Terrebonne Parish Surges Forward

In January 2016, when I took office as Parish President, Terrebonne Parish was faced with a spiraling economy. The Terrebonne Parish budget had to address the issue of tumbling oil prices, the decline in State and local sales tax collections, unemployment, low residential and commercial building permit projects and numerous companies closing doors or relocating. Fortunately, in 2017, the economy began to level out. To address these economic issues, the Parish’s 2016 budget was cut $10 million a year with a total of $30 million in cuts for the FY 2018. Despite the cuts the Parish faced in 2016 and 2017, my Administration was able to continue to maintain all services to the citizens of Terrebonne Parish without laying off employees. In May of 2018, the Parish issued bonds of approximately $15 million in drainage funds, to help fund numerous pump and lock systems as well as drainage projects that are vital to our community. Standard and Poor’s has rated these bonds an AA-. The Parish also issued approximately $15 million in new money for the Morganza to the Gulf Project. Standard and Poor’s has rated these bonds A+.    

Despite budget constraints, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government (TPCG) was able to provide Police and Fire departments with a 2% raise. TPCG also purchased a Mobile Command Unit as well as police personal safety gear in August of 2017.

TPCG has recently completed the soccer parking area for the Bayou Country Sportspark on Hwy 311. Six fields are currently under construction and are funded by TPCG. The soccer concession stand is currently in the engineering phase and will be funded by TPCG. Terrebonne Parish is working with Rec. 2-3 on the boys’ baseball fields, boys’ concession and bathrooms, parking, and lights. The girls’ softball fields are currently built and the girls’ lights and concessions are underway. The total cost of current construction for this project is roughly $3.4 million.

TPCG is building 14 pump stations throughout Terrebonne. Eight of these pump stations will be electric drive, hydraulic pumps with diesel engines as backup power in the event the power goes out. Maintaining power to these pumps is crucial in possible storm events when the power can be lost. Under my Administration, the Parish is installing the eight electric pump stations that will help relieve flooding in neighborhoods such as Plantation Gardens, Summerfield and Old Spanish Trail, Savanne Road, Upper Dularge, Concord Road, Sugarwood, and the Lakes area.

TPCG currently has several other capital projects that are ongoing and includes $16.9 million in funding for the Falgout Canal Floodgate. Of this funding, $ 13.8 million is from the State with the Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District contributing $5 million. The Falgout Canal Floodgate is currently under construction at a total cost of $35 million. Falgout Canal Road is also currently under construction. This project is a $2.78 million one that includes lifting and asphalt overlay of four miles of road. 4-Point Road asphalt overlay is currently a joint project with the Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District. Lafayette Street was just completed with asphalt overlay and sewerage line work that was done by both State and Parish. The levee and pump station at Dulac is a $6 million project that is currently under construction in the Cane Break area. TPCG also has ongoing concrete road panel replacements throughout the Parish as well as addressing curbs and sidewalks that is budgeted at $500,000. Also completed was the street lighting project at the Schriever Overpass.

With the start of hurricane season next month, my Administration is making sure the Parish is properly prepared. TPCG has telemetry pump stations with approximately 22 completed and seven more underway that will have automation and remote operating. The Parish is installing 19 backup generators to 19 existing pumps. These generators were Federal surplus generators that saved the Parish an estimated $500,000. The Parish is currently installing two automatic generators for two pump stations equipped with debris/lily removal rakes. Work crews have cleaned culverts, dug ditches as well as cleaned many right of ways throughout the Parish.

The Hanson-Chacahoula Pump Station is going to bid and is a $10 million project that is fully funded and permitted. The Petite Caillou lock system at Boudreaux Canal is a $9 million project that is funded by TPCG. We are currently waiting on permits from the Corps this week. The Montegut lock system in Bayou Terrebonne is going to final design and engineering phase and is a $650,000 budget for engineering and design. Currently in the Valhi area is a $1.2 million project that will include levee construction with sluice gates and pump stations which will address issues in the Sugarwood, the Lakes, Manchester, and Sportsplex areas.  In the Bayou Black-Gibson area, TPCG is lifting levees and has two miles left to complete. TPCG worked with the Terrebonne Levee District on this project. From the TPCG issued bonds, the levee board is in the process of lifting J-2 in Montegut to a +12 ‘ above sea level. The levee board is working on this $4.5 million project that runs from Montegut to Pointe aux Chenes. TPCG is rebuilding levees in the St. Gregory Church area that will address issues in the Maple Street Park area including Central Avenue, Suthon Avenue, Williams Street, and Wilson Avenue.

The Houma Navigational Canal serves as a main artery to this region and is the economic engine for Terrebonne. It is imperative that the HNC is dredged to a 15’ (Congressionally authorized) navigable depth. TPCG has committed $1.5 million dollars in 2016 as well as $1.5 million in 2017 for this purpose, which the Corps refuses to fund, and is vital for protecting thousands of jobs. Construction is nearing completion of the restoration of Whiskey Island, which helps protect Terrebonne Parish from storm surge. This is a $118 million project with 10.4 million cubic yards of sand (Restore Act/BP funding) and also with engineering underway to dredge sand and restore Trinity and Timbalier Islands.

As Terrebonne Parish President, I am committed to maintain Terrebonne Parish fiscally strong with a General Fund Balance of $9 million with approximately $140 million in cash and investments. TPCG has numerous other projects not listed here but are currently under construction. It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of Terrebonne as YOUR Parish President. •