Members of the St. Mary Planning and Zoning/Building Permit Committee agreed Wednesday during their first session to review permit fees and turn-around times in an effort to be more competitive with surrounding parishes.

Current permit fees were established three years ago to fund enforcement of state mandated building codes, according to parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange.

He admitted that some mistakes have been made along the way but commended planning office personnel and Director Tammy Luke for the job they’re doing with the amount of information there is to absorb.

Committee Chairman David Hanagriff, District 3, asked LaGrange to compile fee structures and permit application turn-around times from surrounding parishes for comparison by the committee

The full parish council, which met following the committee meeting, approved a resolution to retain Craigo Code Consultants LLC of Patterson to review building plan permit applications that LaGrange said should help streamline the process.

Former councilman Gary Duhon said he felt the committee’s goals are important to improve the perception of a “negative business outlook.”

“We need to look at it hard and make something happen,” he said.

Others members of the committee include Councilmen Steve Bierhorst, Lionel Metz, Glen Hidalgo, Albert Foulcard and Sterling Fryou. Deborah Tabor of the Planning and Zoning Committee was originally appointed but as a member of that board will not be able to serve due to state conflict of interest laws.

The next meeting will be held on April 25 at 5 p.m.

In other business during the council’s regular meeting two proposed ordinances were adopted that authorize the abandonment of the servitude at the old Franklin Canal boat launch and parking lot on Willow Street and rename Oak Street in Garden City to Sawmill Drive for mail delivery purposes.

Also, the following resolutions were passed:

—A sub-grant agreement with Chez Hope relative to the Emergency Shelter Grant Program services.

—A contract with LA Contracting Enterprise LLC on Cajun Way Road.

—New signatories for St. Mary Parish Sales and Use Tax Department.

—An agreement with Lafayette Parish on the Lafayette Juvenile Detention Home.

—A contract with Sea Level Construction Inc. on the Plantation Pump Station.

—An agreement with Magellan Health Services to provide managed behavioral health care for Fairview Treatment Center.

—A request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, to follow the recommendations of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management, as to the implementation of fair and reasonable regulations on wetland habitat assessment and compensation for wetland impacts.

—Change orders on the lighting system rehab project at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport; and the Thorguson Road project.

—A certificate of substantial completion on Cell 4 Phase II – Stage 1 of the landfill expansion project.

The council also heard from Cypress Sawmill Festival royalty who invited the council to the upcoming festival on May 30-April 1, in Patterson; and Richard LeGrier, coordinator of Louisiana Circles, on special aid being provided to individuals impacted by the BP oil spill. He also invited all to the organization’s golf tournament on Saturday, May 12 at Bellview Country Club. For more information contact LeGrier at 923-6238, or email him at rlegrier@sagerbrown.org.