LOCAL

Ascension Parish Council approves ratification of ten appointments, purchase of animal shelter property

Michael Tortorich
Gonzales Weekly Citizen

The Ascension Parish Council ratified ten presidential appointments and approved the purchase of a Gonzales property for a new animal shelter during the meeting held April 18 in Gonzales.

Appointments ratified

Council members approved most of the appointments without objection, including:

  • Council Secretary Cinnamon McKey
  • Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Felicia D. Caballero
  • Public Works Department Director Ron Savoy
  • Planning and Development Department Director Eric Poche
  • Human Resources Department Director Katherine L. Cason
  • Lamar-Dixon Expo Center General Manager Kyle Rogers
  • Information Technology Department Director Patrick O’Deay

Three of the appointments received at least one objection.

District 5 Councilman Todd Varnado, who was one of two members to object to Chief Administrative Officer Ruth Phillips, commented on his decision.

The Ascension Parish Council's Todd Varnado (District 5), Chase Melancon (District 6), and Brian Hillensbeck (District 7) are shown during the Jan. 4 meeting at the Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville.

"It is my opinion the applicant does not have the temperament nor the restraint to be in such a highly regarded position in Ascension Parish," Varnado said as he read a statement. "Threats and strong-arming elected officials are never, ever OK. It will not be tolerated nor dismissed. In my opinion, this is the reflection nor behavior of a responsible CAO that District 5 of Ascension Parish will consider at any level. This behavior is indicative of the aforementioned applicant. So I ask this council body, this administration, the media, our constituents to condemn this potential behavior."

Former council member Bill Dawson, who was ratified as the director of the utilities department, received one objection.

Ricky Compton, ratified as infrastructure division director, also had a single objection.

No further comments were made regarding the appointments.

Animal shelter property purchase

In another matter during the meeting, the council approved the purchase of some 7.5 acres of property along Weber City Road, east of the intersection with Roddy Road, in Gonzales for $735,000 to build a new animal welfare center.

According to documents provided by parish government, the animal services board recommended approval of purchasing the northern portion of the property owned by Denise Crifasi.

An attached appraisal report dated Feb. 23, listed the estimated market value as the same as the selling price.

According to the documents, the board previously reviewed 23 sites around the parish for construction of a new facility.

In other matters:

  • The council approved an exemption to a 2016 policy for a speed management measure to be applied to a specific area along Lake Martin Road.
  • Chairman Chase Melancon honored St. Amant High School's band members who performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City March 29 for a national invitation-only event.
  • He also recognized St. Amant's Cadence Cagnolatti for winning back-to-back state titles in bowling.
  • Additionally, Melancon lauded Dutchtown High School's gymnastics team, which won the state championship for the second straight year.
  • The council approved a cooperative endeavor agreement for parish government to fund $20,000 toward marketing and public relations for Gonzales' Jambalaya Festival Association.
  • Fair Housing Month, Safe Digging Month and Community Development Week were proclaimed.

Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.