Councilwoman seeks pause on controversial Gretna brewpub project

Sparks may fly at today's Jefferson Parish council meeting.
Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken wants to put a hold on parish money earmarked for a building that would house a brew pub and a taqueria in downtown Gretna.

The council already approved the spending, but a subsequent 35-page report from Jefferson Parish Inspector General Kim Chatelain questioning the project brought about some second thoughts.

"I think these are valid questions," Chatelain told the council during a meeting last month. "We're going to run around and give $10.3 million to build a brewpub which we are going to own, but we're not going to receive any revenue."

Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant was not happy with the report "casting a black cloud over something that has been vetted for years," she told the council.

Van Vrancken intends to put forward a motion today to pause the payout until questions are answered: "Is this a good deal, are we taking undue risk?"

The measure does not appear to have enough support to pass.

The council meets at 10 a.m. at the Yenni building in Elmwood.