-------The Home Rule Charter, the document that defines the roles of the St. Tammany Parish Government, was instituted in 2000. It came with the dissolution of the police jury system, adopting the Parish President and Council system that we see today. The Charter as adopted has been discussed over the years. In fact, under the previous parish administration a commission was convened to discuss numerous issues with the Charter.

         Most recently, the spotlight has been on the issue of the number of councilmembers. The Charter designates fourteen districts with one council member elected to represent each district. This past summer, the Bureau of Governmental Research held one of its expert panel discussions on the topic of the number of councilmembers. We covered the event in the June newsletter here. The reduction of the number of council districts has been a topic of debate among Northshore residents and officials, considering the growing size of our Parish. This measure, however, would take an amendment to the Home Rule Charter.

          At the November Council Meeting, a resolution was passed in order to appoint a Home Rule Charter Commission to convene in order to suggest and debate additions or revisions to the Home Rule Charter. Proposals to amend or repeal the Charter can be made by a two-thirds vote of the authorized membership of the Council or by petition signed by no less than 20% of the total number of registered voters in the Parish. The Charter Commission will make any recommended changes to the Council which will then vote on whether to include the changes on the next ballot, to be voted on by the general public.

--------The Council expects to vote on the Charter Commission members at its December 7^th meeting.

In Case You Missed It...

Public Health Millage Up for Renewal Saturday the 18th!

--------The Public Health Millage was last renewed in 2012. The Millage currently generates about $4 million a year. It supports public health spending in St. Tammany Parish and is the funding source of countless mental, behavioral, and physical health initiatives. It was first adopted in order to provide health clinic access, but has evolved over time with the needs of St. Tammany Parish residents. It is set to expire in December of this year and on the ballot to be renewed this Saturday, November 18^th.

           Public Health Millage funds go to multiple initiatives that provide crisis counseling and intervention to prevent suicide, along with other mental healthcare needs. It funds things such as Safe Haven Behavioral Campus, emergency measures during pandemics, hazardous material events, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, providing aid to our community at our most crucial moments. The Parish is also required by the state to provide healthcare for those detained in our jail. This includes evaluations, medications, and behavioral health services.

--------You can find your polling place on the Secretary of State's website at sos.la.gov or on the Geaux Vote App.

------Louisiana’s roof grant program will hold its next application period for homeowners to receive grants up to $10,000 to replace or retrofit their roofs to new hurricane-proof standards starting November 27. The requirements are:

•  Must be the primary residence
• Must provide proof of insurance with wind coverage
• Must NOT be a new construction home, condominium, or mobile home
• Homes on a foundation constructed of unrestrained stack masonry or stone are NOT eligible without an approved retrofit of the foundation
• Duplexes are eligible if it is the primary residence and they can verify the homestead exemption
• Must be in good repair, as determined by a state evaluator
• Must obtain bids from at least three insurance department-approved contractors

-----These grants are expected to fortify 3,000 homes statewide using around $15 million granted by the State Department of Insurance.

------Homeowners can apply online at https://www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes in order to qualify for the grant money.

COAST Unveils New Lacombe Senior Center Plans

------The project will cost about $4.1 million, and is set to be completed in September of 2024. COAST Executive Director Julie Agan and COAST staff have been working hard to make this project happen for the good of the senior community in Lacombe for the better part of three or four years. Having spoken to her personally when she revealed the plans to a group of elated seniors at the current activity center, it seems that all of their hard work will be paying off.

------Julie will be retiring here in the next few months, and she told me that she is glad that she got to see this plan come to fruition before she left her office! Thanks for your service to our community Julie.

Need to contact the St. Tammany Parish Council?

You can call 985.898.2591 or email council@stpgov.org.

www.STPGovCouncil.org