Parish council amends, adopts two budget plans

Operating and capital outlay budgets were adopted by the St. Mary Parish Council Wednesday.
Several amendments were presented and approved to the standing budgets:
—$10,000 to the Save Our Children Mentoring Center.
—$14,960 also to the Save Our Children Mentoring Center from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 3/10th sales tax fund.
—Road work on Irish Bend Road from the Sterling Bridge to just past Easy Street, and from Irish Bend Road from there to the Oaklawn Bridge, as well as Belleview Lane added to capital outlay.
—$5,000 from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 3/10th sales tax fund to the City of Franklin for maintenance of the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts.
—$10,000 from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 3/10th sales tax fund for the Franklin High School Focusing on Higher Success Summer Academic Enrichment Program.
—$2,000 from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 3/10th sales tax fund for Teche Action Clinic’s Back to School Community Health and Wellness Fair.
—$2,500 from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 3/10th sales tax fund to the Baldwin Volunteer Fire Department for fuel costs.
—$2,500 from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 3/10th sales tax fund to Fire Protection Dist. 11 for emergency repairs to a fire truck.
Also, $30,000 to Community of Friends civic organization for purchase of a vehicle was denied on recommendation of the budget-finance committee.
Also Wednesday, Theresa Boykin spoke to the council on the upcoming Rock the Runway Fashion and Talent Show for the Lydia Cancer Association, which will be held in Franklin Jan. 13 at the Franklin Recreation Center.
The non-profit organization helps cancer patients in Vermillion, Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes, Boykin said, with needs such as pharmaceutical, medical and food assistance.
Over $759,000 has been utilized, and helped 195 in St. Mary Parish alone, she said.
“As a survivor and a member of this community I ask for all residents, local businesses and schools to help me raise money for this organization, so that when our loved ones, one of our friends is diagnosed with this horrible cancer this organization can step forward and help them,” Boykin said.
More information on the event is forthcoming or at:
www.lydiacancerassociation.org
In other business, Councilman Craig Mathews presented a resolution of respect in honor of Irma Jean Lewis, a longtime community worker and organizer who served on many organizations and public bodies. The resolution was approved.
Councilman Ken Singleton asked the administration about nuisance black bears in neighborhoods in his east end district. Chief Executive Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange said he believes it is the same bear making the rounds and getting into trash containers in search of food.
LaGrange said the parish is working with the waste collection company to alter pickup times to help with the problem, as well as educating residents about bear-proofing containers.
Councilman Patrick Hebert also said he’s seen the bear three times. “It looks like he’s getting pretty smart,” he said and has learned how to get into trash containers. LaGrange noted that areas south of US 90 have bear-resistant (not bear-proof, he noted) containers.

ST. MARY NOW

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