The Plaquemines Parish Council’s final meeting commenced around 2 p.m. Dec. 9, and carried on late into the evening. It was not only the council’s last regularly planned public meeting of the year, but for council members Don Beshel, District 1, Jerry Hodnett, District 3, Jay Friedman, District 7, and Lynda Banta, District 8, it was their last opportunity to pass legislation and address governmental issues before they exit their council seats Dec. 31.

Here are some of the topics the council covered during their swan song meeting:

BORROW PITS
The new borrow pit permit regulations were passed with a 6-2 vote (Councilmen Stuart Guey and Anthony Buras against; Hinkley absent).

These amendments were suggested by Beshel, and create stricter guidelines for applying to excavate earth in the parish, but allow people who already possess a permit for their borrow pits to be grandfathered in.

Plaquemines residents Brian Bubrig and George Pivach were both at the meeting and also met with Beshel in advance to help in drafting this legislation.

“Not all of my recommendations were submitted [to the ordinance,]” said Pivach. “It makes it almost impossible for anyone to do any excavation.”

JUMP BASIN ENGINEERS
Evan Graves Engineers, Inc. was unanimously chosen as the company to plan the Jump Basin Dredging & Marsh Creating project. The fixed price contract will cost $57,500, paid by the Coastal Improvement Assistance Program.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INSURANCE PLAN
The insurance plan for all parish employees was selected and unanimously passed Thursday night. Health care coverage will be provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ameritas for both vision and dental care coverage, and Sun Life for life insurance policies. To keep the current benefits parish employees have now, there will be a nine percent increase in health care premiums, but only slight increases in vision, dental and life insurance costs.

FREE FLU SHOTS
Ochsner and the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter will be administering free flu shots to the public at the Port Sulphur Baptist Church, 27080 Highway 23, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As of the next regularly scheduled council meeting, which will be Jan. 13, 2011, the new members PV Griffin, District 1, Kirk Lepine, District 3, Jeff Edgecomb, District 7, and Byron T. Marinovich, District 8, will take their seats alongside the council veterans.

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Michelle Provencher
michelle@plaqueminesgazette.com