LAPLACE — Drainage and how to increase funding for what many consider the parish’s most acute challenge continues to be a major priority for St. John the Baptist Parish council members.

During their June 25 meeting, they continued to pepper President Natalie Robottom regarding the most effective use of available funds and to establish a separate line item in the budget specifically for drainage.

Robottom said $325,000 is dedicated to in-house drainage projects in the current budget. But councilman Larry Snyder challenged Robottom, saying that money was only going for ditches and reminded the parish president of the council’s mandate at its meeting two weeks ago to dedicate at least $500,000 to a separate drainage department.

“You want a line item for $500,000? That would bring us to about $800,000,” Robottom said.

Councilman Michael Wright said there are many small projects that once completed would help solve the overall drainage problem.

“There are millions of dollars that’s been invested in drainage, and I’ll be happy to get it to you,” Robottom said. “I’m sure y’all will be using it in your election.”

In other council news, replacement of the old West Bank Community Center will likely take some time, Robottom said in response to a question from councilman Kurt Becnel. Becnel had inquired about how much money was committed to the project.

Robottom said the original LGAP funding that was to be used to refurbish the existing building would not have been adequate to cover all of the necessary repairs. She said parish officials did not foresee the problems associated with the center, citing the need for a new roof, slab and other issues.

“It was a horrible facility,” she said, adding that a new facility will have to be constructed, either by demolishing the current center and building on the same footprint or building on a different location.

“It could be done in a bond issue,” she said.

Robottom added that once existing bonds continue to be paid down, the possibility exists of issuing new bonds to pay for the center.

“We really deserve a facility,” said Becnel, who represents the West Bank.

The parish also agreed to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the River Parishes Convention, Tourist and Visitor Commission to utilize the council chamber to hold monthly meetings. But approval did not come without disagreement among council members.

A legal opinion from the district attorney’s office said that the parish administration must prove the commission provides a “demonstrable, objective and reasonable expectation of the parish receiving equal or greater value for allowing (the commission) to use the facility for monthly and any other special meetings.

“How did they prove that?” Snyder asked Robottom, who replied the commission is attracting tourism dollars to the parish as well as coordinating movie projects with the film industry.

“(The commission) is working on your behalf,” she told the council. “That is demonstrable. We’ve been pleased with assistance they have been providing to us.”

Commission director Buddy Boe acknowledged the burden to prove its worth to the parish is on him and his staff. He said the parish sees the benefit of the commission’s efforts through increased sales tax and revenue.

The council did demand the commission use the video firm the parish uses to televise council meetings.

“We are asking to be there for 90 minutes a month,” Boe said. “We are already managing (the St. John the Baptist Community Center) as a favor to the parish.

Snyder abstained from voting on the motion to approve the CEA, which passed 8-0.

By Richard Meek, contributing writer