Claudet: ‘Great things are happening’

Michel Claudet, who became parish president in January, was the chief cheerleader for Terrebonne at last week’s meeting of the South Central Industrial Association in Houma.

Although the parish is experiencing its share of problems – a housing shortage, traffic congestion, a drop in auto sales, among others – Claudet said, “Great things are happening in Terrebonne.”

The number of Terrebonne residents, he said, has increased substantially since the 2000 census, which put the population at 104,503. The parish now home to an estimated 125,000 people.

Terrebonne experienced $2 billion worth of construction between 2003 and 2007, as indicated by the amount of construction permits issued. The parish has issued 1,700 residential construction permits since 2003.

Sales tax receipts skyrocketed following Hurricane Katrina, Claudet said. Terrebonne took in $109 million in sales taxes in 2007.

He said Mike Ferdinand, Terrebonne Economic Development Authority executive director, “works harder for our area than you can imagine.”

The unemployment rate in the parish is almost the lowest in the state at 2.6 percent, which virtually “means full employment,” Claudet said.

“Anyone who can pass a drug test can have a job,” he said. “We’re providing jobs. We’re doing anything we can to keep Terrebonne Parish employed. We can get you a job in any industry.”

He called the Houma-Terrebonne Municipal Airport “an economic generator in the area” and said the Port of Terrebonne is nearly full with tenants, including Edison Chouest’s massive new $65 million LA Ship shipbuilding yard.

Claudet called the parish’s 70,000-square-foot main library “the best in the state.”

Before becoming president, Claudet was one of the principal proponents of building a new main library, which was constructed in 2003. The parish library system was named best in the state by the Louisiana Library Association in 2004.

Within his inchoate administration, Claudet touted the creation of several new positions:

• The parish revived the job of community problem solver after eliminating the position more than 10 years ago.

• A grant from the Louisiana Recovery Authority is paying most of the salary of a new senior planner in the Planning and Zoning Department.

• The parish Public Works Department has hired two new engineers.

• The parish Human Resources and Risk Management departments were merged, creating a new director position.

On flood control, Claudet emphasized the need for the Morganza levees and pointed out that state Rep. Gordon Dove (R-Houma) and state Sen. Reggie Dupre (D-Houma) chair the natural resources committees in their respective chambers.

Claudet also cited as a positive development the move of former Terrebonne Levee District Director Jerome Zeringue to become an assistant to Garret Graves, the director of the Governor’s Office of Coastal Affairs. He referred to Graves as one of the most impressive people he has met.

Besides flood prevention, Claudet dwelt little on the parish’s problems. Numerous highway improvements are in the works, but the parish president bemoaned the increasing cost of many of them and the length of time before construction will begin.

He also said he is launching a beautification campaign, including bike and walking paths, and is working on improving the quality of life for parish residents.