By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A number of infrastructure improvement projects for St. John the Baptist Parish are on the agenda for Tuesday’s Parish Council meeting in Edgard.

Administrators are asking to amend a $440,800 contract to repair and rehabilitate the Greenwood drive bridge in LaPlace.

Angelic Sutherland, special assistant to Parish President Natalie Robottom, said the amendment includes the design and preparation of construction documents for the reconstruction of Greenwood Drive from Carollwood Drive to the bridge, which was not included in the original project design. The project will also resurface Greenwood Drive in front of LaPlace Elementary School.

The parish is also asking for an amendment to a more than $500,000 contract to improve the Edgard Water treatment plant. Sutherland said the amendment would add an elevated walkway to the design of a new raw water pump facility tied to the treatment plant. The plant will also be getting new purifiers, filters and pumps.

The parish is also looking to pursue grants from the Federal Aviation Administration for various improvements at the St. John Airport in Reserve.

Sutherland said the parish recently received funding to replace lighting at the airport and is now looking for funds to extend one runway at the airport. Grants would come from the FAA and the Louisiana Department of Transportation.

The parish also plans to advertise for the sale of two portable package sewer plants that the parish has gotten little use from.

The package plants, acquired in August 2005 for $500,000 a piece, have a treatment capacity of 50,000 gallons each.

Former Parish President Nickie Monica secured the units as a quick fix alternative to a perpetual line infiltration problem caused by aged sewer system pipes in older parts of the parish. This fix is now being remedied through sewer bonds issued earlier this year.

The parish is also looking to enter into an agreement with Rebowe and Associates to conduct a financial entrance audit for the current administration.

The parish council meets Tuesday night at the St. John Parish Courthouse, 2393 River Road, in Edgard starting at 6 p.m.