Parish hears from Chez Hope, Council on Aging

St. Mary Council on Aging provided 67,253 units of service to the elderly during its 2014-2015 fiscal year.
In her annual budget discloser Wednesday to the St. Mary Parish Council, agency Director Beverly Domengeaux said that total included 5,189 homemaker visits.
St. Mary Parish senior centers are located at 302 Iberia St., Franklin; 909 First St., Patterson; and 301 Third St., Morgan City.
She said the agency operates on a $500,000 annual budget made up of local, state and federal grants as well as donations to and funds raised by the agency.
Broken down, about half of the budget is state and federal dollars with $32,000 from municipalities; $40,000 from parish government; $30,000 from client donations; and $70,000 from private grants and agency fundraisers, Domengeaux said.
She added that a separate grant has provided for renovation of the agency’s facility on Iberia Street, which is nearing completion with a ribbon cutting to soon be scheduled.
Domengeaux invited the council and all senior citizens of the parish to the agency’s 42nd annual meeting beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, at the Patterson Civic Center.
The evening, called Monday Night Senior Fever, will include dinner, dancing and door prizes. It will be dedicated to the memory of the late Simon Daniels Sr. who died in June at the age of 101. Domengeaux said Daniels had lunch at the Franklin center every day for 42 years.
In other discussion the council heard from Cherrise Picard, executive director of Chez Hope Family Violence Crisis Center.
Picard told the council about plans to establish an umbrella agency to serve as a safe visitation and exchange center for children and parents.
Called KKIDSS, or Keeping Kids in Domestic Situations Safe, the agency would provide service for court referred clients from throughout the tri-parish 16th Judicial District.
Picard said she has obtained a $206,000 federal grant that requires a $54,000 match and asked the council to consider providing $25,000 toward the match.
She added that she would also be seeking allocations from Iberia and St. Martin parishes.
A location for the facility is being considered on Northwest Boulevard in Franklin, Picard said. Five employees that would include a coordinator, two monitors and two security guards would operate the facility.
The council took no action on the request. However, Council Chairman Kevin Voisin said the administration would be asked to consider the allocation in the next fiscal year budget.
In other business the council:
—Introduced an amendment to the Atchafalaya Golf Course Commission ordinance that would authorize the administration to seek requests for proposals from private management companies for operation of the public course in Patterson.
—Adopted ordinances declaring a solid waste shredder system as surplus and authorizing its sale; amending the 2015 fiscal year budget; and issuing a specific use variance to operate a church at 10107 La. 182 in Amelia in a general commercial zone.
—Passed resolutions on a contract award to lowest bidder and grant agreement with the FAA on the runway and taxiway rehab project at Harry P. Williams Airport; agreements with South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority on services at Fairview Residential Services and Claire House; a change order with Patriot Construction & Equipment on the infrastructure improvement project at Charenton Canal Industrial Park reducing the cost by $27,942; decommissioning the non-directional beacon at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport; establishing new solid waste tipping fees; and a $21,248 cost reduction change order with Acadiane’ Renovations Ltd. on renovations to the Blevins building in Franklin.
—Reappointed Ronald J. Chillis to the Fire Protection District 11 board of commissioners.