By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The Housing Authority of St. John the Baptist Parish is continuing to dig its way out of the financial and reporting problems that have plagued its existence in recent years. At Monday night’s meeting Executive Director Trina Henderson said the 2013 audit is complete and reflects the agency’s continued growth.

At the March 17 meeting, Henderson told the Housing Board of Commissioners the 2013 audit was concluded on March 14 and that it will submitted by the deadline of March 31.

Henderson said it is the first time in several years that the audit has been completed on time. She said she is “very excited and very pleased” with the outcome of the audit and credits the Housing Authority team’s hard work and persistence.

Henderson will present the audit findings to the board at a special Housing Authority meeting on March 31 at 5 p.m. at 152 Joe Parquet Circle in LaPlace.

In other March 17 meeting news, the board voted to designate Henderson as the records officer for the Housing Authority. In the past, housing records were not properly managed and the turnover of records did not follow state requirements. Appointing Henderson as the official records keeper means the Housing Authority is now complying with state mandates.

The board began the meeting by presenting the family of Merkadell Cosey a plaque in recognition and appreciation of her work on the Housing Authority board. Cosey passed away in February.