By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – The St. Charles Parish sewer rate increase, planned for Jan. 1, was recently put on hold by the Parish Council at a council meeting, where the panel approved an ordinance proposed by Parish President Albert Laque. However, it did not pass without comment.

At the Aug. 5 meeting, a 90-minute discussion on Councilwoman Dee Abadie’s proposal to freeze the parish sewer fee ended with approval by most of those in attendance.

In a message to council members, Laque stated it appeared the council’s intent to suspend the fee increase omitted the language doing just that in the final amended ordinance which met approval.

What was left was an ordinance calling for an evaluation of income and expenses, to be completed within 30 days, Laque said, and added he signed the ordinance anyway, as what remains is also good-government in nature.

Abadie’s ordinance aimed to lock down the rate at the current $4.10 level, as she said there is enough history on expenses and income to warrant holding the rate at this level for the time being, while an independent audit reviews the books.

Laque’s ordinance pointed out that a rate study and audited financial report concluded no sewer rate increase was necessary.

At the Aug. 19 meeting, it met approval without a murmur, despite earlier concerns expressed from the Waste water and Finance directors about locking down the fee so early.

“It’s interesting how all the guns were out last meeting, and ask yourself why,” Abadie said at the Aug. 19 meeting.

Hahnville resident Milton Allemand added he recently took up the invitation from waste water director Greg Bush to tour the facilities, and Allemand reported, “I was impressed.”

Also at the Aug. 19 council meeting, final steps were taken to issue $7.5 million in taxable revenue bonds for Randa Corp. to finance relocating the men’s accessories manufacturer to St. Charles Parish at James Business Park.

Amber Ropas was recognized as the St. Charles Parish Festival Queen, and Rachel Bourgeois the Teen Queen at Monday’s meeting, sharing the podium with their mothers.

Amber is the daughter of Wendy Ropas, and Rachel is the daughter of Rita St. Pierre, both of Norco.

A presentation on a River Parishes transit system, generated from the River Region Caucus, was presented by Kevin Belanger of South Central Planning.

The transit system would run buses, at least in its initial stages, across St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes, adding St. James Parish in time.

This system could, with transfers at fixed points, transport riders from any location to any other location, and include a link with the Jefferson Parish system and hence to New Orleans, Belanger said.

As projected, the system would run 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. A sample trip, from Reserve to Des Allemands, would leave Reserve at 5:45 a.m., arrive at the St. John Council on Aging center in LaPlace at 6:15 a.m., arrive at the West Bridge Park in Luling at 6:45 a.m. and arrive in Des Allemands at 7:15 a.m. for a one-way, 90-minute trip.

A base fare is estimated at $2, with free transfers on a one-way trip. Discount fares for regular commuters and for senior citizens would also be considered.

Projected expenses would include vehicle buying, salaries for drivers and staff, insurance, administrative costs and marketing and add up to $1.3 million.

A garage would also be necessary for storage and maintenance, said Belanger, and the system would likely earn $850,000 per year.

“There’s not a transit system anywhere that makes money,” Belanger said, and pointed out it would require additional outside funds to survive.

Belanger said a smaller park-and-ride system linking with the Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner and with Jefferson Parish’s transit system could be up and running by January.

The two-parish transit system could be in place by July 2003.