Parish to acquire old Franklin post office

St. Mary Parish Government will be the new owner of the historic Franklin Post Office on Willow Street after action on a resolution Wednesday.
The resolution authorizes the parish president to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the State of Louisiana for acquisition of the building.
A $205,000 state grant has been obtained for the purchase and some repairs, including $15,000 for air conditioning work.
Councilman Kevin Voisin asked for costs of maintaining the building.
Parish President David Hanagriff said state Rep. Sam Jones and Sen. Bret Allain proposed the purchase to him. “My initial reaction was ‘thank you, but no thank you’ for that same reason,” Hanagriff said. “We have a lot of liabilities in the parish, and a lot of buildings were purchased before me, some of them were justified, some aren’t.”
Hanagriff said after further consideration he changed his mind. He said the tourism center on US 90 suffers from access issues, “And it’s barely utilized at all.”
He spoke with Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau Director Carrie Stansbury about moving the center to the lower floor of the former Blevins Building on Main Street next to the courthouse, and relocate the workforce service and Sen. Allain’s office, which would be moved to the post office.
“Currently those entities aren’t paying rent,” Hanagriff said, but the tourism commission agreed to do so. He said he is also in discussion with Allain about paying rent, all to offset the cost of operating the post office. Insurance is estimated at $1,500 a year, and electrical costs at $500-600.
The air conditioning system must be replaced, which the state grant also covers.
Hanagriff said the parish should take advantage of this opportunity, and maintenance staff at the courthouse are close enough to take care of issues at the post office.
“It’s a solid building,” he said. “There are some small issues, but other than that I don’t see the maintenance and upkeep will be that great.”
There is also a possibility of storage of clerk of courts records in the building.
The resolution was approved.
In other business:
—Resolutions were passed in memory George W. Studdard; an agreement with T. Baker Smith LLC for Morgan City levee improvements from Walnut Canal to Siracusaville; a change order from Southern Constructors LLC on Morgan City Levee improvements; an agreement to provide telepsychiatry consulting services to Fairview Treatment Center; holding an election to authorize renewal of a special tax in Wax Lake East Drainange District; an agreement with Acadiane Renovations for renovations to Kemper Williams House; substantial completion of HVAC upgrades at Fairview Treatment Center; an agreement on Recreation District 3 boundaries with the town of Berwick; a public auction of surplus properties; and a cooperative agreement with the state treasury relative to Brittany’s Project.
— Dion Arceneaux inquired about a community center in Verdunville; Hanagriff said he was looking into possibilities and current use agreements with the St. Mary Alternative School gym.
—Councilman J Ina said the Dist. 2 summer programs were very successful with over 250 youngsters in attendance for educational help and field trips, plus more.
—Lucy R. Watson was appointed to the St. Mary Parish Library board; Joshua Montgomery to the parish planning and zoning commission; Donald T. Stephens to the Hospital Service Dist. No. 2 board; and Lane Boudreaux to the Recreation District No. 3 board.