St. Tammany News

The parish moved the regularly scheduled January meeting of the St. Tammany Parish Zoning Commission from Tuesday night to Wednesday night because the planning department was concerned it would not have a quorum since the date fell so close to the New Year's holiday.

Little did they know the Louisiana State University Tigers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would be playing in the Allstate Sugar Bowl game that night. At the December meeting when the January meeting date was brought up, commissioners were told it was too late because of advertising purposes to change the meeting date.

Commission Chairman Emile Lombard made it clear to his fellow commissioners that he expected them to come to the meeting regardless of what football game was playing on television that night, and a suggestion to draw straws to see who had to show up did not amuse him.

"I'd like to stay at home and watch it as much as anybody, but you take on certain responsibilities," he said, pointing out that there was nothing he could do to change the date.

However, he is not worried. He is sure his fellow commissioners take their responsibility as serious as he does.

"I expect to have a quorum," he said.

Planning Director Sidney Fontenot is not so sure, and he is anticipating there will be a problem getting a quorum.

He has reserved the Parish Council Chambers for another night the next week just in case he has to reschedule the meeting.

He said he felt even if it was possible, it would not have been right to reschedule the meeting just because of a football game, because some of the items on the agenda, especially the request for mobile homes, could mean the difference of someone being able to move into their home or not.

"For some people getting the approval they need for their home is more important than a football game no matter who is playing," he said.

However, he anticipates that many of the cases will be tabled because the applicants want to stay home and watch the game.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Parish Council Chambers on Koop Drive south of Abita Springs.