LAPLACE — After debating whose responsibility it is to keep certain drainage ponds clean on the Belle Terre Country Club grounds, an agreement has been stuck between the club and St. John the Baptist Parish Government.

The agreement was made in November and is ongoing, St. John communications director Baileigh Rebowe Helm said. A one-year agreement was struck, and after the year is up, the ponds will be kept up by the country club only.

The Parish will help the country club clean water near holes 3 through 8 and 16 through 18 on the golf course because they are public drain outlets.

“St. John is paying 70 percent of the cost to clean the ponds, and the country club owners are responsible for 30 percent,” Helm said. “Not only are we helping remove debris from the ponds that are clogging the ponds, we are also spraying the sides, cleaning the basins and cleaning the culverts.”

The country club falls into Councilman Buddy Boe’s district.

Boe said he is thankful the administration and the owners of the country club were able to reach an agreement.

“Those ponds are a part of our drainage system, and they are a part of the country club’s beautiful setting, but they had become an eyesore,” Boe said. “Because they have been cleaned, it means two things. First, it improves drainage, which gives us more capacity in those ponds, and it also makes everything look better.

“I’m glad an agreement was made. It should have been made a long time ago, but some things take time to construct to make sure the taxpayers are protected and the private property owner is protected.”

Boe said he feels maintaining the ponds will be easier now that the cleaning process has begun.

Rajender Pannu, president of the Belle Terre Civil Association, said the cleaned ponds look lovely.

“Before being cleaned, the ponds were horrible,” she said. “Vegetation took over the whole pond and you couldn’t even see the water. Residents were afraid that a little dog or even a little child playing around would fall into the pond and there would be no way to find it because the vegetation was so thick. The vegetation also messed up drainage.”

Parish President Natalie Robottom said after more than a year of negotiations and several site visits, an equitable agreement to clean the ponds was reached.

“The ponds are an integral component of the drainage system and there are multiple advantages to completing this project, such as improved drainage, more retention capacity, increased property values and a more appealing golfing venue,” she said. “The contractors are doing an excellent job, and everyone is pleased with the progress thus far.”