LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – Long-expected rate hikes for water consumption and sewage treatment failed to get past the St. Charles Parish Council at their Monday meeting. The sewer rate proposal lost in a 5-3 vote, with council members Barry Minnich, Terry Authement and Dee Abadie voting against the proposed rate schedule and G. “Ram” Ramchandran absent. Six votes were necessary to approve the new rate. The waterworks rate increase proposal was tabled for further study by a 7-1 vote, with Brian Fabre voting against the action. During discussion on the proposed sewer rate hike, finance director Lorrie Toups urged the council, “You need to buckle down and implement this rate schedule,” and pointed out that while electricity has gone up, the parish residents have coasted along without any rate increase for the past eight years. The proposed rate increase was made because the parish borrowed $47.3 million from the Municipal Facilities Revolving Loan Fund Program to build the new regional sewage treatment plants. As part of the loan agreement, the parish agreed to collect revenues from users to offset operation and maintenance of the plant. Meanwhile, Gulf South Engineers Inc. performed a rate study which urged user fee increases. This ordinance proposed a $5.06 per 1,000 gallons rate, effective June 1. This would be followed by another increase on Jan. 1 to $5.13, to $5.19 the following January and to $5.31 by January 2004. “It’s truly what we need,” Toups urged. Several audience members had other ideas, including former parish councilman Ellis Alexander, who reminded that the voters voted down a half-cent sales tax on April 7 aimed to offset a rate hike. He also pointed out the parish administration has hired an additional 100 people since taking office. Councilwoman Dee Abadie agreed and said it was even more. Thelma Schexnayder of Destrehan said, “People in this parish don’t trust you guys.” Marilyn Richoux of Destrehan added, “Please explore this further; there’s no need to rush into this. You have not researched this thoroughly.” Steven Fall, sewer and public works director, urged the council: “This is not a game. This is a mandate from the EPA. I don’t know where the 100 people are. They’re not in the sewer department.” Abadie urged waiting at least six months to determine exactly what the expenses were in operating the regional plants. On the other side, Councilman Lance Marino said he wanted to respond to “the usual cast of characters” and said, “This is a legitimate financial problem that we have to deal with.” Voting in favor of the rate increase were Marino, Desmond Hilaire, April Black, Brian Fabre and Clayton Faucheux. In discussing the proposed fee increases and user rate hike for water consumption, waterworks director Robbie Brou said the only part which would affect every customer would be the minimum monthly charge, from $2 to $4. Other fees, for installation charges, meter deposits and shutoff service, have not been changed since 1990.