LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 11, 2000

HAHNVILLE – Directors in two parish offices indirectly made their pitches for voter approval in Saturday’s tax election as their annual reports were made to the St. Charles Parish Council.Mary desBordes, director of the St. Charles Parish Library, detailedbooming attendance in summer programs for children, computer training programs for senior citizens, expansion plans for the headquarters branch in Luling and construction of a new branch in St. Rose.For that new branch a site and an architectural firm have been selected.

On Saturday, voters are being asked to approve renewing the existing millage of 2.95 mills and increase it by 1.95 mills. The library system hasbeen funded by a dedicated millage since its inception in 1956.

In 1999 alone, 125,289 library visits were made by patrons, 396 programs were provided, 10,592 patrons attended programs and 16,697 uses were made of public access computers.

In the past 10 years more than three million items were circulated.

Also, the library’s new website is in place, located at www.stcharles.lib.la.us.In another matter, Maj. Sam Zinna, who heads the parish’s 9-1-1 centersupervisory commission, reported on the activities of the past year.

In the past year calls have increased from 21,447 in 1998 to 22,564.

Saturday’s millage election calls for an increase from 0.49 mills to 1.0mill, needed to pay for the operation and maintenance of the new 800-MHz radio system and for adding four new operator positions at an additional station in the 9-1-1 Center.

Zinna added that new computer technology in place at the center allows for maps to appear to operators which show the physical location of incoming calls. This is to speed up response time by emergency units.Also on Saturday’s ballot are a new .65-mill tax toward a new health unitand for renewal of the current 2.69-mill property tax for road lighting.

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