CONVENT — St. James Parish Government leaders announced this week a federal court denied Petroplex International’s motion to block a stop work order issued by St. James Parish after the company failed to begin construction of a tank farm in accordance to a resolution adopted by the St. James Council.

In her decision, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo said Petroplex did not commence work as required by the parish council resolution and parish government had a legitimate government interest in stopping construction that was not permitted by the resolution.

“There were four claims made by Petroplex in which all were ruled in our favor 100 percent,” St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel said. “In doing the many things there is to do in parish government, we work at trying to do our very best and not slight any party along the way.”

Petroplex sought to build a tank farm on property along the West Bank near Veterans Memorial Bridge. Under the parish’s master land use plan, the tank farm was not permissible.

At the request of Petroplex officials, the Parish Council approved a resolution allowing construction of the tank farm under certain conditions.

The resolution required Petroplex begin construction no later than July 31, 2014.
Parish government issued the stop work order Dec. 3, 2014, after Petroplex failed to comply with the conditions outlined in the Parish Council resolution.