Debate over Ward 7 levees lingers

Two officials faced possible verbal lashing from the parish council, in order to clear up misperceptions about the current status of the Ward 7 Levee project.

During a regular council meeting two weeks ago, parish administrator Barry Blackwell waited until the last minute to address council about possible delays for Ward 7 Levee construction. Administrators have deemed the levee work a top-priority; without it Montegut residents remain vulnerable to any future hurricane destruction.

According to Blackwell, the Terrebonne Levee Conservation District had opted not to continue the joint project, and said the district declared “not looking forward to completing” the levee “behind closed doors.”

The announcement started a wildfire throughout the parish government and Terrebonne Parish.

Levee district director Jerome Zeringue and district chairman Tony Alford publicly addressed the parish council at its Dec. 20 meeting to affirm their commitment to completion of the levee project.

Zeringue said he believed the issue was a result of misinterpretation of the voice record, which documented the levee district meeting.

“We had an issue with mitigation,” he said. “Unfortunately mitigation is estimated to be close to $3 million, and we didn’t have an official commitment from the parish [to cover the cost]. We didn’t want to become liable for that cost if the parish didn’t have the money.”

The Ward 7 construction is one of five cooperative projects between the parish and levee district. A $5.7 million match for project funding was promised during a Levee Priority Advisory Committee meeting last December, but at the time of this month’s levee district meeting, Zeringue said the parish had not officially designated funds.

“We have a budget of $2 million, you [the parish government] have a budget of $200 million. If the parish was to run out of money or the funding wasn’t there, we would be liable form mitigation costs. That leaves us dead in the water and we wouldn’t be able to move forward with other projects,” said Alford.

The amount of mitigation n a standard required with any levee construction n was estimated at $33,000 per acre of Ward 7 construction.

Zeringue explained that the figure is based the estimation on a current levee project between the levee district and the Department of Natural Resources: TEO7 along the banks of North Lake Boudreaux.

Of Ward 7’s 31,000 feet n stretching from the bank of Bayou Petit Caillou at the Boudreaux Canal north to the Lashbrook Pump Station n a 3,100-foot segment needs sheet pile upgrading at the minimum, he said. Total construction is estimated at close to $12 million.

“We wanted to start this project last May, but our engineers wouldn’t certify building during hurricane season.” Alford said the levee district has been fully committed to the project and understands the urgency of its completion.

The levee won’t be completed by the start of the 2007 hurricane season.

Zeringue backed up Alford’s comments, informing the council that within the last two weeks the levee district awarded the construction bid to Shaw Group, Inc.

“We just wanted to make sure you were as committed as we are,” Alford said to the parish council.

The levee district restated its position on the project after the parish officially designated $1.2 million for the second phase of the project from the 2006 Budget at last Wednesday’s meeting.

Councilman Harold Lapeyre of District 6 was relieved to hear the levee district’s plan straight from members. He said it was a good day for Terrebonne with the passage of the Outercontinental Shelf Revenues bill, which will generate additional funds for levees in dismal condition, as is the case in Ward 7.

Alford warned that the parish may not see a substantial amount of money for some time.

The OCS revenues will give the parish $20 million for 10 years, he said. The parish could bond out that money and in the 11th year, generating somewhere close to $600 million, but Alford said the parish won’t see a large payout from the bill until then.

“We are going to have to work together on this one,” said Alford. “I just don’t see any other answer.”

In other action:

The following is a rundown of action taken by the Terrebonne Parish Council during its regular meeting on Dec. 20. Councilwoman Teri Chatagnier Cavalier was absent. All decisions were unanimous unless otherwise noted:

• Concurred with call of a property tax election for the Schriever Fire Protection District on March, 31 2007, proposing 12 mills for 10 years.

• Authorized the necessary acquisition of sites and, or servitudes for the Shriver area forced drainage project, Project 2-1A.

• Established a “No Parking” zone along both sides of the roadway at 4739 N. Bayou Black Dr. Approximately 50 feet of the roadway will be zoned in both directions, totaling 100 feet.

