DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / March 4, 2000

CONVENT – A financial report on the St. James Youth Center was madeavailable to a special committee which met Wednesday to discuss possible financial problems with paying off the building.

In the end, the group took a wait and watch attitude.

The group met two weeks ago but wanted a financial report drawn up by the parish president’s office before talks went any further.

Members found the facility had done well last year and has been following the same trend in the last few months. On average, 40 other parishes in thestate have been using the center, said John Lubrano, director of the youth center.

If one decides to pull out their youths, there are enough other parishes that there is no significant drop in attendance. In past years, “if one pulled out,we could lose 35 kids,” said Lubrano.

The facility has been almost to full capacity and thus has covered all its expenses, save for the principal debt owed on the building. The presentprincipal balance is $7.7 million, and this amount is what the committee hasbeen concerned with.

Councilman Elwyn Bocz dislikes the idea of run the facility, saying, “We’re running a facility for everybody else when we only have four or five kids there. I just don’t like the parish running a business.”Parish President Dale Hymel urged the committee to look at it like an economic development project.

“I don’t think operating a jail is a business, or our reception hall. We don’t callit a business, but it must be run as one,” said Hymel.

The idea of selling the center did not appeal to the committee.

“I’m not confidant we can find a buyer. If we do, will they run it as well asus?” asked Hymel.

Elton Aubert agreed, saying, “We’re here to supply jobs and a service, not to make money. If we sell it to a private company they are going to come in tomake money.”Lubrano assured the committee things are going well.

“We’re the most advertised youth detention center in the state. It would bevery expensive for anyone wanting to build a 20- or 30-bed facility (as opposed to St. James’s 80-bed center). It would be more expensive thanpaying us the $98 or $100,” as it is now, said Lubrano.

The committee decided that with the center making money an immediate decision did not need to be made. Lubrano promised monthly reports, and thecommittee decided to keep a constant watch on the center but wait before any action is taken.

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