By Richard Meek
Contributing Writer

LAPLACE – Resumption of the anchored Reserve/Edgard ferry service lays with the fate of a $1 million grant application with the state, St. John the Baptist Parish officials said.
On Tuesday night council members voted to authorize Parish President Natalie Robottom to advertise for Request for Proposal for an operator for the ferry, contingent on receiving the Community Development Block Grant. Robottom said her office is in the process of drafting the RFP, and it should be advertised in the next few weeks.
She has previously indicated the grant will be approved pending completion of the lengthy application. Additional funding will come through the $35 million the parish has been awarded in Hurricane Isaac relief funds.
The ferry had been on the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development chopping block for more than a year, with the guillotine falling at the end of July. Officials originally hoped the ferry would be operational through the end of August via a road swap agreement with the DODT while the parish awaited the CBDG grant funding. But DODT officials recently informed Robottom that despite the agreement there was insufficient funding to extend the service past July 31.
Robottom, however, said the parish is still responsible for maintaining the state roads as indicated in the agreement.
In other news, council members said parish employees might be forced to start picking up some of the tab for health insurance but with the caveat it will include improved coverage. Currently, the parish is required to pay for health insurance for all employees.
Councilman Larry Snyder said the current policy is “pretty good, but you get what you pay for.” He said he believes a better policy can be negotiated, even if it means employees picking up some of the cost.
“Sooner or later (employees sharing in the cost) will happen,” Snyder said. “We need to start looking at that. We want to get the possible deal but be prudent for the parish.”
Councilman Marvin Perrilloux said he believes an improved policy can be offered if the employees would contribute to the cost.
Councilwoman Jaclyn Hotard said she was unsure if mandating employee contributions was legal but admitted the benefits “have been watered down because the premiums have increased.”
Natalie Tatje, a representative of Coventry, which is the parish’s current carrier, suggested a standard plan as well as a plan with increased coverage, which the employees could pay for.
Hotard mentioned the possibility of grandfathering in the current employees since they would fall under the ordinance governing the payment of premiums but force all new employees to contribute to the plan. No timetable was established to make a decision.
Also, the Arcuri Center should soon be getting a facelift after council members approved a resolution to allow the administration to advertise for bids for construction of 360 additional square feet. District Attorney Tom Daley said the additional space is needed because the area between the judge’s bench and the area where attorneys and their clients are seated in the courtroom is cramped.
The project would expand that area by 16 feet and add three conference rooms where attorneys will be able to meet with their clients. A restroom for the exclusive use of judges is also included. Daley said that was a request of the judges.
He said the estimated cost is $160,000 and will be paid for from the criminal court fund.
“This is not a long-term cure but will solve operational problems we are having,” he said.
Perrilloux challenged the administration to begin consideration of the construction of a new city hall that would house all of the parish offices.  
The parish currently leases space for some of its offices.
Daley agreed that such a building is the long-term solution.