By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — A 5 percent raise for St. John Parish employees got a boost to 6 percent following a split vote earlier this week by the St. John Parish Council.

The increase will cost the parish an additional $70,000, and it is a one-time pay increase, only for this year, sponsored by Councilman Dale Wolfe.

Voting in favor of the additional pay were council members Wolfe, Allen St. Pierre, Jaclyn Hotard, Ronnie Smith and Cleveland Farlough. Voting against it were Sean Roussel, Lester Rainey, Sherry McTopy and Steve Lee.

Chief Administrative Officer Natalie Robottom said she felt the 5 percent pay raise approved Dec. 27 for the 2006 budget was fair. Councilman Rainey said he would approve the additional 1 percent for employees who had been with the parish 15 years or more &#8220and stuck with us, through thick and thin.”

Approval came only after a break in the discussion to review exactly what was meant by the 5 percent pay raise put forth by Councilman Lee. It centered upon whether it would be only for this calendar year or not.

After further review, it was agreed that the additional 1 percent would only be for this year.

Robottom explained that Step-15 employees, who have worked with the parish for 15 years or more, had not been eligible for a pay raise beyond the 3 percent cost of living increase. They will now receive 3 percent more. This affects some 25 parish employees, Robottom said. Employees in steps 1-14 will receive 1 percent over the 5 percent approved in the budget.

In another matter, a vote failed which would have placed a tax rededication item on the April 1 ballot. The tax would have taken &#8220excess” money from the 1985-approved one-cent sales tax dedicated for the sewer system and redirect it back to the sewer system.

Four years ago, the council approved an exception to divert leftover funds from that account toward road and bridge improvements. &#8220It was a prudent piece of work on our part,” Councilman Lee said later. The idea, put forth by Farlough, aimed at ending that exception and keeping the tax revenue entirely toward the sewer improvements.

As it stands, the funds are now available for that purpose without the need to put the matter to a public vote, as bond attorney Hugh Martin explained.

&#8220You have that flexibility,” Martin said, as the language of the tax allows for any available funds to be transferred in the budget by ordinance.

Parish President Nickie Monica added that only a simple budget amendment may handle the matter, without the need for a vote of the people.

Farlough argued that he had confidence in the people’s vote. Lee said to proceed in this manner would be &#8220going backwards.”

The Parish Council on Tuesday also contracted with Higher Ground Flood Protection Services, formerly Aegis Innovative Services on two items.

The first contract is for Higher Ground to apply to FEMA on behalf of the parish for funds to update the parish hazard mitigation plan, to be paid for by a federal grant at no local cost.

The second contract is to designate Higher Ground as project manager for any FEMA-funded elevation and buyouts of residences which flood repeatedly in storms. One-fourth of the total cost would be paid by the homeowner.

Also at the Tuesday night meeting, the council approved an application to the State Bond Commission to borrow $900,000.

This was for cash-flow purposes, to keep ready cash for immediate needs by the parish, according to bond attorney Hugh Martin.