Entities with interest in Avoca Island will be asked to consider sharing the cost of repairing the public ferry that crosses the Intracoastal Waterway between the island and Morgan City.
The St. Mary Parish Council learned Wednesday that a $150,549 low bid was received from Bollinger Morgan City LLC to repair the ferry.
At-large Councilman Steve Bierhorst of Patterson suggested entities such as Avoca Inc., Cleco, the St. Mary Parish School Board, various oil and gas companies and levee boards be advised of the cost and asked for input on how to fund the repairs.
Operation of the ferry has recently been curtailed from 16-hour days every day of the week to 9½ hours, five days a week.
Other discussion at the council’s regular meeting included:
—Notification that Tammy Luke has been named director of the Planning and Zoning Office upon the retirement of Carol Vinning.
—A suggestion by Verdunville resident Mark Bogan to consider use of a vacant school as a shelter for homeless military veterans.
—Notice by parish Veterans Affairs Officer Earl Veeder that a VA medical clinic on Haifleigh Street in Franklin will open on Jan. 25.
—Ratification of a Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation on preliminary and final development of property on La. 3215 in Garden City for a proposed 168-unit gated apartment complex.
—Adoption of ordinances rezoning the property of Diversified Enviro/LeBlanc Bridgeside Holdings on Smith Lane, east of the Charenton Canal, from light to heavy industrial; and abandoning a portion of the right-of-way along Darwin Road in Centerville. An ordinance creating a no wake zone on the West St. Mary Port navigation channel was tabled until further information is obtained from the Port of West St. Mary.
—Resolutions authorizing Morgan City Hotel LLC and Cabot Corp. to participate in the Enterprise Zone Program; approving the issuance, sale and delivery of $6.5 million in refinancing bonds for Hospital Service District No. 1; and calling special elections on May 1 in Recreation District 5, a new 7.5 mill operation and maintenance tax, and Water and Sewer Commission 1, renewal of a 9.98-mill operation and maintenance tax,
—Appointment of Ronald J. Chillis to Fire Protection District 11, and reappointed Wendell Bogan and Hayward Verdun to Sewer District 5, and Roland Verret, Shirley Bailey, Leroy Trimm, William Whitten, Ann Hebert, Donald Patureau and Alvin Wilkerson to Water and Sewer Commission 1.
—Approval to transfer of $13,500 from Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 three-tenths sales tax collections to Recreation District 5 as requested by Councilman Craig Mathews of the Four Corners area for the salary of a community programs liaison.
—Election of at-large Councilmen Albert Foulcard as chairman and Steve Bierhorst as vice chairman.