LAPLACE — A dispute surrounding ownership of property where a LaPlace fire station recently completed construction appears to be sorted out to the point where plans are being made for equipment to be moved into the new structure with the goal of having the facility operational by the end of February.

Confusion as to exactly who owns the land where Fire Station #51 on Hemlock Street in LaPlace came to a head in recent weeks, causing the St. John the Baptist Parish Council members to delay a final payment of $200,000 to Aegis Construction. However, in Tuesday’s Council meeting, St. John District Attorney Bridget Dinvaut told Council members the debt is a legitimate liability and must be paid to the construction company.

“It is a legal debt,” she said, adding the Council faces some exposure if the bill was left unpaid.

Division B Councilwoman at Large Jaclyn Hotard agreed, the Parish has a legitimate debt with the contract.

“The issue is not with the contractor,” Hotard said.

According to Parish President Natalie Robottom, members of the LaPlace volunteer fire department previously alleged the Hemlock Street property actually belongs to the volunteers and challenged the Parish’s standing to operate the land. By that time, however, the building was under construction, and the volunteers had participated in the design and ground breaking ceremony, she said.

In July, the Parish engaged the services of attorney Jack Carville to help resolve the dispute. According to Robottom, the process of completing an engagement letter was delayed because of Carville’s availability and an illness, but that the letter, after being edited for scope of work, was ultimately sent to the District Attorney’s office for approval. Robottom said Thursday via email the administration was not aware of a potential ownership glitch until it was addressed publicly by the D.A.’s office during the Jan. 10 Council meeting, at which time the motion to pay Aegis Construction was  tabled.

Robottom said conversations with three of the four volunteer fire departments “suggest they are open to signing over titles to the properties so fire protection is maintained.”

“It is questionable whether the LaPlace Volunteer Department has a functioning board, but no members of the LaPlace Volunteer Fire Department respond to calls or attend trainings and there is no elected fire chief,” Robottom said, adding a battalion chief has been assigned to the district and calls are handled, in part, by St. John Parish volunteers who attend trainings and respond to calls.

Robottom said if either the property issue or a pending tax issue remains unresolved, the parish can expropriate the property for the public purpose of fire protection and by agreement, any fund generated from the expropriation must be donated back to the parish for fire protection. She added that exercise equipment is being installed at the new fire station, furniture is being purchased and bedding should be shipped in the coming days.

Councilman Larry Snyder said he believes it’s in the best interest of the people of LaPlace to pay off the debt and let the firefighters occupy the new building.

In other business:

The Parish Council made history Tuesday night by approving Russell Jack as Registrar of Voters.

St. John was the first to make such an appointment after voters approved a constitutional amendment in October adding specific requirements for Registrars of Voters and identifying specific procedures for replacing and appointing those positions.

Jack is a St. John the Parish School Board member for District 1 and has served in the parish’s public works division as a special assistant.

L’OBSERVATEUR will have continuing coverage of this next week.

• Trina Smith was introduced to the council as the new library director. Smith, who is originally from Baltimore and graduated from East St. John School, was hired in July.

Council members also recognized longtime library Tammy Houston, who is retiring after 29 years. For the past 10 years she has served as administrator service coordinator.

— By Richard Meek