DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / June 17, 2000

CONVENT – The long continuing discussion of family subdivision ordinances was entertained with no real progression Wednesday during a public meeting in the St. James Parish courthouse.The problem faced by the parish is individuals dividing property as a family subdivision and shortly selling the property to persons outside the family.

The result is a public subdivision masking as a family subdivision, thus bypassing the fees or requirements for it.

“I have a subdivision right behind my house that was a family subdivision 10 years ago, and now none of the original family live on it,” said Councilman Jimmy Brazan.

Other Louisiana parishes subdivision ordinances have been reviewed by the St. James Parish officials and Kevin Belanger, chief executive officer of theSouth Central Planning and Development Commission. The amendments thathave been proposed for the current ordinances won’t keep the public from buying into family subdivisions, said Belanger. The predominant changesadjust the term limit on how long a family has owned property before it is subdivided, he added.

The parish is less worried about the sale of family subdivisions, which cannot be stopped, said Councilman Elwyn Bocz, than the responsibilities of the upkeep and maintenance within the subdivisions.

The proposed amendment for section 106-137 allows family subdivision property to be sold only if the subdivision has been upgraded to the standards required of a public subdivision, at the owner’s expense.

Questions were raised about financing family subdivisions and the details of that operation. So far little or no financing of that nature is handled by thebanks in the parish. It was concluded that another meeting should be held todiscuss the issue when bank representatives could attend to help clarify the issue.

Also discussed at the meeting was the need to renew or cancel the present contract with the Waste Management of South Louisiana. The contractexpires Oct. 1 and requires a 90-day notice if the contract is not renewed.The last contract, negotiated in 1993, requires a fee of $9.23 per residentusing the disposal service. The renewable contract now has a 11 percentincrease of fees, set at $10.33 per resident.Dale Hymel Jr, parish president, called the public meeting in order to look at the possible option of renewal, renegotiation or signing with a new waste disposal company. Some parishes have negotiated for a very profitable price.St. Mary’s Parish negotiated with its disposal company for a zero percentincrease in price. Lafayette Parish on the other hand, rejected thenegotiated contract, which would have required an increase of a couple of dollars per resident. Instead they opened bidding to local disposal companiesand in the end had to settle with about twice the increase in price than the refused negotiation price.

Barry Bordelon, municipal marketing manager for Waste Management, told parish officials they were very keen on keeping the parishes business.

“In negotiation we feel that we can give a very progressive number,” said Bordelon.

Elton Aubert, chairman of the parish council, asked when negotiations could take place. Bordelon replied that it could take place at that moment ifrequested.

Bocz reminded that not only should the parish be looking at fee comparisons but also at the performance of Waste Management. He explained thatseveral complaints had been brought to him regarding the current trash compactors and the transfer facility. He explained that the facility used toallow citizens to haul trash and dispose of it there, but “they are no longer doing this.” He also explained that the trash compactors were inadequate.

Brian Brining, district manager, explained that the problems were being solved currently.

“We had someone fall down the pit,” Brining explained. Waste Managementstopped allowing citizens entrance until precautionary measures had been built. Brining explained that a gate was being designed to allow people todump their trash without danger and that they would be admitting people again within 90 days. He further assured that solutions to the inefficientcompactors were currently being looked at and would soon be solved as well.

The councilmen passed a resolution allowing the parish to negotiate with Waste Management. No other action was taken at the public meeting.

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