St. Mary Parish Councilmen oppose issues

One St. Mary Parish Councilman opposed a resolution which would create infrastructure throughout property eyed by a construction firm, with plans for a gated luxury apartment complex.

Meawhile, another councilman opposed expanding Wednesday night's agenda to consider a resolution opposing federal abortion funding.

And a Charenton citizens group told the parish council that they would like help to obtain the former Mary Hines Elementary School, so that they can use it as a community center.

Kevin Voisin of Morgan City was the only St. Mary Parish Councilman to oppose a resolution that gave preliminary approval to issue $3 million in revenue bonds, the funds of which would be used to create infrastructure within property located at the corner of La Hwy 182 and La Hwy 3215 in Garden City.

That property is presently eyed by CMW Builders, LLC, who is interested in building a gated luxury apartment complex on the site.

Mike Wick, president and ceo, said the complex will be built with solar and environmentally friendly materials. He said the project will call for 336 units in two phases. Phase one would be units, 156 one bedroom 1,000 sq ft apartments, and 12 two bedroom, 1,300 sq ft apartments.

Wick said his company is in negotiations to buy the property, but must jump through an enormous amount of permitting and zoning issues with the State. CMW Builders is currently using the Fairfax House in Franklin as its base of operations.

Voisin said the parish is currently in way too much bond debt, and he needs more information before he can jump on board with plans for the luxury complex.

"This parish council always opens its wallet and jumps too quick without asking any questions," he said. "We don't have any guarantees from this company, and we don't know that much about them. How do we know they're going to fulfill their obligations?"

Parish Council Chairman Gary Duhon, along with others, believe that regardless of whether the company purchases the property, the parish will have a marketable piece of real estate should CMW Builders' plans flop.

But Voisin said the bond proposal would require the parish to pay $500,000 a year over the next seven years, or $3.5 million. "Does St. Mary Parish really need this extra debt? How do we know all of these apartments will be filled?" he asked.

Although he did not speak during Wednesday's meeting, Parish Economic Development Director Frank Fink said he stands behind the project because it is a viable asset.

"Sure unemployment rates area down in the neighboring parishes," Fink said. "But that's because St. Mary Parish businesses employ at least 5,000 of their residents. We can't house them here because we have no housing available. I know people who live in New Iberia, but commute to work in Morgan City."

In another matter last night, Parish Councilman Butch Middleton opposed expanding the Council's agenda, to consider a resolution offered by Parish Councilman Glen Hidalgo that opposed the federal government endorsing any funding for abortions in President Barack Obama's proposed Health Care Plan.

Middleton explained his reasoning after the meeting. "I'm against abortion. I'm very much pro life. But this resolution is a red herring conservative ploy, simply to just oppose the president's plans. And I'm sick of conservative tactics like this."

Nonetheless, Hidalgo said after the meeting that he will make sure the proposal is on the council's agenda next week.

In other business, Eltonnette Brimedge, a spokesman representing Charenton Community Outreach, explained to the Council that a large group of citizens there are interested in acquiring the former Mary Hines Elementary School, to use as a community center. The school was one of four closed at the end of last school year, due to the opening of Raintree Elementary this school year.

Most of the council said they did not have problems supporting the idea, but that the property belongs to the School Board, and thus, it is a school board issue.

Parish Councilman Rev. Craig Matthews, who represents the area, said all three schools have been advertised for a couple of months now, and no one has shown interest in bidding on any of the property.

 

"I think the board should consider some sort of an arrangement with these folks," Matthews said.

Parish Councilman Steve Bierhorst agreed. "I agree Rev. Matthews. After all, it was the tax dollars of Charenton residents that built Mary Hines School in the first place."

 

The School Board agreed to close Thomas Gibbs, G.W. Hamilton, Mary Hines and Baldwin Elementary Schools almost three years ago, saying that each is in need of improvements that total $500,000 or more.

 

Also, the board said the construction of Raintree Elementary would save them an annual $600,000, starting this school year. In years prior, the board spent at least this amount on repairs, among other things, at each of the other schools.

 

The initial price discussed for each school (including land and building) were:

Thomas Gibbs Elementary, without the portable buildings, $741,200; with the buildings, $760,400.

G.W. Hamilton Elementary, without the portable buildings, $707,600; with the buildings, $744,350.

Mary Hines Elementary, without the portable buildings, $705,600; with the buildings, $779,100.

 

There are six portable buildings at Gibbs, four at Hamilton, and eight at Hines.

 

Gibbs is located at 264 Hwy 318 in Franklin, Hamilton at 105 Hatcherson St in Baldwin, Hines at 327 Martin Luther King Street in Charenton.

 

The St. Mary Parish School Board is not advertising Baldwin Elementary School at present, due to legal concerns that the school may not be able to be sold, but rather given back to the town for their use.