Parish OKs funds for KKIDSS area

Some of the most vulnerable citizens in the community may be getting a new resource soon to augment an organization that supports children after a measure was passed by the St. Mary Parish Council yesterday.
Sponsored by Parish President-elect David Hanagriff, the measure requested an allocation of $25,000 for the Chez Hope KKIDSS Center which will be a new service added to the existing facility’s resources. KKIDSS stands for ‘Keeping Kids in Domestic Situations Safe.’
Chez Hope is a local organization devoted to providing support to victims of domestic violence and their families. The measure passed by a unanimous vote.
Hanagriff said the measure should provide a new level of protection for young people in the community.
“This is so people going through a divorce or similar situation that Chez Hope handles will have a safe place to exchange their children,” Hanagriff said. “Right now, it’s being done in parking lots and at restaurants and other stores where it’s not really safe and secure. We don’t have anything like this in the area so I think it’s a great thing for Chez Hope. This is for the safety of the children.”
New business for the council included a message from Cox Communication indicating the cable company will no longer carry analog signals effective Dec. 1. A representative from Cox wrote the council a letter letting them know to alert the public that they need to convert to digital equipment to keep viewing regular programming.
The Grevemberg House Museum will also be getting some assistance from Hanagriff. The council approved a measure to allocate $8,000 for improvements to the Franklin historical landmark.
Other business included the adoption of ordinances granting a specific use permit, a zoning map amendment and an ordinance authorizing the parish to enter into a lease agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Resolutions passed included one related to the annual Certification of Compliance with the State of Louisiana Off System Bridge Replacement Program. An off system bridge is one located on local or rural roads.
Another resolution authorized the parish president to execute a cooperative endeavor dgreement with the Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2 in compliance with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Program. The proposed improvements involve the Morgan City levee system.
The necessity for improvements to the Morgan City levee system was brought to the attention of the council after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued new guidelines regarding Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMS).
Resolution C authorized the parish president to execute an agreement with Amerigroup Louisiana, Inc. regarding the Fairview Treatment Center.
Improvements to Bayou Vista Park Subdivision and drainage in Ward 8 will come about as a result of the council passing Resolution D.
Resolution E authorized the president to execute a professional services agreement with a company relative to technical assistance services and the last resolution of the day authorized the president to execute an amendment to an agreement with another company relating to the Bayou Vista Park subdivision and drainage in Ward 8.