By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although he did not officially resign from his post, St. John the Baptist Parish Councilman-at-Large Richard “Dale” Wolfe said Tuesday’s council meeting was likely his last, as the meeting wound down Tuesday night in LaPlace.

Wolfe said he was waiting to resign while the terms of his contract with the parish housing authority could be finalized. He was selected as the authority’s executive director last week and must resign from the council before taking the position.

“As soon as I know that the contracts are finalized, I’ll contact Mr. (Ronnie) Smith so we can set a special meeting,” Wolfe said, referring to the council chairman. “At that time I’ll make my announcement.”

Once Wolfe resigns, the council must make a selection on a temporary replacement, who will serve until a special election can be held. The next special election on the secretary of state’s calendar is scheduled for April 2, with a runoff on April 30. Wolfe, the Division A Councilman-at-Large, is one of two council members elected parishwide. His term ends in January 2012.

Wolfe said after the meeting that he has three people in mind to recommend for the council seat, but would not name them. A council majority must approve the selection.

“Hopefully, they will put someone on here that feels the way I feel and takes care of the people of the parish,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe, 70, works as a heavy equipment operator for the St. John Parish School System and has 35 years of experience as a council and police jury member. He must resign before taking the seat because the council appoints members of the housing board. Wolfe replaces former director Lawand Johnson, who resigned from her post in May before pleading guilty to theft charges from the parish District Attorney’s Office. Johnson admitted to making more than $2,000 in personal charges on a housing authority-issued credit card.

In other action from Tuesday’s meeting, the council approved a resolution to refinance $7.5 million in public improvement bonds from a 5 percent interest rate to a 2 percent interest rate to save the parish from having to pay excessive interest fees.

Parish bond attorney Hugh Martin told the council that the refinance would produce a savings of about $540,000 in interest. He said the bonds, which are used for capital sewer projects throughout the parish, were originally issued in 1996 and refinanced in 1999. The refinance does not extend the terms of the bonds, which must be repaid by 2014.

The council also received a brief update on the status of construction at the Reserve boat launch.

The project’s architect, Joey Murray, said a parish permit with the state department of natural resources had expired and the parish had to reapply.

He said the permit had been secured and work would resume at the site as soon as Monday.

He said the stoppage would not result in any sort of delay and added that the project would still be completed before the end of the year.

Tuesday was also the first meeting for the parish’s new public information officer Paige Braud. Braud, a LaPlace resident who attended St. Charles Catholic and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, will handle communications duties for the parish.

She has previous experience in public relations and marketing in the New Orleans area.