By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – The St. Charles Parish Council recently approved a $127 million budget for the 2012 fiscal year that includes funds for hurricane protection, parish facilities and construction of a new boat launch on the west bank.

The budget includes about $19 million for the parish’s planned west bank hurricane protection levee, a long-awaited project designed to protect Luling, Boutte, Des Allemands and other communities left vulnerable to storm surge.

The approved spending plan sets aside about $7 million to be used specifically for emergencies. Parish law requires a reserve of 5 percent of all expenditures, or $7 million, whichever figure is larger. There is also a re-allocation of about $2 million originally set aside for the remodel of the third floor of the parish courthouse. That money will now be used for construction of a new community center in Luling, as well as the parish’s new emergency operations center in Hahnville.

About $1.4 million of that money will go toward construction of the $10.5 million storm-resistant community center, which is scheduled for a groundbreaking Dec. 16. The 27,000 square-foot building, which will be constructed near the recently completed St. Charles Sheriff’s Office law enforcement complex, has also received $7.8 million in grants.

The remaining $600,000 will go toward the emergency operations center. About half of the construction costs of the $6.6 million facility are being paid through grants and state funding.

The budget also includes $260,000 for construction of a new west bank boat launch in Des Allemands. Riverbend Corp recently donated a 3.1 acre plot of land on Mud Lake off WPA road to the parish with the stipulation that the parish secure the funding for the $1.3 million launch and make improvements to the property.

The parish had been trying to secure land for a launch along Highway 90 for a launch with ample parking, a bait shop and five double-ended launches, but the project was stalled because of struggles in securing enough land and accommodating the high purchase price of property in that area.

The funds from the budget, coupled with a $750,000 grant from the Wallop-Breaux fund, are enough to finance the first phase of the planned launch. The first phase would include a crushed stone road to the property with parking, two double-down ramps and lighting.

The existing launch underneath the U.S. Highway 90 bridges over Bayou Des Allemands is in a residential neighborhood and is considered too small to meet the needs of area boaters.