Boundary map focus of TPCG suit

Lafourche and Terrebonne parish governments may embark on a collaborative effort to solve decades-long boundary issues where the parishes abut in north Bayou Blue, Grand Bois and Pointe-aux-Chenes.

Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet urged the Lafourche Council to back efforts to remedy the mapping inconsistencies, which would require an agreement approved by both parish councils and possibly a vote of the public, Claudet said.

“I’m hoping that we can have the political resolve to get this matter finally concluded,” Claudet said. “I just think we can do something.”

Lafourche Council Chairman Daniel Lorraine said he would support discussion on the subject.

Because the long-standing issues haven’t been resolved, ambiguous lines cloud property tax assessments, school designations, political boundaries, FEMA flood maps and government services like building permits and fire and police protection and the domicile of residents, Claudet said. Thirty-eight children in upper Bayou Blue attend school in Terrebonne, although their parents pay taxes in Lafourche, he added.

Boundary issues have also surfaced in a lawsuit a Grand Bois property owner filed last August against Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government.

Roddy Matherne, owner of 310 acres off La. Highway 24 that span both parishes, is seeking to break a lease agreement with TPCG related to Grand Bois Park, a campsite on Matherne’s land.

Matherne purchased the property in May of last year from JMB Partnership, a St. Mary Parish-based company, also taking ownership of the pre-established Grand Bois Park lease, court records show.

TPCG reached a lease agreement with JMB in February 2011. It was initially slated for 10 years, with a $5,000 per year rental fee, according to the record.

Exactly one month after Matherne purchased the property, he sent parish government a notice they were not complying with the lease agreement.

Mostly referenced were maintenance issues, but Matherne also alleged the parish was allowing campers to stay beyond the prescribed 3-month limit, that they did not provide sufficient patrols of the campsite and that “the parish has allowed obnoxious animals to remain on the property including but not limited to donkeys,” the record says.

Matherne maintains parish government did not address the compliance issues he raised, so he filed suit seeking to terminate the lease on Aug. 21, 2013.

The lawsuit was filed in the 17th Judicial District, of Lafourche Parish. Counsel representing Terrebonne unsuccessfully attempted to have the case remanded to the 32nd Judicial District, saying the park was located in Terrebonne and that state law maintains action against a parish government should be filed in that parish. But because the park is attached to the other 310 acres, crossing parish lines and is not subdivided, the state civil code permits the case to be brought in Lafourche, according to the court record.

After this failed, Terrebonne requested more time. Parish attorney Courtney Alcock said maps in the parish tax assessor’s office showed the park is located in Grand Bois and that Terrebonne sought to have its location confirmed by state records.

In her motion to the court, Alcock wrote: “… Due to lingering boundary issues associate with the historic course of Bayou blue, TPCG has requested an official map from the State of Louisiana former Department of Public Works and awaits a response.” The 30-day extension was granted Feb. 18.

About an hour after Claudet addressed the parish council on Feb. 25, Matherne was given the floor when the agenda turned to “public wishing to address the council.” Matherne questioned Claudet’s motivations and urged Lafourche not to take the issue lightly. Claudet had already left.

The Terrebonne parish president stated earlier, however, that Terrebonne is not targeting any specific locations.

“None of my people have any predetermined areas, where they want to get this or that. We’re going to be very flexible,” Claudet said. “We just want to finally get it resolved.”

Claudet suggested each parish put forth three members toward a committee. His representatives would be administrative assistant Doug Bourg, director of zoning Pat Gordon and parish manager Al Levron, he said. Lorraine said he would select three people to represent Lafourche.

“This is probably going to be a tough issue to resolve, if we can resolve it,” Lorraine said.