St. Charles Parish Council Meeting – July 13, 2026

The St. Charles Parish Council held its regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2026, in the Council Chambers at the Courthouse in Hahnville, Louisiana. All nine council members were present; Chairman Walter Pilié presided. The agenda covered emergency-preparedness and contract-monitoring reports, the Parish President’s Tropical Storm Arthur update, three public-hearing ordinances, resident flooding/drainage complaints, resolutions, and appointments. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the regular meeting of June 15, 2026, were approved unanimously (9-0).
• Proclamation 2026-0198 recognized Barbara Gutierrez Bosworth for service to the St. Charles Parish Library from September 24, 1992, through May 29, 2026.
• Proclamation 2026-0199 was read in memory of Leon C. “Sunny” Vial III (July 10, 1929 – May 9, 2026), a lifelong parish resident and attorney with a 62-year legal career.

Reports

• Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (2026-0200): Director Jason Tastet reported 9,543 emergency operations log entries in 2025 and 6,790 so far in 2026; 227 unusual events in 2025. Industrial facilities in 2025 had no events requiring alert, site-area, or general-emergency protective actions—only the third such year on record. The parish participated in 22 exercises, and a FEMA-evaluated biennial nuclear exercise produced no major findings. More than half of his staff holds Louisiana emergency-management certification. Just over half of the parish’s 18,608 households are signed up for emergency alerts; 146 notifications were sent in 2025 and 122 by mid-July 2026. The 2026 Atlantic hurricane outlook had recently been reduced to 9 named storms, 4 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes.
• Contract Monitor (2026-0201): Justin Tassin reported River Birch services roughly 37,000 carts per week with less than a 1% verifiable complaint ratio. Trash Bash collected 300 bags of trash with 364 volunteers covering 215 miles of roadway. A streetlight audit identified 698 additional lights—a 30% increase to 850 total—and saves about $1,000 per month in warranty work. Mosquito control covered more than 6,600 miles and 260,000 acres, with 112 service calls and over 14,000 aerial acres sprayed. Five emergency debris sites are ready; waterway debris removal was added to the DRC contract; and a $250,000 state appropriation secured by Sen. Greg Miller will support Norco Spillway Bridge lighting feasibility and design.
• Parish President’s Report (2026-0202): Matthew Jewell reported Tropical Storm Arthur produced eight tornado warnings between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on June 18, 2026, and rainfall of roughly 6–9 inches across the parish; some residents reported near 10.5 inches. The 8-plus inches in three hours exceeded the parish’s 10-year design event of 4.81 inches in three hours. 106 homes flooded out of about 18,600 structures; none were classified as major flooding. FEMA did not qualify St. Charles Parish for individual assistance, but public-assistance eligibility was extended after flooding in other parishes. Pump stations operated at a 97–98% success rate; the Ellington pump station was down about 25 minutes after a lightning strike. Sales taxes were up about $280,000 in May and roughly 6% ($1.25 million) year-to-date. Jewell also reviewed drainage projects under construction, including pump station and railroad-bore projects, Sugarhouse Road canal improvements, and St. Rose work.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Milton Allemand (Hahnville) questioned the DRC waterway-debris amendment’s open-ended scope, asking who decides what qualifies and warning it could drive costs far beyond expectations. He opposed the $1.4 million dog park, arguing drainage should be the priority and that a more modest park was possible years ago for about $450,000. On the Kinler/Paul Fredrick drainage project, he acknowledged ongoing drainage work but called for better routine ditch, culvert, and catch-basin maintenance.
• Victor Buccola (Destrehan), a ZBA board member speaking as an individual, did not ask the council to defeat the dog park but flagged an apparent conflict between the conceptual landscaping rendering and the contract specifications, which lacked detailed landscaping requirements. He urged the council to obtain a commitment from the engineer and contractor before voting, warning of permit delays or ZBA variance requests.
• Catherine Turner Gordon (estate property at 177 Smith Street, Hahnville) said the ditch in front of her home has become a deep canal, creating a hazard; her husband fell into it three times, had glaucoma, and later died with West Nile virus as part of his illness. She asked the parish to fill or culvert the ditch, estimated at $3,000–$5,000, and said the parish does not mow the area.
• Thomas A. Alford (725 St. Rose Avenue) reported 24 inches of water at his porch and about 3 feet at his shed during Tropical Storm Arthur. He blamed a neighbor’s elevated construction, a berm blocking drainage, clogged/undersized culverts, and pump issues, and requested ditch cleaning, a larger culvert, berm removal, additional pumps, and a drainage survey under the railroad and Airline Highway.

