Jean Paul Bourg will be St. Mary's new CAO

Jean Paul Bourg, currently the parish public works director, has been appointed to be the parish government’s chief administrative officer, succeeding Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange.

On Friday, for the first time in 33 years, LaGrange will not be working in parish government. LaGrange has served as CAO for the last 27 years.

“It’s a sad, sad day,” Parish President David Hanagriff said at Wednesday’s Parish Council meeting. “It’s also a happy day.”

Hanagriff’s appointment of Bourg was approved by the Parish Council on a voice vote Wednesday without objection. Bourg becomes CAO Friday.

LaGrange had announced his retirement at the April 12 council meeting. He has also announced his intention to run for the state Senate District 21 seat currently held by
Bret Allain, R-Franklin, who is term-limited. Businessmen Robert Allain and Stephen Swiber are also running for the seat.

Hanagriff noted that LaGrange has worked under five parish presidents and all the council members who have served since 1996.

“To me, it’s a very special person to do that and be able to bring everyone together and be neutral and maintain your integrity, which Bo LaGrange has done,” Hanagriff said.

Bourg told the council that after graduating from LSU, he came back to Morgan City to work for oilfield service and shipyard companies.

When the energy industry slumped, he became a math teacher in parish schools, a job he called the most challenging and rewarding he’s done.

For the last 12 years, Bourg, 40, has served as public works supervisor in Morgan City and most recently as the parish’s public works director.

“I believe we’re at an important point for what St. Mary will be like ...,” Bourg told the council. “By working together, we can have a St. Mary Parish we can live, work and invest in.”

LaGrange said that when he became CAO, a good staff was in place.

“You’re being left with an excellent staff,” LaGrange said. “Use them.”

As with many municipal and parish governments, St. Mary puts the leadership of its executive branch in the hands of a part-time official. The full-time CAO’s job is to guide the day-to-day operations of the government

Arc of St. Mary

The council heard a bleak report from Kristal Hebert, director of the Arc of St. Mary/Center of Hope, which trains and provides employment for developmentally disabled people.

Hebert said 199 St. Mary people are registered with the Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities in Houma. Arc of St. Mary has 24 clients, Hebert said.

“These are adults,” Hebert said. “So where are the other 175? A lot of them sit at home.”

Arc of St. Mary lacks the funding or the space at its Centerville building to handle more clients, Hebert said. And “transportation kills us.”

The transportation situation got worse Wednesday when the center’s 16-passenger bus broke down. The repair estimate is $15,000, Hebert said, the same amount the parish government had earlier offered to help buy a bus.

Even a high-mileage used bus would cost $28,000, she said. And without transportation, Hebert said, she may have to reduce the number of clients.

Councilman Rodney Olander asked Hebert to come back to the parish for help if she finds a good deal on a bus. And Hanagriff offered to write letters to municipal governments asking for support.

Resolution
for Peters

The council passed a resolution of respect for Willie Jay Peters of Franklin who served on the St. Mary Parish School Board for 25 years ending in 2006 and on the Port of West St. Mary Board. He died April 4 at a Baton Rouge hospital.

The council often devotes such resolutions to former parish officials, employees and community leaders who have died. But the comments Wednesday were especially
heartfelt for Peters, who was remembered for his activism and knack for speaking truth bluntly.

“That combination of tenacity and grace, I’ll always remember,” Hanagriff said.

Councilman J Ina, also of Franklin, remembered Peters for holding him accountable to his constituents.

“It’s hard to describe a pillar ...,” Ina said.. “He has fought many, many battles for this community. His impact and presence will go on forever.”

“If I had to describe him with one word,” said Councilman the Rev. Craig Mathews of Jeanerette, “it would be ‘giant.’ If I had to describe him in two words, it would be ‘giant humanitarian.’”

The council voted to name the fire substation at 1167 Irish Bend Road for Peters.