With budget looming, govt. animosity gets personal
November 13, 2012
St. Mary launches storm protection project
November 13, 2012
Taking a businesslike approach to government continued to pay off for Terrebonne Parish during the past year. According to Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet, fiscal responsibility, a diverse economy and continual promotion has boosted Terrebonne into an area where the prime interest rate of 3.7 percent (commercial lending rates range from 5 to 7 percent) can be documented along with an unemployment level of only 4.3 percent.
While much of the nation continues to reel in financial economic hardship, conditions are reasonably sound in Terrebonne Parish. Claudet said it all begins with attitude.
A branding initiative during 2012 resulted in the parish picking up a new commercial identity as “Louisiana’s Bayou Country” and trademarked tagline as the “Saltwater Fishing Capitol of America.”
“We have a good economic environment here,” Claudet said. “Interest rates are low and we are receptive to business. We are known for being a progressive community.”
At the completion of the third quarter of 2012, sales tax collections of more than $80 million in Terrebonne Parish posted an increase of 7 percent above the entire previous year’s collections of more than $75 million.
By boosting tourism and second- tier conventions, hotel and motel tax revenue increased 16 percent from $762,189 during 2011 to $882,995 during the first three quarters of this year.
During 2011, construction permits in Terrebonne Parish totaled 1,956 and generated more than $203 million. Between January and September 2012, government officials had issued 1,297 permits with a revenue level of more than $155 million. Projected annualized revenue estimates for 2012 total more than $207 million.
Infrastructure, drainage, beautification and quality of life were priorities during 2012, according to Claudet.
Extension of Westside Boulevard from Main Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was completed during 2012. Opening of the Equity Bridge linked La. Highway 311 to Martin Luther King Boulevard Jr. between Westside Boulevard and Hollywood Road, and work shifted to a high gear pace on the Valhi Boulevard extension.
Bids are being received for the Bayou Gardens extension, and bidding on the long-awaited widening of Hollywood Road from two to four lanes is expected to begin in late 2013.
During 2012, blight continued to be attacked by Terrebonne Parish officials with seven abandoned homes demolished (744 since 2009) and 54 vessels removed from bayous. That totals 202 boat removals since a waterway cleanup initiative began in 2011.
Claudet has been both credited and chided for his securing federal funds, including Community Development Block Grants, for special projects and continued rebuilding from hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. He said these extra funds have also allowed the parish to take on added projects and are not incorporated in general operations.
“If we get $50 million in [Hazard Mitigation Grant Program] funds we can put it all to work to elevate homes,” Claudet said. During 2012, funds were available to elevate 39 homes. During 2011, 86 homes were elevated with federal funding assistance in Terrebonne Parish. “We just got an application approved for more people for severe repetitive loss, but that hasn’t kicked in yet.”
Terrebonne Parish, along with the rest of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast states are waiting for a final federal declaration of BP fines resulting from the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. An undetermined amount of money has already been designated by way of the Restore Act for coastal restoration.
In some parts of the country it is said, “If you don’t like water don’t move to Louisiana.” In Terrebonne Parish those that like water everywhere except inside their homes and businesses have found that controlling it can be accomplished.
During 2012, Terrebonne Parish officials applied for a federal grant that would force fresh-water diversions into Lake Boudreau and battle saltwater intrusion. On the north and south sides of that project the parish is working to build diversion levees at a cost of more than $10 million to help fight flooding of surrounding areas.
Claudet said efforts are also under way to transfer dredged materials from the Atchafalaya River in St. Mary Parish to areas of Terrebonne Parish where coastal erosion is being battled.
Claudet said his priorities for 2013 begin with continued levee construction. That is joined with improvements to pump stations, wastewater assimilation in Ashland. “We are also working on additional drainage in Broadmoor and Lisa Park,” he said. “I would like to extend Westside Boulevard from Martin Luther King Boulevard Jr. to the Equity Bridge [at La. Highway 311].”
As for the Prospect Bridge state project, Claudet admitted his frustration for delays. “I have told the state we cannot hold that bridge closed one extra day for a ribbon cutting with a bunch of politicians,” he said. “We can’t delay that bridge.”
Asked about flooding from Bayou Terrebonne where the new Prospect Bridge is being constructed, Claudet said that problem should be alleviated once the Bubba Dove Canal floodgate is positioned at the mouth of the Houma Navigational Canal during 2013.
“A lot of the flooding on Bayou Terrebonne [near Prospect Street] is through high-water events and weather coming from the south,” Claudet said. “When you have the floodgate in place it will stop water from coming up the Houma Navigational Canal and into Bayou Terrebonne.”
Morganza Action Coalition spokeswoman Sharon Bergeron credits the parish government working in cooperation with the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District for improved controls on storm water intrusion.
“I’m not an expert, but I am a citizen concerned about and active in flood protection,” Bergeron said. “Overall I am amazed that in four years since 2008 we have gotten so much construction completed. I have total confidence based on the performance we have seen on the ground that the Levee Board [and] the parish and our state delegation will get [levee construction] completed. We really have more protection than is readily apparent.”
Regarding special projects, preliminary work continues on the proposed Field of Dreams sports complex and a long-discussed skate park.
The skate park location has been selected next to the Terrebonne Parish Library main branch, but according to Terrebonne Parish senior planner Chris Pulaski, financing is a fundamental hurdle. “It still comes down to money,” he said.
“We have built what I consider sustainable, viable government,” Claudet said.
Terrebonne Parish is looking at operating on a $202.6 million budget during 2013, which contains $20 million in capital outlay and is increased by more than $6 million based on sales tax increases.
“I think that shows we are not building a bureaucracy,” Claudet said regarding the parish budget and a workforce that totals 858 full-time employees. “We are trying to get it so we can put projects out. That to me is very important.”
Terrebonne Parish officials say a proactive attitude has led to progress in their community. Revitalizing downtown Houma with parks, festivals and a return of commerce is only one part of what makes the area a choice place to do business and raise families.
