Lafourche council considers pumping up Parr station

The Lafourche Parish Council will consider giving Low Land Construction the authority to temporarily stabilize the Parr Pump Station Bank in Lockport at tonight’s meeting.

In February, the council declared the pump’s status to be an emergency situation because it was unable to expel rainwater in Lockport and Larose. The council budgeted $100,000 for the temporary stabilization.

A special council meeting was called Tuesday to accept Low Land’s $95,427 bid for the stabilization of the bank. Unfortunately the council failed to get a quorum, with only four council members – Michael Matherne, Lindell Toups and Phillip Gouaux – and Parish President Charlotte Randolph were in attendance.

“When council members don’t show up for special meetings, its shows the lack of concern they have for the Lockport and Larose people and their property,” said Gouaux. “It was a matter of attending the meeting and ratifying the contract for the people to do the work.”

According to Gene Robichaux of Low Land Construction, the company is ready to move on the job site and get the problem corrected.

Gouaux said the Bayou Blue levee is falling over and pushing the Parr Pump Station. “With us being in the middle of hurricane season, we need Low Land to jump on the project as soon as possible,” he said.

The council initially partnered with the North Lafourche Conservation Levee and Drainage District to fix the bank.

“The North Lafourche Levee District estimates a one-year window before the bank is permanently fixed,” Gouaux said. “We can’t wait that long. If the bank breaks in a high-tide situation, the water would flood Larose and Lockport.”

The Lafourche Parish Council will also consider the following items at its Aug. 14 meeting:

• Hire Picciola & Associates as the engineers for the Cote Blanche Bridge repair project.

• Give an update on the water inflatable protection devices.

• Change the location of Polling Precints 10-3A and 10-3B.

• Place an ad valorem tax on the Nov. 17 election ballot to operate parish senior citizen centers.

• Amend the indecent exposure ordinance on saggy pants.