PRESIDENT REPORTS ON RECYCLING PLANS, BIODIESEL PLANT
Post Date:February 04, 2011
In this report:
The new DMV building project is heading into the home stretch with finishes being installed. The first coat of paint is completed, and the flooring its installed. The power pole from River Road has been relocated so power can be brought into the building. The electrical trimming and light fixtures are set to be installed. The project is currently 80 percent ahead of schedule, and we're hoping to have the official grand opening around March 1.
The new file storage building is 50 percent complete. Duct work on the inside unit for the climate control system is complete. Permanent power is set for installation, and light fixtures and installation are being installed. The overhead doors are scheduled for installation. The project is about 18 percent ahead of schedule.
Trash Bash is scheduled for March 26. Visit scptrashbash.org for more information or to volunteer.
I would like to offer my condolences to the family of Ms. Jellorine Everett, better known as Ms. Jett. She passed away last week at the age of 91 and was an employee of St. Charles Parish for over 20 years. The 'Who Dat Queen' will be missed.
An update on the West Bank Hurricane Protection Levee: We had a call from Sen. Landrieu's office, and we're scheduled to meet with her when we go up to Washington, D.C. in a couple of weeks. The only issue we really have outstanding is that the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Natural Resources can't come up with the proper mitigation bank. She's going to try to help us out with that.
Recreation Director Duane Foret and I visited the Patterson Community Center last week in St. Martinville. We're trying to get a step ahead on what it takes to really run a community center effectively and what events we can rent the community out for. They were very helpful.
I'm sure you saw in the paper this week that Valero is going to build a biodiesel plant. It's going to be a 137 million gallon per year biodiesel plant built at a cost of $241 million. The project is expected to create around 700 construction jobs and 60 permanent jobs, so we're really excited about that. We will most likely see sales tax collection spike in the last quarter of 2011.
On a somber note, I had an opportunity to visit the site of the recovery of St. Rose resident Brian Reed from the Mississippi River. The volunteer group of divers there worked very hard, and we're really lucky to have them come from Texas to help. Our condolences to the Reed family.
We recently had a meeting with Mosquito Control Inc., which is moving to a new facility off of Sugarhouse Road. This new facility will not only help enhance the testing done in St. Charles Parish, but also the surrounding parishes. As soon as this facility is open, everyone will have an opportunity to see it, and we'll make it part of our Info Tour.
I was invited to attend the Hahnville Fire Department's installation banquet. One thing I didn't know is hat the fire department makes available child safety seat inspections on the first Thursday of every month from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the fire house in Hahnville. They must take a class of about 40 hours to be certified to do this, so please take advantage of this safety check.
Last week parish COO Rusty Walk, CAO Tim Vial and I had an opportunity to talk about recycling. We're talking to several different companies right now on ways to increase recycling opportunities from the once-a-month drop offs. Hopefully by March 1 we'll have a proposal put together for council approval.
