St. Charles Parish Council Meeting – June 1, 2026

The St. Charles Parish Council met on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 6:09 pm in the Council Chambers, Courthouse, Hahnville. All nine councilmembers were present. The council approved the May 18 minutes, recognized the Hahnville High School Lady Tigers, proclaimed Juneteenth, created a Department of Engineering, confirmed two department directors, adopted a data center zoning ordinance, approved property sales and resolutions, and set 2027 budget hearing dates. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:05 pm.

Opening and Routine Approvals

• Called to order by Chairman Walter Pilié; prayer and pledge led by Pastor Troy D. Smith Sr. of True Vine Baptist Church, Hahnville.
• Chairman Pilié expressed condolences on the passing of former council member Richard “Dickie” Duhe and recognized his 24 years of service.
• Minutes of the regular meeting of May 18, 2026 were approved 9-0.

Special Business and Proclamations

• The council recognized the Hahnville High School Lady Tigers for winning the Division I Non-Select state softball championship. The team finished 24-12, defeated Live Oak 6-5 in the final, and was the only team in any division required to win five playoff games.
• The council proclaimed June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth National Independence Day in St. Charles Parish. Ryant Price accepted the proclamation on behalf of the St. Charles Parish NAACP.

Public Comments and Testimony

• Milton Allemand (Hahnville) raised concerns on multiple agenda items. On the engineering department, he questioned past retention of engineering staff and later urged minimum qualifications for the director. On data centers, he called for a moratorium, arguing the proposed buffers and noise limits were unproven. On professional-services contracts, he questioned whether RFQs were being used. On the Lake Salvador IGA, he said responsibility provisions meant someone would never be responsible if the project failed.
• Victor Buccola (Destrehan) asked whether the new engineering department would reduce outside-engineer work or add another layer of government, and suggested future duties be subject to a supporting council resolution.
• Christopher Schaller (Norco) opposed sale of the Eastern Greenbelt Park lots, citing drag racing on Good Hope Street and the loss of the only play area for neighborhood children.
• Michelle Bourg, Vice President of Business and Economic Development for Entergy Louisiana, supported the data center zoning ordinance, citing developer interest from Amazon, Google, and Meta, and said a new Meta partnership would bring about $2.8 billion in benefits to Entergy customers over 20 years.
• Flo Dumas, Chair of the River Region Chamber of Commerce, supported responsible data center development as a way to diversify the economy while acknowledging resident concerns.
• Claude Adams (Luling) and Mike Nabut (Boutte) supported the Birdies Dustbowl Store alcohol license waiver. Adams said Hope Church offered no objection, and Nabut said the store would improve a blighted property.

Reports

• Planning and Zoning Director Michael Albert reported the department's 2025 accomplishments, including lowering the parish's Community Rating System rating to 6, which gives a 20% reduction in flood insurance risk premiums; re-establishing the Coastal Zone Advisory Committee; and issuing 763 construction permits. The department is working toward a CRS rating of 5.
• Parish President Matthew Jewell reported that the 2026 hurricane season had begun, Diane Pump Station capacity had been increased by 34,000 gallons per minute, sand volleyball courts were under construction at Edward A. Dufren Community Center, and April sales tax collections were up about 1% (5.92% year-over-year).

