public Works Jody Chenier.
An amendment to the No Wake Zone ordinance for the Gravois-Vacherie Canal would allow sheriff’s deputies to issue citations to the owners of the boats, instead of having to track down the offending drivers who created turbulence in the canal.
In other news, the council agreed to begin receiving bids for a 2013 parishwide road improvement program and drainage improvement within the town of Gramercy. The drainage project will be funded by a grant under the Gustav/Ike Community Development Block Grant Disaster Re  covery Program and is expected to alleviate existing conditions and address the disaster recovery needs of the small community.