By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – St. Charles Parish President Albert Laque wanted to make it clear – he is not in favor of expanding Louis Armstrong International Airport more into the parish.

News reports quoted Laque as stating: “The people in Ama and St. Rose don’t want to hear anything about a new runway, but I know we need it.”

Laque reported said this during a meeting Sept. 6 with elected officials from Orleans and Jefferson parishes, Kenner and the Aviation Board. He added what he said was, “Do we even need a new runway?”

The meeting, held from 3 to 8 p.m. that day on board the “Lodge of Louisiana” houseboat, continued on Saturday. The talks included Council chairman Clayton “Snookie” Faucheux, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Jefferson Parish President Tim Coulon, Kenner City Council President Terry McCarthy, Aviation Board chairman Dan Packer and other officials.

“Most stayed at the Lodge,” Laque said. “Snookie and I just went and came back.”

The talks were an informational meeting to open lines of communication, where each jurisdiction outlined their concerns.

“I told them from the start, I have certain concerns,” Laque continued. “We have an impossible situation with Ama and St. Rose.”

In a letter issued Monday to St. Charles Parish residents, Laque affirmed: “I have stated on numerous occasions and at many town hall meetings that I will not support the expansion of the airport runways into our parish until the residents affected by it want me to do so.”

He added later in the letter, “I will never agree to any solution that would have a devastating impact on the residents who are depending on their government to protect their interests.”

Laque added that Ama is more of a roadblock to such a problem, since most residents were born and raised there and have no intention to leave. St. Rose, however, has more newcomers to the community. Additionally, Laque acknowledged that other communities besides St. Rose and Ama would be affected by such a project.

Both communities have held town hall meetings to express their opposition to the construction of a new north-south runway in the LaBranche Wetlands, near James Business Park. The flight path of such a runway would pass over both communities, increasing noise and the hazard of a crash, similar to the Kenner crash of 1982.

Meetings with Federal Aviation Administration officials in Destrehan and in Ama concurred in local opposition to the proposed runway.

However, Faucheux continued, such a project is still in the distant planning stages, since the runway is not immediately needed. Faucheux said Aviation Director Roy Williams said the present facility is “adequate” for the next few years.

Even so, Faucheux added, the airport management needs to begin making plans, as it takes at least 12 years to develop such a project.

Faucheux said one strong possibility is a new east-west runway, but that draws opposition from Jefferson Parish and from Kenner.

Another concern of Laque’s, expressed during the weekend meeting, is St. Charles Parish’s appointed voice on the Aviation Board. The board member is nominated by St. Charles Parish but confirmed by the New Orleans mayor. He would like to see St. Charles Parish have the direct authority to appoint and confirm their own representation.

“I don’t think any problem is insurmountable,” Laque said,”but you have to start somewhere.”

The discussions did not end with definite plans for a next meeting, but the Aviation Board and staff will review other concerns, such as a more equitable distribution of tax revenue and airport operations.