Discussion Items

• 2026-0171 – Department of Engineering ordinance: The council unanimously approved a motion to deviate from the agenda order and take up the item early. The ordinance creates a Department of Engineering, requires the director to be a licensed professional engineer, moves engineering out of the Department of Public Works, and does not backfill the assistant public works director position. After public comment and council discussion, the ordinance passed 8-1, with Chairman Pilié voting no. Pilié said he wanted minimum qualifications for the director; President Jewell responded that confirmation by the council provides a check and balance. Enactment No. 26-6-1.
• 2026-0186 – Brandon Bernard confirmation: Confirmed 9-0 as Director of the Department of Public Works.
• 2026-0187 – Miles Bingham confirmation: Confirmed 9-0 as Director of the Department of Engineering. Bingham described his 40-plus years as a professional engineer, including oversight of major roadway and drainage projects.
• 2026-0162 – Eastern Greenbelt Park sale to Shell: Approved 9-0 for two Norco lots for $20,000; the lots appraised at $1,000 because of restrictive covenants and servitudes. Enactment No. 26-6-2.
• 2026-0170 – Data Center zoning ordinance: Approved 9-0 as amended. The ordinance adds a definition for data centers, allows them in M-1 and M-2 districts, and adds performance standards. The council adopted amendments changing the noise section's 'notwithstanding' language from 'inconsistent with' to 'less restrictive than' and adding a new adjacency definition. Council discussion included concerns that the 55-decibel noise limit may be too low; Chairman Pilié said further acoustic analysis was needed and President Jewell said the administration would continue reviewing industry practices. No data center applications are pending. Enactment No. 26-6-3.
• 2026-0172 – All South Consulting Engineers agreement: Approved 9-0 for surveying services for Milling Drainage Improvements (Project No. P260501) at a lump sum of $85,575. Enactment No. 26-6-4.
• 2026-0182 – Subdivision waiver for Glendon Nelson Jr.: Approved 9-0 for a waiver from subdivision block arrangement requirements. Enactment No. 6910.
• 2026-0183 – Lake Salvador Shoreline Protection IGA: Approved 9-0, authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for engineering and design. The project is a 15-mile shoreline protection effort; funding includes a $3 million CPRA appropriation and $377,781.75 in additional GOMESA funding. Enactment No. 6911.
• 2026-0185 – Birdies Dustbowl Store alcohol license waiver: Approved 9-0, waiving the 500-foot distance requirement from a protected organization and allowing a Class B retailer alcohol license at 12590 River Road, Destrehan. The Planning and Zoning Department had recommended denial. Enactment No. 6912.
• 2026-0156 – Communications District appointment: Confirmed Lt. Devin Lavergne 9-0 to the St. Charles Parish Communications District representing the Sheriff's Office for an unexpired term ending August 19, 2027. Enactment No. 6913.
• 2026-0181 – Arc of St. Charles appointment: Vacancy announced; nominations for an ad hoc health professional member will be accepted on June 15, 2026. No action taken.
• 2026-0169 – Official Journal appointment: The council opened a sealed bid from the St. Charles Herald-Guide and appointed it Official Journal for June 2026 through June 2027 at $2.96 per column inch for set type and $2.46 per column inch for scan-ready advertising. Passed 9-0. Enactment No. 6914.
• 2026-0163 – Sewerage District No. 1 Eastern Greenbelt Park sale: With the council sitting as the Sewerage District No. 1 governing authority, approved 9-0 the sale of Lots 31, 32, and 33 in Good Hope Subdivision, Norco, to Shell for $80,000. Enactment No. 26-6-5. Combined with the earlier $20,000 sale, the total purchase price was $100,000 against a combined appraisal of $55,000; President Jewell said proceeds would be reinvested in recreation in Norco.
• 2027 Budget calendar: Accepted 9-0, setting public hearing dates for the 2027 budget on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 9 am; Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 1 pm; and Monday, October 26, 2026 at 6 pm.

Introduced for June 15, 2026 Public Hearing

• 2026-0174: Ordinance approving Amendment No. 1 to the GIS Engineering, LLC professional services agreement for the Turtle Pond Pump Station and Upstream Drainage Improvements (Project No. P250901), increasing the contract by $802,095 to a total of $1,411,180.50.
• 2026-0184: Ordinance approving a professional services agreement with Royal Engineers and Consultants, LLC, for the Lake Salvador Shoreline Protection Project (Project No. P260502), in an amount not to exceed $3,377,781.75.

Notices and Announcements

• Upcoming meetings were announced for parish boards and the next St. Charles Parish Council meeting on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 6 pm.
• Election reminders for the June 27, 2026 election were read, including early voting dates and a permanent Precinct 2-3 polling place change from Mimosa Park Elementary School to The Bible Center Church, 422 Barton Avenue, Luling.

Key Outcomes

• All action items passed 9-0 except the Department of Engineering ordinance, which passed 8-1 with Chairman Pilié casting the sole no vote.
• Brandon Bernard and Miles Bingham were confirmed as directors of Public Works and Engineering, respectively.
• The data center zoning ordinance was adopted with a noise provision making the section supersede less restrictive laws and an explicit adjacency definition.
• The council did not adopt Milton Allemand's requested moratorium on data centers; instead it adopted the data center ordinance.
• The council approved both parts of the Eastern Greenbelt Park sale to Shell and directed the combined proceeds to Norco recreation.
• The next regular council meeting and nomination session is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026, at 6 pm.