Meeting Summary

The St. Charles Parish Council held its regular meeting to address post-Hurricane Francine recovery, several community proclamations, and a slate of ordinances tied to parish infrastructure and development. Parish President Matthew Jewell and Emergency Management Director Jason Tastet gave a detailed account of the storm's impact and the parish's response, reporting roughly 181 homes flooded in living spaces and outlining ongoing drainage and elevation efforts. The council also acted on tax assessment appeals through its Board of Review role, heard from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Waterford Unit 3's 2023 safety performance, and approved contracts advancing wastewater treatment upgrades and the East Bank Bridge Park improvements.

Watch Items

• The Board of Review considered an appeal from Monsanto Company regarding the assessed value of its Luling plant, seeking a reduction of over $519 million tied to a corporate impairment. Assessor Jason Troxler recommended denial, arguing Monsanto had not provided sufficient evidence connecting the financial impairment to actual taxable property at the site. Residents should watch for any further appeal Monsanto may pursue through the Louisiana Tax Commission.
• Concerns were raised about the parish's home elevation program, including reports of residents backing out of the process near completion and confusion over eligibility, which is based on FEMA's repetitive-loss and severe-repetitive-loss criteria rather than a lottery system. Council members requested a future briefing, potentially at a committee meeting, from Grants Director Carla Chiasson to clarify the process for residents.
• DSNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for Hurricane Francine were set to open by last name on a rolling schedule starting September 25, with in-person help available for elderly or disabled residents at the Allen Arterbury Building in New Sarpy.
• A Special Projects Committee meeting was announced for October 7, 2024, to review drainage projects and flooding response following Hurricane Francine.
• The council scheduled a public hearing for Monday, October 7, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Courthouse, Hahnville, to consider final passage of:

- An ordinance to amend the St. Charles Parish Zoning Ordinance of 1981, to change the zoning classification from O-L to R-1A on Tracts 1 and 2, Flaggville Subdivision, 201 Joe Louis Lane, Hahnville as requested by Suzanne Imbraguglio. - An ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of Change Order No. 2 for the Destrehan Pump Station (P.S.) No. 2 Conveyance Improvements, (Project No. P181101), to decrease the contract amount by $45,522.00 and increase the contract time by 82 calendar days. - An ordinance to amend the St. Charles Parish Zoning Ordinance of 1981, to change the zoning classification from O-L and R-1A(M) to R-1M on Lot DZ-1, 10577 River Road, Ama as requested by Craig and Melissa Perrier for Bayou Bahamas, LLC. - An ordinance to amend the St. Charles Parish Zoning Ordinance of 1981, to change the zoning classification from R-1A to R-1A(M) on Lot 31A, Square 1, St. Charles Terrace Annex Subdivision, 175 Annex Street, New Sarpy as requested by Malcolm Darensbourg, III, for M.A.D. III, LLC.

• A separate public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.; Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.; and Monday, November 4, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers, Courthouse, Hahnville, to consider final passage of:

- An ordinance to approve and adopt the appropriation of Funds for the St. Charles Parish Consolidated Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2025.