Claudet names 2 directors

Two new department heads have been named by Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet to fill positions open since September, Claudet announced at last Wednesday’s parish council meeting.

Earl Eues, managing partner with the environmental services consulting firm Allterra, was picked to be director of the parish Office of Emergency Prepared-ness. J. Dana Ortego, an attorney with the Houma law firm Waitz & Downer, was named by Claudet to be the new director of the parish Risk Management and Human Resources Department.

The parish council will vote to confirm both men at its regular meeting on Nov. 19.

Former Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Jerrold Richard was fired from the position in September. David Battard, the parish’s first director of Risk Management and Human Resources, left that position in September for employment in the private sector.

The EOC director serves the parish as an independent contractor and is paid on an hourly basis.

Eues is also the owner of KEE Environmental Services, a home-based environmental consulting services business. He has worked as an environmental consultant for both T. Baker Smith and Terrebonne Parish government.

While with Waitz & Downer, Ortego handled discrimination lawsuits and defended the Terrebonne and Lafourche sheriff’s departments against inmate claims.

Prior to this year, Risk Management and Human Resources had been separate departments before being joined under Claudet.