Council approves $160,000 to overhaul permit office after debate over staffing and milestones

Plaquemines Parish Council on May 14 approved a $160,000 amendment to the general fund to hire a consultant to evaluate and modernize the parish permit office, including recommendations for staffing, technology and fee updates.

Council members said the permit office faces understaffing and outdated fees and that outside expertise is needed to make the office self-sustaining. The digest amendment read into the record inserted $160,000 to fund consulting services; proponents said the consultant will assess the online myGov permitting system, recommend fee updates and propose staffing and workflow changes to speed permitting.

Opponents and cautious council members urged safeguards. Council member Champagne asked for a clear plan and milestones so the council can judge whether the consultant's work produces measurable improvements and to avoid creating a "forever job" for a contractor. Council member Newsome raised concerns about long-term funding if the service continues beyond the six-month engagement and asked whether the parish would be committed to additional expense in future budgets. Reverend Evans and others asked that the consultant's work be designed so it could lead to permanent hires only when justified.

Administration said the contractor's scope will include evaluating existing software, implementing changes to maximize the parish's myGov investment and transferring functions where possible; officials said the current contract-based approach saves money compared with an equivalent full-time salary. The administration agreed to present a later report outlining issues found, proposed solutions, costs, and projected revenue changes based on a recent three-year average.

The council approved the amendment on the record. The ordinance as amended will proceed per the council's adopted motion; council members asked that staff return with a project timeline, performance milestones and a follow-up presentation after the consultant's evaluation is completed.