ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / January 28, 2000

LAPLACE – The new St. John the Baptist Parish Council found itself facedwith unfinished business left by the old council on Tuesday.

Developers are asking the council for preliminary approval for Phase 2 of Plantation Oaks subdivision located between Garyville and Mt. Airy. Aftersome heated testimony from both sides of the issue, the council has yet to make a decision.

Remy Amadee, a resident of Plantation Oaks and spokesman for the other residents, addressed the council for the second time on the issue and said phase two of the subdivision should not go ahead because of the serious drainage problems in the area.

He said every time it rains out there, streets flood and water gets into people’s houses because there is no place for the water to go.

He and other residents are afraid more development in the area will only increase flooding if the drainage problem is not addressed.

“I am not totally opposed to this project,” Amadee told the council, “but without drainage improvements in the area I will continue to oppose it.”Despite a huge drainage project recently completed in Garyville, there is still flooding in Plantation Oaks. Part of the problem is Louisiana Highway 54 andthe Kansas City Railroad tracks. The recent drainage work was done on theeast side of La. 54 where culverts were placed under the railroad tracks,allowing water to drain off into the Hope Canal and the swamp on the north side of Airline Highway.

No such work has been done on the west side of La. 54, and as a result, theresidents of Plantation Oaks have been plagued with poor drainage.

Amadee cited a study by Shread-Kuyrkendall Engineers that confirmed the east side of La. 54 did not have enough drainage. Amadee went on further tosay the Federal Emergency Management Administration has said this area is prone to flooding whenever it rains.

“Let’s build projects that are responsible,” Amadee pleaded with the council.

“Please make a responsible decision.”One of the developers, Carl Monica, was not swayed by Amadee’s speech.

“We are not responsible for drainage in St. John Parish,” Monica told thecouncil. “This has been going on for one and a half years, and it is up to thecouncil to improve drainage at the railroad tracks.””Besides,” Monica continued, “all we are asking for is just preliminary approval to get going on this.”Councilman Cleveland Farlough said a person’s home was a big investment, and even though he did not have a problem with the developers there were drainage problems in the area.

“I could only vote for approval if we find a solution to the drainage,” said Farlough.

Allen St. Pierre, who represents the area where Plantation Oaks is located,said he had spent a lot of time researching the problem and he proposed a solution. Adding several culverts under the railroad tracks on the west sideof La. 54 and extending the Angelina Canal that runs next to Plantation Oakswould improve the drainage, St. Pierre said. He estimated the cost of theproject to be about $20,000 to $25,000.

He then moved the original resolution be amended based on his drainage plan.

However, council members Steve Lee and Ranney Wilson and the council’s attorney, Charles Lorio, all had problems with the amendment.

Lee said, “This changes the intent of the original motion; this is not the same motion and this is no way to start off our first meeting.”Wilson was skeptical of the whole procedure.

“I want the project to go forward, but we need to do it right,” Wilson said.

“What we have here is a motion that says yes and no to the developers and that isn’t right.”Councilman Dale Wolfe suggested the council ask Shread-Kuyrkendall to look into the issue since this is what the council pays them for.

Mitch Labas, representative of the engineering firm, was called up to the podium and asked what he thought of St. Pierre’s plan.”I concur with Mr. St. Pierre’s assessment of the situation,” Labas told thecouncil. “What Mr. St. Pierre recommends will take care of the problem.”However, the legality of the motion and the amendment was still in question.

“You can’t amend this motion,” declared Lee. “There is no way this can passthe test.”St. Pierre agreed.”I want to do things right,” St. Pierre said, “and I’m man enough to admitwhen I am wrong, so I will withdraw the motion.”The council asked Labas to come back to the Feb. 8 council meeting with allthe figures and facts on the drainage project. Then Farlough moved that themotion be tabled until the next council meeting, and the council agreed.

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