ST. MARTIN PARISH, LA — The idea of annexing a portion of Lower St. Martin Parish into St. Mary Parish has become a topic of ongoing discussion following a recent meeting of the St. Martin Parish Council. Parish President Pete Delcambre provided insights into the matter, clarifying that the proposal is still in its early stages.
The discussion was sparked after St. Mary Parish President Sam Jones revealed that he had been approached by Delcambre about the possibility of annexing Lower St. Martin Parish. The two leaders met last Tuesday to further explore the idea. Delcambre, however, was quick to emphasize that the conversations were only exploratory at this point. “I said last night in this meeting that this was just exploratory, getting information,” Delcambre stated.
For more than 150 years, Upper and Lower St. Martin Parish have been separated due to a surveying error. This division has led to significant challenges for residents in areas such as Stevensville and Belle River, who often need local services but face long travel times to reach them—sometimes up to an hour. In contrast, St. Mary Parish is located just minutes away.
Delcambre pointed out that the idea of annexation has been driven largely by residents and business owners in Stevensville and Belle River. “It’s driven by Stevensville and Belle River residents and Stevensville and Belle River business associates, and so forth,” Delcambre explained. He further clarified that the decision to move forward with the annexation will ultimately depend on the wishes of the local residents. “I will only revisit this if the people of Stevensville and Belle River want to revisit this,” he said. “If they do not revisit, all things holding same, this will not be revisited by me.”
The concept of annexation gained momentum for Delcambre following the devastation caused by Hurricane Francine. While Lower St. Martin Parish faced significant damage, Upper St. Martin Parish, which did not suffer major destruction, was ineligible for FEMA assistance, as the disaster relief is often allocated based on parish boundaries. This disparity in assistance prompted Delcambre to consider annexation as a potential solution to better serve the residents of Lower St. Martin Parish in future emergencies.
However, Delcambre made it clear that annexation would involve many complex factors. “This is an unprecedented event. You know, you have school districts, you have business, you have tax rolls…this is unprecedented in its magnitude,” he explained. The potential annexation would require significant coordination between various entities, including St. Mary Parish, St. Martin Parish, and the affected communities.
At this point, Delcambre reiterated that any future action on the annexation proposal will be contingent upon the support of the residents of Stevensville and Belle River. He emphasized that their input would play a critical role in determining whether the discussions move forward. “It is the people in Lower St. Martin Parish who will ultimately dictate if we even look into the annexation as a possibility,” he said.
Delcambre also discussed his approach to engaging the community, stating that if annexation were to be pursued, town meetings would be held to gather feedback from local residents. He noted that he has established good relationships with many business owners and residents in Stevensville and Belle River and would personally reach out to gauge their opinions.
The potential annexation of Lower St. Martin Parish remains an open issue, and it will ultimately be the voice of the community that shapes its future. For now, the discussions are ongoing, with no immediate decisions expected.