Last week’s St. John the Baptist Parish Council meeting was full of action.

During the finance meeting, several important projects were approved to move forward by the Parish Council.

The West Bank Senior Citizens Center contract was awarded to LA Contracting Enterprises Co., which was a project funded through the 2009 Bond Issue.

The Council authorized the contract for the Garyville Timbermill Trail Phase II, which is funded through the Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trails Program and the 2014 Bond Issue.

One of the larger projects of the night awarded was the contract for construction of the East Bank Government Complex, which was awarded to Lamar Contractors of Luling.

The project is primarily funded through the 2009 & 2015 Bond Issues and a variety of supplemental funding sources. Construction is anticipated to begin in a few months and is estimated to take 12 to 14 months to complete.

This is a much-anticipated project that began in 2009 when the voters approved the first funding source in the 2009 bond issue.

With the need for parish services growing, the new building will help consolidate parish government offices for better access for residents and business owners.

Acadiana Cinemas and Xtreme Performance & Nutrition were both in attendance to introduce their new businesses to St. John. Acadiana Cinemas is the newly renovated movie theater located in the existing LaPlace Cinemas movie theater location off of Airline Highway next to Capitol One.

Xtreme Performance & Nutrition is a new nutrition shop next to Anytime Fitness on Belle Terre Boulevard and is focused on healthier living, as well as supplemental nutrition and supplements.

Please support our local and new businesses in St. John.

Resolution R16-38 was unanimously passed, supporting the proposed construction of an artificial fishing reef to support recreational fisheries at the Frenier Boat Launch, as well as benefit fisheries and aquatic life. This was proposed at our May Council meeting by the Coastal Conservation Association and Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, in partnership with the private sector, government and volunteers.

Last but certainly not least, Councilman Buddy Boe submitted his resignation from his District 7 Council seat to take a position in the Lt. Governor’s office. The Council will be making an interim appointment at our next meeting until a special election is called.

We wish him the best in his future endeavors and hope he can use his position in the Lt. Governor’s office to promote St. John Parish and our River Region.

On behalf of the St. John the Baptist Parish Council, I would like to wish you all a very Happy and Safe Fourth of July.

Don’t forget to come out to our 16th Annual Independence Day Celebration which is  June 30, beginning at 6 p.m. Visit sjbparish.com for more information.

Michael P. Wright is St. John the Baptist Parish Council District 5 representative. Contact him at District5@sjbparish.com or m.wright@sjbparish.com.