By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur
VACHERIE – Members of the St. James Parish Council broke ground at the site of the parish’s much-anticipated multipurpose center recently.
St. James Parish representatives said
the building will be approximately 12,000 square feet, with a metal roof. Facilities will include an indoor basketball court, stage, recreation room,
conference room, kitchen, concession stand, office, three storage rooms, restrooms and two designated safe rooms.
The project is expected to cost slightly more than $2.7 million with a tentative completion date set for the fall of 2014.
Family, friends and representives from Lamar Contractors Inc. and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness also attended the ceremony. Parish President Timmy Roussell commended Jody Chenier, the St. James director of public works, for his involvement in the project. District 5 Councilman Charles Ketchens had hopeful words to say about the facility.
“I know this has been a long time coming. We had some people that might’ve thought they wouldn’t see the day, but I knew the day was coming,” he said. “By this time next year, we’ll be cutting the ribbon.”
The St. James Parish council accepted a bid for construction on the multi-purpose center during its regular meeting in July. Lamar Contractors Inc., a general contractor from Luling, submitted the lowest bid and received the building contract. The project will be funded through $1.5 million in bond sales, as well as FEMA Hazard Mitigation and capital projects money.