Parish development sessions underway

Getting input from parish citizens on what they want St. Charles to be like in the years ahead is now underway in a program designed to let residents set goals for parish development in the next 20 years. Public workshops are being held Tuesday through today to get started.

The first meeting held Tuesday in Killona drew many residents who gave a lot of input to the Wallace, Roberts & Todd firm hired by the parish to conduct the study. They were divided into three smaller groups and asked to state how they perceive their community today and how do they imagine our future.

They gave what they believed were the strengths of the parish such as the school system and recreation programs for children. On the other hand they gave some of the weaknesses such as lack of a civic center for large gatherings such as high school graduations and the lack of urgency among the public in making things better.

The opportunities are there to make vocational training more extensive to help citizens get jobs in the future. But the threat of hurricanes remains with no protection on the west bank.

Today is the last day of the public workshops but residents who do not attend them can give their opinions by calling the Planning and Zoning Department at 783-7060.This study should go a long way in letting our public officials know what their citizens feel about the present status of our parish and how it can be improved.

Remaining Meeting Schedule

• Thursday: noon to 2 p.m. at West Regional Library, 105 Lakewood Drive, Luling.

• Thursday: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 375 Spruce St., Norco.

• Thursday: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Des Allemands Fire Station, 16960 U.S. 90, Des Allemands.