By Stephen Hemelt
L’Observateur

CONVENT — Angele Rodrigue briefly took center stage at this month’s St. James Parish Council meeting, as the Council secretary was lauded for being sworn in as president of the Organization of Public Administrative Officials.

Rodrigue was officially recognized at the Police Jury of Louisiana Conference in New Orleans before receiving kudos at the parish’s Feb. 4 meeting.

She was first a board member and progressed to serving as treasurer, secretary and vice president before this year’s appointment president of the organization.

“To my knowledge, only two other St. James Parish employees have taken on a role with the organization,” Parish President Timmy Roussel said. “This is a major accomplishment not to be taken lightly. As parish president, I want to support Angele throughout her term as president. Congratulations Angele.”

Parish Council Chairman Charles Ketchens said he has known Rodrigue for the past 12 years as Council secretary, adding there are no short cuts to doing a good job when it comes to her work.

“It’s a very important job taking care of seven Councilmen and a lot more that’s done in that office,” Ketchens said. “She does a remarkable job as Council secretary, and I know she will do a good job as president of the Organization Of Parish Administrative Officials.”

In other business, Parish Council members:

• Authorized the parish to purchase .82 acres of land adjacent to the courthouse in Convent that borders Trudeau Street and the proposed site of the District 4 Multi-Purpose Building and Senior Citizens Center. The price was set for $60,000.

• Passed a resolution declaring February as Black History Month in St. James Parish.