ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / November 1, 2000

LAPLACE – Councilman Duaine Duffy of the St. John the Baptist ParishCouncil will head up a committee made up of school board members, constables, justices of the peace and another council member to handle re- districting if proved necessary by the 2000 census.

Duffy thinks the six-person board will be necessary because of what happened in 1990.

“Re-districting caused some problems 10 years ago,” Duffy said. “We had a$100,000 lawsuit filed against the parish because of it.”Duffy didn’t say whether there would be any big changes in districts or precincts, but he thinks there should be a mechanism in place to make sure of equity if re-districting is necessary. He is especially concerned with thesize of certain precincts.

“I’ve heard there is a precinct with 1,000 people and another precinct right next to it with only a 100 people,” said Duffy. “This has caused someproblems in the past, and I think we should learn from our mistakes and rectify the situation.”He said other issues will need to be worked out also. A change in thepopulation figures could change the number and size of school board districts and the same could happen to the justices of the peace and constables.

Duffy and Cleveland Farlough will represent the parish council on the committee.

In other council business:

Council attorney Charles Lorio informed the council that a hearing was held on Oct. 13 in front of Judge Madeline Jasmine to determine whether thecouncil could legally hire its own staff. Jasmine has not given a ruling on thematter yet.

Stan Orillion of Garyville got approval of a Rural Development Grant for $20,000 to continue repairs and renovations to the Timbermill Museum in Garyville.

Job Boucvalt and Donnie Hackler of Marathon/Ashland Refinery announced that today is Household Hazardous Material Collection Day. Citizens can turnin all hazardous materials found around their houses for disposal. Itemssuch as paints, pesticides, car batteries and even scrap metal will be collected. All materials can be dropped off at the old K-Mart store on WestAirline Highway in LaPlace or at the Jerusalem Temple Hall on Ormond Drive in Destrehan. Hackler said that last year collection weighed in at over 55,000lbs of materials, and they are hoping to do better this year.

St. John Parish Chief Administrative Officer Chris Guidry got approval fromthe council to implement a Coastal Zone Management Plan which will result in a Coastal Management Board to oversee all issues having to do with the parish coastlines along Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

The council wished absent member Allen St. Pierre a speedy recovery. Thecouncilman is suffering from nine broken ribs he suffered in a roofing accident last week.

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