By Harold Keller / L’Observateur / Febuary 27, 1999

I am continually amazed that so much time is spent at council meetings concerning recreation. The bottom line is that a lot of time is taken up,talking about nothing. It’s like shadow-boxing – fighting against the wind.St. John Parish has no public recreation – never did. Yes, we’ve had publicmoney given to public and private citizens to promote selfish agendas and take care of a select few. We even have a Recreational Advisory Boardappointed to help advise the council.

I understand that the board has been in place for over three years. In myopinion, they have accomplished nothing, except to occasionally criticize the parish president and council and, get this; they have been making demands. Yes, an advisory board making demands. The only function of anadvisory board is to give advice. It carries no authority. None! Period!I’ve served on a few of these boards and realize it’s frustrating when the people you advise turn deaf ears to your recommendations. I guaranteethat I would never stay three years on a board that had no influence and, last but not least, had no positive input. That, on my part and excuse theexpression, would be stupid.

I understand that the St. John Recreational Advisory Board has threatenedto resign – in other words – quit. Please do the parish president, thecouncil and the people of St. John Parish a favor – quit. You haven’taccomplished anything in three years. It’s time to direct your energiessomewhere else.

To Mr. Labat and some of the council members that have good intentions: Isuggest that you do the parish a favor. If the advisory board doesn’tresign, dissolve the board and don’t do anything about recreation until the next administration is in office. That’s the only fair way to handle thesituation.

Harold Keller is a regular columnist for L’Observateur

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