LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 25, 2000

HAHNVILLE – A pair of ordinances slammed the engineering programs and practices in the St. Charles Parish administration, as Parish President AlbertLaque’s powers to issue small contracts was blocked as was an emergency ordinance to keep program management services in place.

Laque briefly railed against the action to limit his administrative power to issue architectural and engineering contracts where the fee is less than $20,000, blaming every problem on the prior administration.

The ordinance, brought up by Councilman Barry Minnich, slammed a six-month moratorium on such contracts in an effort to control perceived out-of- control spending.

“The last council and administration caused all the problems we’re discussing tonight,” Laque burst. “Y’all screwed up more than we can take care of.”Minnich, seated next to Laque, shrugged off the outburst and responded that he’d had “a bellyful of your complaints.”The tension began with an emergency ordinance from Laque asking for approval of a contract with Shread-Kuyrkendall and Associates Inc. tocontinue monitoring drainage engineering for the parish.

The request was made through Public Works Director Steven Fall, who said he has no in-house engineer qualified to do the required work. As Shread-Kuyrkendall was approved to do the work Feb. 28 and extended on April 3,part of the contract dictated that it would be brought up again for review at the 80 percent portion of the term of the contract.

Fall said he is completing work on a one-year contract to extend the service in an ordinance to be introduced at the Nov. 6 meeting for council action onNov. 20.Councilman G. “Ram” Ramchandran commented, “I don’t see an emergencyhere,” and he suggested hiring an individual engineer on a temporary basis until the matter could be better addressed.

Minnich said he agreed with Ramchandran and pointed out that Shread- Kuyrkendall already has several of the engineering contracts they are supposedly supervising for the parish. “This is a very unpopular issue,”added Councilman Clayton “Snookie” Faucheux.

“We’ve been generous, but for how long?” chimed in Councilwoman Dee Abadie.

Fall said he could not find a qualified engineer, who must have a four-year degree, have passed two eight-hour exams and have worked for four years as an intern under a licensed engineer, all for approximately $30,000 per year.

The request failed by a 5-4 vote, needing six for approval. Voting against themeasure were Councilmen Minnich, Ramchandran, Abadie and Terry Authement.

Next came Minnich’s ordinance to enact a moratorium on Laque’s power to issue the small engineering and architectural contracts. Minnich said that 48such contracts, totaling $768,000, have been issued since March, with 24 of them to only two firms.

Fall said to halt the practice would shut down subdivision development, and Waterworks Director Robbie Brou added the action would virtually shut down his department.

Parish attorney Bobby Raymond added the action may open up the parish’s liability from subdivision developers.

The council approved the action in a 6-3 vote, with only Councilmen Brian Fabre, April Black and Desmond Hilaire voting with the administration.

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