By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish Utilities Director Ralph Bean has yet to hear back from the Department of Health and Hospitals regarding the $15,000 fine the Parish received in May.

After the imposition of penalties letter was received, Bean had the opportunity to apply for mitigation in writing, but still has not received a response.

“I sent off two letters on May 19,” Bean said. “One was in reference to the fine, and the other concerned other minor matters. I received a response for the second letter, but not for the first.”

Bean said the DHH granted the extensions he asked for to complete the maintenance of three tanks and emergency generators.

“Our new deadline is June 17,” Bean said. “We are on our last tank and we should meet the deadline.”

The previous deadline was set for March 31, but due to confusion of the definition of “implement,” the deadline was not met.

Bean previously stated, “We didn’t know it was supposed to be completed. We were in the middle of “implementing,” there was just a misunderstanding in what the word meant.”