St. Mary council paves way for parishwide road repairs in 2018

FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council said no Wednesday to Dollar General opening a store in Centerville, but yes to keeping a parish business as its mosquito provider.

Both decisions were not unanimous, however, The votes cast against Dollar General were a vote with the parish administration, while the votes cast for the mosquito provider were votes against the parish president’s office.

Kirk Farrley a contract civil engineer hired by Capital Growth Buchalter, appeared before the council with plans to locate a Dollar General just west of the former Senette Grocery Store.

Farrley requested the council approve a rezoning from a single family residential zone district to a general commercial zone district, so that they could begin surveys, etc.

He said the projected sales for the Centerville store would generate $1.5 to $1.6 million.

Parish Chief Financial Officer Paul Governale said those sales would generate roughly $65,000 in sales tax revenue for the parish, not to mention ad valorem tax revenues.

Once more, Farrley indicated construction costs would be near $550,000 which Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange said could generate more revenue in sales and use tax revenue for the parish.

Still, the parish council voted 6-3-2 against the rezoning request, with Councilmen Dale Rogers, Glen Hidalgo, Ken Singleton, James Bennett , Paul Naquin and Sterling Fryou voting no, and Councilmen Rev. Craig Mathews, Jay Ina and Kevin Voisin voting in favor. Councilmen Gabriel Beadle and Patrick Hebert were absent from the meeting and did not vote.

The issue of safety concerns because the location is across the street from Centerville Elementary and High Schools.

Before voting, Council Clerk Lisa Morgan read a letter from School Superintendent Lenny Armato opposing the idea.

Councilman Dale Rogers said he certainly would like to work with Dollar General to find an alternative in the Centerville area.

“This is my district and no one from your company or from Dollar General has contacted me. Why?” he asked.

Rogers also said he understood the company has been researching the area since August.

“And no one could call me?” Rogers said.

Councilman Paul Naquin said his nay vote by explaining students have to cross the highway to use the library daily, and the traffic from the proposed store would be too dangerous. After the vote, Sam Evans, an official with Capital Growth Buchalter, said Dollar General may scrap its plans and look elsewhere.

“That’s typically what they do, but ultimately, the decision rests with them,” he said.

In another matter, a majority of the council rallied to keep the Cajun Mosquito Corporation spraying the unincorporated areas of the parish.

The councilmen objected to a proposal by Parish President David Hanagriff and LaGrange, who wants to bring the program in house. Hanagriff and LaGrange pitched a proposal to the council, which asked their permission toapply for a $250,000 federal grant, obtained through the state, to buy all of the necessary equipment to do the work.

Cajun Mosquito, which operates a sub-station office in Franklin and its main office in New Iberia, is in the first year of a two year contract with the parish. Owner Jesse Boudreaux said he has billed the parish for $238,000 of services vs the $250,000 they budgeted.

Hanagriff and LaGrange however, said they can save the parish $65,000 a year off of those costs if they do the work themselves, especially in the wake of the parish having just hired Jean Paul Bourg, as the parish public works director. Bourg is also a certified entomologist.

Both the parish president and the chief administrative officer said they would hire part-time employees to help Bourg do the job.

Councilman Rev. Mathews said he wasn’t safe with that idea.

“So you mean to tell me that people with no experience are going to be spraying poison around my house,” Mathews said.

Hanagriff assured Mathews the staff would be trained, and explained the proposal is a start to the parish making budget cuts.

“I can assure you that if I felt the public would be in danger, this would not happen. I would never endanger any of our citizens,” he said.

A majority of the council spoke openly, complimenting Boudreaux and his work. The vote was 6-3-2, with Councilmen Rogers, Ina, Rev. Mathews, Naquin, Hidalgo and Fryou voted against and Councilmen Singleton, Bennett and Voisin voting in favor.