Lafourche cracking down on derelict properties

The Lafourche Parish government shelled out $30,000 to rid the parish of derelict structures and abandoned vehicles that are in violation of the parish’s nuisance abatement ordinance.

“We have been trying to get our ordinance in such a format that is legal enough to enforce throughout the parish,” said Jerome Danos, supervisor of the Coastal, Energy and Environmental Department. “I can see now that we will be pretty busy for the next few years.”

At the beginning of the year, the department issued 20 violation notices for derelict structures in Lockport, Thibodaux, Kraemer and Choctaw. The parish hired Andrew Baudoin Building Contractors to demolish five of the structures because owners failed to reply to the notice of violation letter.

To recoup their expenses, the parish sent out invoices to the respective property owners. Failure to reimburse the parish for the expense will result in the parish filing liens against those properties, Danos said.

“We give them 30 days to pay the invoice, and if it’s not paid then we go to the court system to place the lien on the property,” the supervisor said. “The lien will stay on the property until the fee is paid, the property is sold or transferred to the parish.”

Fortunately for the parish, 15 of the property owners cleared their own sites at their own expense.

“If the parish had to clear all 20 sites, we would have paid more than $100,000 to clear the parish of the eyesores that are declining property value and diminishing neighborhoods in the parish,” Danos said.

The parish’s Public Road Lighting Program property tax millage was rededicated to fund the program. Danos said the nuisance abatement program takes in 40 percent of the revenue from the tax.

“These funds were rededicated by a favorable vote of the people. With these dollars, parish government is making great strides in beautifying Lafourche Parish and making our parish one to be proud of!” he said.

Councilman Rodney Doucet is among those demanding that the program is done sufficiently.

“The parish needs to stay on top of ridding the parish of the derelict structures that have been abandoned in the parish,” he said. “I feel that the parish should hold property owners accountable for their property.”

The department is in the process of clearing 30 more sites throughout the parish.

Residents wishing to file a complaint on a property that may be in violation should obtain a Nuisance Abatement Complaint Form from the Lafourche Parish Government Complex located in Raceland.

Upon receipt of a complaint form, Danos said the parish sends inspectors to each site in question.

“In each case, several attempts are made to contact the property owner in an effort to allow them to remove or demolish the derelict structure from the property,” he said. “In the event that no action is taken, the parish will eventually follow the guidelines of the nuisance ordinance to bring the property into compliance.”

Workers with the Coastal, Energy and Environmental Department in Lafourche Parish are taking a tough stance against property owners who fail to comply with the parish’s nuisance abatement ordinance. * Photo courtesy of LAFOURCHE PARISH GOVERNMENT