• Declared vehicles and other equipment from various departments as surplus property. Authorized the disposal of the equipment at that time.

• Authorized the parish president to execute an agreement to purchase and sell, Act of Sale and related documents for immovable property on Intracoastal Drive. This property will be used by the parish transit system.

• Authorized the acquisition of sites and, or servitudes required for the Mount Pilgrim Forced Drainage Area Humphries, project 6-3.

• Established a “No Parking” zone on both sides of the roadway in front of 313 and 314 RJ Dr. Authorized zone because local business parking prohibits residents from driveway access and tightness of space hinders emergency vehicle access.

• Established a “No Parking” zone on both sides of the roadway in front of 420 Darlene St.

• Established a policy setting the percentage of employee contributions to premiums for core-group benefits.

• Authorized the parish president to enter into a lease agreement with Pride Oil & Gas Properties. Oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous minerals will be extracted from the Donner area.

• Amended the 2006 Budget to recognize necessary year-end adjustments to the Sanitation Fund.

• Amended the 2006 Budget to recognize the federal participation in the Pontoon Bridge Project.

• Amended the 2006 Budget to provide the Port Commission with the local match for the Port Commission, Levee and Drainage Project.

• Authorized the parish president to enter into a lease agreement with Southbay Exploration Inc. Oil gas and other liquid or gaseous minerals will be extracted in the Bayou Cane area, between Hwy. 24 and Martin Luther King Drive. The drill site will be located within 700 feet to 1,000 feet of Cypress Gardens.

• Authorized the parish president to enter into an Intergovernmental Right of Use Agreement with the Houma City Court for office space. The 2006 Budget will be amended to recognize the 2006 rental income for the Arceneaux Courthouse used to supplement the purchase of this building.

• Amend the 2006 Budget to provide funds for the Ward 7 Levee Project, Phase II.

• Appointed Matthew Armen to fill one vacant position on the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority.

• Held one expired term on the Recreation District No. 7 Board, to acquire nominees.

• Held the expired term of Bobbie Howard open on the Houma-Terrebonne Public Trust Financing Authority, to acquire additional nominees. Howard wishes to be reappointed.

• Appointed Doug Holloway and Alina Merlos to two vacant positions on the South Central Human Service Authority.

• Re-appointed Dean Lapeyrouse to the Terrebonne Parish Communications District Board, after expiration of his term.

• Re-appointed Clarence Williams to the Houma Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, after expiration of his term.

• Terms of Robert LeBouef, Van Matherne, Harvey Parks Sr., and Thomas Dardar of the Bayou Black Fire District expire. Dardar received re-appointment and the other positions will be held.

• Terms of Lionel Falgout and Amy Gautreaux of the Bayou Cane Fire District expired. Falgout was reappointed and the other position was held.

• Terms of Willis Henry and Ivy Deroche Jr. of the Coteau Fire District expired. Both were reappointed.

• Terms of Willie Bonvillain and Roland Aucoin of Fire District No. 4 expired. Both were reappointed.

• Terms of Nolan Bergeron, Selwyn Gilmore Jr. and Jerry Neal Jr. of Fire District No. 5 expired. Each was reappointed.

• Terms of Marietta Ellender, Alcee Dupre and Kevin Belanger of Fire District No. 6 expire. Ellender and Dupre were reappointed, and the third position held.

• Terms of Barry Chauvin and Jamie Theriot of Fire District No. 7 expire. Both terms were held open.

• Terms of Floyd Trahan and Brad Blanchard of Fire District No. 9 expire. Blanchard was reappointment and the other position held.

• Terms of terry Hebert, Keith Poiencot and Burt Poiencot of Fire District No. 10 expire. Each was reappointed.

• Terms of Phil Schexnayder, Emelie Waguespack, and Paul Dugas of the Schriever Fire District expired. Both were reappointed.

• Terms of Leroy Harding and John Roy of the Village East Fire District expire. Both positions were held.

• Commended the organizers and members of the 2007 U.S.S. Terrebonne Parish Reunion Association.