Parish officials will seek grants for Amelia, Bayou Vista walking trails

FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council on Wednesday raced through a 20-minute meeting, most of which was devoted to creating trails for a leisurely stroll.
The council unanimously approved two resolutions authorizing applications for grants to begin work on walking and bicycle trails in Bayou Vista and Amelia.
The grants would come from the Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trail Program for Louisiana. Each of the two proposals is for a $150,000 grant that would be matched by local funds.
The money would go toward the first phase of each project.
In Amelia, the first phase would be a trail from Cypress Street along Duhon Boulevard to the community’s Recreation Center.
The first phase of Bayou Vista’s trail would be in the Jupiter Street-Canal Road area.
Councilman Scott Ramsey of Bayou Vista said the trails would provide safe places for kids to walk and ride their bikes. Hundreds of Louisiana communities have used the grants to create trails, he said.
“Why St. Mary hasn’t taken advantage of that is a mystery,” Ramsey said.
At the June 9 meeting, Ramsey had debated Bayou Vista recreation district board members over what he felt has been a lack of action on creating the trail. On Wednesday, Ramsey was tapped to give the invocation and made a plea for working together and bridging divisions.
“We need to work together for the entire parish,” Ramsey said.
Earlier in the day, Morgan City’s government said in a press release that it will receive a $350,000 grant that will go toward a pedestrian-bicycle route from downtown to South Louisiana Community College’s Young Memorial Campus (see related story).
Also Wednesday, the council approved a 30-day extension of the completion date for a pump station project on Duhon Boulevard.
Chief Administrative Officer Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange said the work was paused while the parish exercised its option to see a more experienced superintendent for the project, the contractor for which is Ashley Savarino Construction LLC of Metairie.
The council also heard that Shawn Jetton of the Deep South Racing Association has asked for permission to use the Joe C. Russo Boat Landing during a drag boat racing event July 24-25 on Flat Lake.
The Marvin Catrett Memorial Drag Boat Race is expected to draw about 50 competitors.
Proceeds from the event will go to support high school bass clubs.
The Morgan City Council approved a similar request from Jetton on Tuesday.
The Parish Council also received the resignation of Tammie Moore from the Recreation District No. 6 board and then reappointed her to the Recreation District No. 5 board in the Four Corners-Sorrel-Glencoe area.
Gary Beadle was also reappointed to the Wards 5 and 8 Joint Sewer Commission.