By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

VACHERIE – The St. James Parish Council on Wednesday took no action on a proposed ordinance to amend fees charged to residents and businesses for connecting and tapping water and natural gas.

The council held a public hearing on the measure at their meeting in Vacherie but want to hold a second hearing in Convent before moving forward with the ordinance. No one came forward to speak during Wednesday’s meeting.

If approved, the ordinance will amend tapping fees, connection charges for water and natural gas service and deposit charges for water meter connections.

Tapping fees for natural gas will jump from $250 to $325 and connection charges will jump from $20 to $50.

The ordinance will also add a deposit charge of $300 for 3-inch pipe water meters while lowering some charges for water tapping fees.

Parish President Dale Hymel said the changes are necessary because the parish is switching to a new, easier to read meter that is slightly more expensive than the older model.

“We are trying to cover the costs of the new meter through the fees since it is the department’s only source of revenue,” Hymel said. “The utilities department collects no sales taxes or millages for its operations.

In other action, the council also voted to consider an ordinance for the issuance of $2.5 million in limited tax certificates to help fund construction of a $15,000-square-foot medical office complex adjacent to the existing St. James Hospital building.

A portion of the money will also go to the addition of new beds for the hospital.

Melissa Wilkins, St. James Parish spokesperson, said the certificates will supplement an existing surplus the hospital is using for the project. She said the hospital is responsible for paying the debt incurred by the tax certificates.

Both matters will be taken up at the council’s next meeting, which is scheduled for April 6 at 6:15 at the St. James Parish Courthouse in Convent.