Discussion Items

• 2026-0195 – DRC Emergency Services Amendment: Jewell explained the amendment adds waterway/marine debris removal, ditch and canal debris removal, marsh grass and levee debris removal, catch-basin/storm-drain cleaning, and towing/storage of vehicles and vessels to the existing storm debris contract. The need was identified during a GOSEP hurricane-preparedness meeting, and the contract expires December 31, 2026; a new emergency debris contract will be procured later this year. Councilmember Comardelle asked about past extensions; Jewell said the new RFP would include these services. Public comment was heard; the ordinance passed unanimously, Enactment 26-7-1.
• 2026-0197 – Dog Park construction contract (TEH Enterprise, $1,430,000): Jewell said the project had been planned for more than 10 years, with nearly $800,000 from a community-impact grant restricted to this project; it includes separate large/small dog areas, pavilions, restrooms, water service, agility equipment, and a dog-washing station. Owners would be required to register dogs through animal control and receive key cards. Councilmember Mobley opposed, noting his own home flooded on June 18 and arguing total dog-park costs could exceed $3 million if a West Bank park were later built; Councilmember Wilson opposed, saying West Bank areas like Hahnville/Killona lack pumps and need drainage work first; Chairman Pilié said the 2019 design estimate was $359,451 and called the current cost scope creep, adding that flood-prone residents ask why a dog park is needed. Supporters included Fonseca (15+ years of requests, quality-of-life balance, budget already approved, risk of litigation), deBruler (social benefits), Comardelle (no district objections; maintenance complaints concern existing fields), and O’Daniels (begrudging support because of legal timeline and grant leverage). O’Daniels also asked about bid timing; Legal Services Director Corey Oubre said Louisiana law requires acceptance/rejection within 45 days unless extended, and rejection would delay a rebid at least 12 months. Jewell defended the project, citing a 10-to-1 infrastructure-to-recreation spend, $220 million in infrastructure including $180 million for drainage, and argued rejecting the contract would not accelerate drainage projects. The ordinance passed 6-3, with Fonseca, Skiba, Comardelle, O’Daniels, Fisher, and deBruler in favor and Mobley, Wilson, and Pilié opposed, Enactment 26-7-2.
• 2026-0196 – Kinler and Paul Fredrick Roadway and Drainage Improvements Phase I (Kass Bros, Inc., $728,906): Engineering Director Miles Bingham said the project adds mid-block drainage and cross drains after the neighborhood experienced catastrophic flooding; nine drainage servitudes and two property acquisitions were required. Councilmember Wilson supported it and asked about effects on surrounding areas; Bingham said the master plan includes the Kendler ditch and additional work across the railroad. Jewell defended the administration’s drainage record, and Fonseca thanked staff. The ordinance passed unanimously, Enactment 26-7-3.
• 2026-0194 – Subdivision waiver (Zachary Hogan): Planning & Zoning Director Michael Albert said the waiver is needed for the rear lot frontage in a two-lot subdivision; the Planning Commission recommended approval. No public comment was offered; the resolution passed unanimously, Enactment 6915.
• 2026-0210 – Natural Disaster Risk Management and Insurance Act: Jewell said the resolution urges Congress to establish a bipartisan commission to address insurance affordability/availability and recognize local mitigation investments; the same proposal was being considered by the National Association of Counties. No public comment was offered; the resolution passed unanimously, Enactment 6916.
• 2026-0181 – Arc of St. Charles appointment: Dr. Jeffrey S. Kuo, M.D. was confirmed as the Ad-Hoc health-professional board member for a term ending June 30, 2028, following an Arc Board action allowing one additional term. The appointment passed unanimously, Enactment 6917.
• Communications District and Library Board vacancies: The council announced upcoming vacancies and nominations for Communications District seats (Council representative, EMS representative, and Parish President’s representative) and the Library Board District VI seat, with nominations to be accepted July 27, 2026. The resignation of Robin Robicheaux from the Library Board was accepted unanimously.
• New business introduced for the July 27, 2026 public hearing: The council authorized publication of 2026-0214, a 2026 budget amendment adding $17,205,154 in revenues/transfers, $65,875,729 in accumulated fund balance, and $80,338,499 in expenditures/transfers; 2026-0222 (DJV, L.L.C. lease for River Parishes Workforce Development Board office space); 2026-0224 (zoning change R-1A to R-1A(M), Good Hope Plantation); 2026-0225 (zoning change C-2 to R-1A, Village of Hahnville); and 2026-0226 (zoning change R-1A to O-L, Friloux-Donnaud Estate). Although the printed agenda listed only 2026-0214, the minutes and transcript reflect that all five items were introduced.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved 9-0.
• DRC Emergency Services Amendment approved unanimously, Enactment 26-7-1.
• Dog Park contract approved 6-3, Enactment 26-7-2.
• Kinler/Paul Fredrick drainage contract approved unanimously, Enactment 26-7-3.
• Subdivision waiver resolution approved unanimously, Enactment 6915.
• Natural disaster insurance resolution approved unanimously, Enactment 6916.
• Dr. Jeffrey S. Kuo, M.D. reappointed unanimously, Enactment 6917.
• Robin Robicheaux resignation accepted unanimously.
• Communications District and Library Board vacancies announced; nominations will be accepted July 27, 2026.
• Five ordinances were introduced for public hearing on July 27, 2026.
• Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m.