Blight must go!

Derelict properties are scattered throughout Marydale subdivision in Thibodaux. Adjacent to and across from a well-maintained yard sit two uninhabitable structures, shielded only by the weeds that have grown for five-plus years in what could be mistaken as an attempt to hide the blight.

One of the properties is set to be demolished in the coming days, after approval was granted the Lafourche Parish Council last Tuesday.

For Councilman Jerry Jones, the fire-damaged, gutted and five-year abandoned home at 212 Line St. serves as the first step in his effort to quell the blight in his community.

“The process, it takes a while,” Jones, 1st District, said. “You’ve got to go through the proper channels. I hope there is some kind of way where we can speed that process up and get this stuff cleaned up.

“This community needs to be cleaned. If you don’t take pride in cleaning your community, then you’ve got problems. That brings, not just rats and snakes, but it brings drugs and trouble. It’s a health hazard all around, to me, and that’s my mission, to try to clean Marydale.”

Andrew Baudoin Building Contractor will handle the demolition of the condemned lot for $5,500. The money will be billed to the homeowner, who will have 30 days to pay. If the timeline is not met, the parish will place a lien on the property.

Jones said the family who lived at the residence relocated to Texas and 35 letters were sent between the parish and the family regarding the clean up of the property.

The Lafourche Parish Council also approved the demolition of a condemned property at 1327 St. Mary Drive in Houma, as presented by Councilman Matt Matherne. BET construction will handle the demolition of that property for $4,800.

Matherne said the process of demolishing the property on St. Mary Drive has been going on for about 11 months. The District 5 councilman said he’s still working to get a few more blighted properties demolished but said it’s not something he has made a concerted effort to target.

“It continues because I have one we’ve been working on almost two years,” Matherne said. “They just give them a lot of time to comply. Most of them gradually clean them up, but it’s an ongoing process.”

Lafourche Parish CBO Frank Morris condemned the properties, and the Parish Administrator Crystal Chiasson made mention that the duties should be assigned to someone in Permitting and Planning Department and certified by Morris in order to expedite the process.

“It’s time to start doing away with some of the lists and get some action here,” Jones said. “Nobody wants to live around this kind of environment. I know I don’t for sure. Me and snakes don’t get along.”