Subdivision gets preliminary OK in Berwick

BERWICK — The Town Council on Tuesday took the first steps toward approving a new 10-lot residential development and providing for key town services.
Also Tuesday, the council introduced ordinances adopting a proposed budget for 2021-22 and amending the current year’s budget; gave its OK to plans for the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival Blessing of the Fleet; delayed approval of a contract for a remodeling of the Town Hall; and signed on to the St. Mary Parish governments hazard mitigation plan.
Subdivision
The council gave preliminary approval to plans for the residential development. Berwick LLC has plans for a 10-lot subdivision on about 17 acres on Pattie Drive and Fairview Drive. The Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval.
The project will require further approval from the town government, but the preliminary OK gives Berwick LLC what it needs to move ahead with more detailed engineering plans, Planning & Zoning Director Gary Beadle said.
The council also introduced an ordinance entering a cooperative endeavor agreement with Berwick LLC related to the project. Under the agreement, the town government would provide labor and materials to bring gas, water and sewer service to the subdivision. Berwick LLC would build a sewer system lift station on the property and transfer the land containing the lift station to the town government.
Berwick LLC’s incorporation documents list Kyna N. Smith of the Hancock Whitney Bank legal department in New Orleans and Patrick Loupe as agents. Its managers are listed as Hancock Whitney, Joseph Exnicios and Steven Barnett, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office.
In other planning and zoning matters, the council approved a conditional use permit for plans by Moffett Rentals to build a pond on land near the Berwick Civic Center. The pond would offer fishing as a recreational opportunity and serve as a borrow pit from which Moffett could take dirt from use in other development.
The council also approved a request from a Country Club Estates resident to use his home to sell firearms and ammunition online. The guns and ammo would not be stored at the house, although guns to be sold at gun local gun shows would be kept there. The resident has a federal firearms license.
The council’s approval is contingent on the resident’s home being protected by an alarm system and notification to the Berwick Police Department.
Budget
The council introduced the proposed 2021-22 budget that is leaner than the current fiscal year’s spending plan. But the proposal maintains staffing and services at current levels, Chief Administrative Office Newell “Bubba” Slaughter said after the meeting.
The proposed consolidated budget anticipates revenue of $5.7 million next year, down from the $6.2 million in the current year. Income from taxes and franchise fees is expected to be up by about 1.6%, while less money is expected from fines and forfeitures, licenses and permits, and intergovernmental transfers.
Expenditures are anticipated to be $4.2 million next year, down from $5.4 million this year. After an operating transfer of about $1.3 million, the budget will be left with a surplus of about $132,000.
The budget amendment for 2020-21 accounts for $1.69 million in spending, much of it funded through grants. The amendment includes $900,000 for street overlays, $150,000 for a new excavator, $150,000 for a new pumping station and $350,000 for the new roof at the Town Hall.
“We’ve done a lot of things,” Mayor Duval Arthur said. “We’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve spent a lot of money.”
The ordinances will come up for public hearings and a passage vote at the Sept. 14 council meeting.
Festival
The council OK’d a request by Debra Lodrigue to host the Blessing of the Fleet during the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival during Labor Day weekend.
Last year’s festival was canceled because of COVID-19, and this year’s festival approaches as coronavirus cases are rising again. Lodrigue told the council that organizers are in touch with the office of Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, the state’s top tourism official, in advance of a meeting next week.
Project delayed
A local contractor, Mike Delatte, objected to the process by which proposals were sought for a remodeling of the Town Hall.
The remodeling is being done in part to provide windows at which people can pay bills in a way that’s safe for the public and for town employees.
The project is too small to require a formal advertisement for bids. Consulting engineer George Mikhael received proposals from three contractors, the lowest of which was a quote of Cedar Construction & Management of Lafayette for $70,475.
Other proposals came from J&J Electrical Construction of Duson ($72,000) and MSL Homebuilders of Metairie ($73,482).
Delatte said he believes local contractors who work and pay taxes locally should be considered for such projects. And, Delatte said, Cedar Construction & Management is connected to Mikhael’s son, Mark Mikhael.
State incorporation records show Mark Mikhael as an agent and officer in Cedar Construction & Management.
The council delayed action on the project until it can learn whether Delatte’s claims are justified.
Mitigation
The council approved a resolution endorsed the St. Mary Parish government’s hazard mitigation plan.
The federal Stafford Act has been amended to require local governments to take steps to reduce the risk of damage from natural disasters if they want to be eligible for mitigation grants and disaster assistance.
The parish’s draft plan can be download at a link on this story at StMaryNow.com.