By SUE ELLEN ROSS – Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – The St. John Parish Council is expected to make a decision on a resolution regarding assistance with the parish’s water situation April 13.

At that time, the council will either agree or deny the calling of a special election to ask voters to refinance bonds backed by property taxes. If they agree, the proposal would be placed on a July 17 ballot.

St. John Parish water plants are in need of improvements. The upgrading would improve water quality, as mandated by an administrative order from the Department of Health and Hospitals.

Last December, the DHH listed 36 areas that the parish needs to address to improve drinking water quality.

The parish’s drinking water had been tested and was found to show high levels of trihalomethane. This is a toxic chemical that appears when there is too much chlorine used to treat the water.

Approximately $9.5 million in property tax bonds are at the core of the refinancing. Repayment of the bonds would take place over a 20-year period under current St. John Parish tax structure. Homeowners in the parish would extend paying existing property taxes for 20 years.

Parish bond attorney Hugh Martin had told the council last month that since interest rates have changed, coupled with the fact that parish’s financial condition has shown improvement, more monies may be available.