April 14
April 14, 2009
Charles "Bob" Craver
April 16, 2009
St. Mary Parish is seeking $10.7 million in disaster recovery from a Com-munity Development Block Grant the state is offering.
Parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange said public hearings will be held over the next two months to allow the public to offer suggestions on how the money should be spent.
The grants, however, could come at a price to the parish.
“A lot of these projects will call for us to conduct environmental studies and environmental reviews – a process that could take anywhere from six months to a year for each project,” LaGrange said. “For instance, right now I am still waiting to get answers on studies for pending projects the council agreed on shortly after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”
Councilman Craig Matthews suggested the parish create a housing restoration and roof/home replacement program for those who suffer storm damage from hurricanes.
But LaGrange said the parish’s top priorities – placing floodgates at the Franklin Canal and raising the levee in Morgan City – would require a large portion of the grant. However, the parish could apply for an additional $9 million, he noted.
In other fiscal matters, the council accepted a $9,000 community grant from Wal-Mart of Bayou Vista. Store general manager John Hillyard said small grants are being awarded across the parish “so that many lives could be touched.”
Benefiting from the grant are the Morgan City and Centerville fire departments, Patterson Library, St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, Patterson Sawmill Festival, Franklin High School ROTC program and the local American Heart Association chapter, each of which received $1,000. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office was given $2,000.
In other action, the council awarded $4,000 to the Morgan City Power Boat Association. It will help offset costs as the group hosts the 2009 World’s UIM Inboard Power Boat Race on Oct. 17-18 at Lake Palourde.
Established in 1903, the UIM (Union Internationale Motonau-tique) governs powerboat racing.
In other business, Parish President Paul Naquin informed the council that St. Mary is an official member of the Keep America Beautiful campaign. The designation comes roughly one year after the council created a parishwide litter office. Morgan City, Franklin, Patterson, Berwick and Baldwin are also included in the litter agreement.
The council also approved a resolution declaring the last week of April as “Orange Ribbon Week.” The awareness campaign is designed to alert the public to the dangers of underage drinking.
According to Rodney Grogan, director of the St. Mary Parish Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, an average of 11,313 young people between the ages of 12 to 20 try alcohol for the first time daily in America.
Grogan said his office has teamed with the parish’s Red Ribbon Committee, MADD chapter, Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program and the Lafourche Bayou Council on Alcoholism to call attention to the designation. Special events are being planned for the week.
Bayou Vista Wal-Mart general manager John Hillyard presents a $2,000 grant to Maj. Mark Hebert of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. The store donated $9,000 to area groups. * Photo by HOWARD CASTAY JR.
