TRMC’s Hansen tapped for role at the American College of Healthcare Executives
March 21, 2007
Chabill’s Tire Traxx opened its 13th location at 4966 Hwy. 1 in Mathews in February. “The Cajun Cannon” Bobby Hebert was on hand for the kick-off celebration.
March 28, 2007The controversy over portable levees rented from U.S. Flood Control during Hurricane Rita continued last Tuesday night at a special meeting held by the Lafourche Parish Council.
Only at this meeting, Paul Vickers, owner of U.S. Flood Control, and three lawyers were present, continuing discussion concerning exactly how much money is owed to the company.
Bobby Raymond spoke for U.S. Flood Control, and was questioned on everything from the reasonability of the company’s rental rates to the mathematics of how many levees could have been set up in a given amount of time.
While the two sides agreed that U.S. Flood Control is owed money, the major disagreement of how much money is owed remained.
U.S. Flood Control maintains that they are owed roughly $5 million, while the Lafourche Parish Council maintained its offer of $1.2 million.
However, during the course of the meeting, Raymond rejected the $1.2 million offer, on behalf of Vickers.
The other disagreement rests on how many tubes were actually used. While the council maintains that not all 500 tubes were used, U.S. Flood Control said having the tubes rented out constitutes rental.
“Your contention is that it’s 500 tubes, full rent, no matter,” councilman Mark Atzenhoffer asked Raymond.
“That’s the agreement that we believe we have with Lafourche Parish,” Raymond responded.
Atzenhoffer pointed to wording from the company’s Web site that distinguished charges for “set up” tubes and for tubes on “stand by.”
“We believe that as many as all of the tubes were used,” said Raymond. “And I recognize that that’s an issue.”
Still, there is no record stating exactly how many tubes were used.
The harshest words for U.S. Flood Control came from councilman Michael Matherne. “How much is it,” he asked. “Is it $1.2 million? Is it $1.8 million? I can tell you it ain’t $4 million. Before you officially reject $1.2 million, I’d put it in a pipe and smoke it, and see how it tastes, because I don’t think it would get any better than $1.2 million.”
The levees could have been purchased for $600,000, but FEMA does not regularly reimburse money toward a purchase; however, it does reimburse toward rentals. “I think you’re taking advantage of the FEMA situation,” said Matherne. “With all respect, I think the company is a FEMA [prostitute]. I think they go around, preying on disasters, and it’s a shame.
“We owe these people some money,” he added. “I think its in the neighborhood (of $1.2 million), and I’d ask the council members to leave it in the this neighborhood.”
