St. Tammany News

Davis, Watkins optimistic after Tuesday's meeting

Covington Mayor Candace Watkins and St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis left Tuesday's meeting optimistic that a way can be found to resolve their differences concerning the parish's recent purchase of the Champagne Beverage Co. property.

Candace Watkins

Last week, Watkins sent Davis a letter last week asking him to reconsider the deal so the property could be purchased by a tax-paying business.

The two officials met Tuesday morning to discuss the issue.

The parish purchased the property for about $4.9 million from Champagne Beverage Co. on Dec. 21, 2006 to be used as a vehicle-maintenance facility. The property is located inside the city limits and is bounded by North Harrison Street, West 27th Avenue, North Tyler Street and Dutch Alley.

Watkins said she urged Davis to consider their work to promote economic development, and she left very optimistic that he had heard her concerns.

Watkins said Davis was very receptive to the idea of a business being allowed to occupy a portion of the property, so as to not take the entire parcel out of commerce and off the tax rolls.

Watkins said she is aware that one company, whom she would not name, is interested in locating on a portion of the property, which the parish has agreed to lease back to the beverage company for one year.

"It could be a combination," she said of a potential sharing arrangement between the parish and a private enterprise.

Davis said he hopes to meet with the business owner within the next week to discuss his need for the property.

"Kevin is going to contact the businessman interested in acquiring the property and show him the appraised value to see if it is still something he is interested in," Suzanne Parsons-Stymiest, spokesperson for the parish, said.

When asked about the idea of splitting off and selling a portion of the property, Stymiest said Davis did not want to comment on that further until he has a chance to meet with the business owner in person.

Watkins said Davis explained that he became involved in the property while helping to put a deal together to keep Champagne Beverage, which was looking to relocate, in the parish.

The company has since decided to relocate its headquarters and vehicle maintenance facility on 57 acres adjacent to Diversified Foods near Louisiana Highway 1085.

Watkins said she informed Davis that in order for the parish to use the property now zoned M-I Light Industrial for use by their Public Works Department it would be necessary for the parish to receive a conditional use permit from the Covington Planning and Zoning Commission.

"He was very receptive to the fact that it is an economic development opportunity," Watkins said of her conversation with Davis on the potential of the property. "He's open to all ideas and suggestions."

Prior to the meeting, Stymiest had stated that he was going into the meeting "very hopeful" that the city and the parish could come to some kind of agreement regarding the property.

She said his office did not receive the letter, which was dated March 1, until March 8, long after the news about Watkin's disapproval became public knowledge. She said if he had known about her concerns sooner, he would have addressed them.

"Kevin wants to do what is in the best interest of the community and the parish as a whole," Stymiest said.

She also said the parish plans to relocate 170 employees to the Champagne Beverage Co. site, and she anticipates their addition would have an economic impact on the city.