3-22-99

"Ascension COURTHOUSE RENOVATIONS in WORKS" -
by ANGELA ROZAS, Special to The Advocate

The very first sentence in this article catches my attention:

"The Ascension Parish Council agreed Thursday to move ahead on a $6million project to REMODEL the Parish
Courthouse, despite HEATED DEBATE on the DETAILS of the project".

My first observation of this sentence is the use of two words. One being REMODEL and the other being PARISH
COURTHOUSE. This building is not the Parish Courthouse, BUT is the Courthouse Annex. Also, the objective is to remodel the
Courthouse Annex.

Webster's College Edition Dictionary: REMODEL 1-To model again 2-To alter in structure or form; reconstruct; make
over.

As the Ascension Parish Courthouse is in Donaldsonville, are they going to remodel the Donaldsonville Courthouse?

SKIP down to the fifth paragraph, it really becomes interesting upon a close reading: "The Council first approved a
$6Million project in June, 1997, to enlarge the GONZALES COURTHOUSE ANNEX, adding TWO ADDITIONAL
COURTROOMS and some office space".

GIVE THIS SOME THINKING.

What or how has CONSTRUCTION COSTS gone up in TWO YEARS?

These people are talking the same project at the same dollar value. GIVE THAT SOME MORE THINKING.

What about these three verses:

"Councilman Milton Vicknair said a citizen of his district is willing to donate 20 acres to build a NEW GOVERNMENTAL
Building instead of remodeling the old one".

"But Parish President Tommy Martinez objected, arguing that the Council did not have the money to take on the project and
that something needed to be done immediately".

" 'If you want to look at starting on a new complex, I don't have a problem BUT THE JUDGES can't wait another two years
to fix it', Martinez said".

Read that over and over again until you understand what Mr. Martinez is saying.

What I read is this: I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ACCEPTING THIS GIFT OF 20 ACRES OF LAND - IT IS THE
JUDGES that are the PROBLEM.

A suggestion to all concerned: Take a poll, go to the seventh grade class in all schools in Ascension Parish with two
QUESTIONS:

1-The Martinez Plan

2-Accept the LAND DONATION and USE THE $6Million and BUILD ONLY A COURTHOUSE AS THE FIRST
STARTER BUILDING.

A WORD TO ALL WOULD BE CANDIDATES for ALL PARISH OFFICES:

Will you not come forth and take a STAND on this IMPORTANT PROJECT? The Election is seven months away. YOU
CAN NOT WAIT TO SPEAK OUT.

By the way, there are several frightening things in that article.





O. W. Stevens