ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / September 19, 1999

EDGARD – The St. John the Baptist Parish Council is considering aproposal by Reserve Telephone Co. to start a cable TV franchise in theparish. At Tuesday’s council meeting at the parish courthouse, RTCrepresentatives presented their proposal saying their prices for cable service would be lower and customer service would be an improvement over the present cable TV provider, Time-Warner.

RTC cited a survey that said over half the cable TV customers in the parish are not happy with the present service they receive. Plus, RTCadded, competition with Time-Warner would be good for the economy of the parish.

In other business, the council let die a motion that would have allowed developers to expand Plantation Oaks subdivision in Garyville to 18 new lots.

Residents of Plantation Oaks and Garyville expressed great concern over the expansion of the subdivision. The area is already suffering fromextensive drainage problems and residents do not want more houses put up until the parish and the developers can improve drainage and keep the area from flooding every time it rains. Residents testifying at the meeting saidmore buildings right now would just increase the flooding.

People in Garyville said the parish should finish the drainage project that is under way right now before any more houses be built. Engineers withthe parish are right now beginning a project to enlarge culverts under the Kansas City railroad line that runs on the north end of the community.

These culverts will help the area to drain faster into the Hope Canal.

The motion was not seconded by any council member and it died without a vote.

In another matter, Director of Zoning and Planning Laurette Thymes introduced a motion to increase parish inspection fees on all construction done in the parish.

Thymes said St. John inspection fees are the lowest in the state.Councilmen Duaine Duffy and Joel McTopy both agreed this is something the parish has needed to do for a long time. Not only will it increase theparish coffers, they said, but contractors cannot get final approval on any construction until all inspection fees are paid. This would ensurecontractors would comply with all parish construction standards.

The new fees shall “not exceed $1,000 plus $2.50 per linear foot of newstreet.” The motion passed unanimously.Also, Councilman Perry Bailey got the council to pass a resolution to put speed bumps in the Pleasure Bend community. Several residents theretestified that speeding cars are destroying their quiet way of life.

Finally, Duffy asked the council to consider the adoption of a consent agenda resolution. According to Duffy, a consent agenda would speed upmeetings. Such matters as acceptance of meeting minutes, approval ofblock parties etc., would be put on one list called the consent agenda. Instead of going through each of these matters separately, the council would vote on one list, thus speeding up the process and shortening the council meetings by at least a half hour.

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