Claudet: Parish growing despite 2008 storms

Terrebonne President Michel Claudet’s presentation to the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce last week in Houma hit almost entirely on the high notes of activities occurring in the parish.

But as for parish beautification and quality of life, he said, “Terrebonne can do better. I promise you.”

Claudet indicated the recent steep population gain in the parish and the number of new residential permits as evidence of the area’s health.

Around $178 million in commercial construction last year adhered to new parish building codes issued in 2006.

The parish’s much-publicized low unemployment level and job growth are helping to contribute to sales tax receipts that are three percent higher now than at this time last year. Terrebonne saw a “Katrina bump” in tax receipts following the hurricane in 2005, he said.

Claudet catalogued a lengthy list of $51 million in capital construction projects either underway or out to bid, all funded without federal stimulus bill dollars or the $123 million in federal Community Development Block Grant money the parish is receiving for recovery from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Of the CDBG funds, $10 million will be directed to building rental housing in the parish.

Several road extensions are either completed or planned in the Houma area, Claudet said.

Valhi Boulevard was extended to Equity Boulevard, and a further lengthening of Westside Boulevard will be put out to bid within the next couple of years. The extension of Enterprise Drive to La. Highway 311 will require a bridge that the parish is trying to broaden to four lanes.

Permits are expected soon for a Thompson Road extension. Permits could be received also for lengthening Bayou Gardens Boulevard.

The widening of traffic-logged Hollywood Boulevard is in the land acquisition stage. Utilities along the route will be relocated later this year.

Claudet said plans are 90 percent complete for the widening of Grand Caillou Road from Industrial Boulevard to Thompson Road.

Several bridges in the parish are being replaced or improved. The Bayouside Drive Bridge crossing Bayou Little Caillou will be replaced and another that crosses Little Caillou, the St. Ann Bridge, will be widened to two lanes.

Claudet said state Department of Transportation and Develop-ment Secretary William Ankner told him bids to improve the Prospect Street Bridge would go out this summer.

In addition, around $1.8 million is in the federal stimulus bill to build turning lanes in Terrebonne.

Apart from roads and bridges, the parish is looking to build a new juvenile detention center near U.S. Highway 90, using the current juvenile detention center adjacent to the parish jail in Ashland for women inmates. A ring levee is being built to protect the jail, damaged heavily by floodwaters from Hurricane Ike.

Bayou Terrebonne Bayouwalk in downtown Houma could be completed by the end of this year as well.

Addressing flood prevention and preparations for storms, Claudet said the parish incurred $32 million in expenses from the recent hurricanes but has received only a fraction in reimbursement from the federal government.

Repairs to the Ward 7 levee in Chauvin that breached during Hurricane Ike are complete. CDBG money will be used to build backup levees for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane levee system.

In response to Ike and Hurricane Gustav, the parish is receiving $16 million in federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, commonly used to elevate buildings on flood-prone property.

Claudet showed before-and-after pictures of homes in Terrebonne that had been raised several feet. He also displayed maps showing areas where severe repetitive losses from flooding have occurred, saying that structures razed using HMGP funds must become green space.

Claudet asserted that flood insurance rates in Terrebonne are some of the lowest in the state, but that is compared to rates that are already high, he acknowledged.

Claudet pointed out that he has named a new director of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Earl Eues. A new emergency operations center has been constructed and an updated emergency operations plan has been issued, establishing a new departure area at H.L. Bourgeois High School for evacuees.

The parish added another grant writer as well. Concerning other government departments, Planning and Zoning hired a new assistant planner. The Parks and Recreation Department has incorporated all of Terrebonne into taxing districts.

In addition, the Department of Housing and Human Services is giving out around $1 million a year in assistance to help with electricity costs and Coastal Zone Management is working on diverting Atchafalaya River water to south Terrebonne.

On the parish beautification front, Claudet mentioned that the U.S. Coast Guard is cleaning Terrebonne waterways of boats and debris left from hurricanes Katrina and Rita and that Houma won the state Cleanest City Contest in May in its population category.

Nevertheless, he said too many residents are throwing trash from car windows, adding, “We have to do better on quality of life and beautification.”