DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / December 9, 2000

CONVENT – The St. James Parish water treatment facilities do not have thecapacity to solely supply Lutcher with water while its water treatment plant is undergoing repairs.

Parish President Dale Hymel informed the St. James Parish CouncilWednesday night that though the parish’s treatment plant has a capacity of 1.5 million gallons a day, it is already supplying 1.2 million gallons a day. Thetown of Lutcher would require 450,000 to 500,000 a day, which is more than the parish can supply, said Hymel.

The parish is still trying to work out the details and between its facility and the Gramercy water treatment plant, “Hopefully we can both supply the water,” he added. The parish will charge Lutcher for the water used, but onlyat cost.

In another matter and at the request of the council members, Glen Miller, plant manager for Kaiser Aluminum, came before the council to give a status report on the plant. Miller informed the council that as early as Friday theplant may begin “injecting bauxite and producing alumina.”Entering into the first of two phases to bring the plant back on line, the low- temp phase will bring production capacity back up to 85 percent. By mid-March, when all the new and upgraded technology has been installed, the second phase will bring the plant up to full capacity at about 1.25 million tonsof alumina a year, said Miller.

The councilmen were deeply interested in the return or hiring of local workers at the plant. Miller stated that out of 350 employees that left theplant during the strike, 248 returned. The plant also kept 80 of thetemporary employees who were working at the plant during the strike. Thereare openings for 25 to 40 positions available at the plant, said Miller.

All councilmen requested that Kaiser look for local workers to fill the positions. “The general concern of the council is to try and stay local,” saidElton Aubert, chairman.

The council also passed a resolution endorsing C.S. Metals in Convent toparticipate in the Louisiana Enterprise Zone Program. The plant is currentlyat 60 percent capacity and is hoping to be at full production around the end of the year. With the resolution, C.S. Metals received a one cent rebate onsales tax from the parish. Currently, two cents are collected from the salestax for the parish, while one cent is collected for the school system.

Councilman Timothy Roussel informed the council that the parish economic development board did address and approve of the resolution.

Tom Scott, president of C.S. Metals, was on hand to give an update of theplants operation to the council. Scott informed the council that a fire on Dec.4 had damaged the facility, but he said everything would be back in order by Dec. 12. Scott explained that a fire had started in the eaves of the buildingand damaged the roof. While the structure was not harmed, fiberglass panelson the roof had been burned and were being replaced.

Mary Ann Francois of BellSouth was scheduled to present donations to four agencies but was held up in traffic. Hymel stated that she was giving onedonation of $500 and three donations of $250. The new St. James WelcomeCenter, the St. James Historical Society, the St. James Bonfire Festival andthe D.A.R.E. program were all to receive a donation.

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