Parish progress reviewed at Claudet town hall meeting

Levee and drainage development, road expansion, structural elevation, coastal restoration, removal of eyesores, and quality of life issues highlighted an approximately 40-minute presentation last Tuesday as Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet opened his fourth series of town hall meetings to a group of 14 people at the Government Tower in Houma.

Claudet began his presentation by listing areas of loss and concern including the destruction of the historic St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, which was consumed by fire in November 2010, and a lack of offshore oil and gas drilling following a moratorium put in place by the federal government following the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in April of 2010.

“Offshore drilling is a tremendous driver in our economy,” Claudet said. “Our drilling in shallow water may have certain approved permits but we are not anywhere close [to normal operation levels]. We had previously 7.1 per [permits issued] month and now we have 6.3 [and] it’s only recently gotten to that level.”

Claudet credited the Houma Police Department with increased neighborhood watch programs from two to 18 during the past year. Homicides dropped in 2010 with only three during the past year. Increased public contacts by police are credited with offering added street security according to Claudet.

The final phase of a comprehensive pipeline and sewer plan was mentioned as having been approved by the parish council.

Road projects were reviewed and noted as having included $9 million in improvements including overlays, concrete replacements and turn lanes.

The largest section of Claudet’s presentation included a list of levee developments, drainage and sewer improvements throughout the parish. Nearly $17 million in sewer improvements alone have been undertaken.

Claudet noted that because of flood control efforts, that include levee improvement and home elevation projects, insurance rates for property owners in Terrebonne Parish is 15 to 20 percent less expensive in Terrebonne Parish than any other part of Louisiana.

“Flood insurance, because of the hard work of our planning department, our rating was the highest in the state for a short period of time. We had a 7 rating just like Jefferson Parish, but Jefferson has since gotten a 6 rating,” Claudet said. The higher the listed rating the more expensive the insurance rates.

“We had the best [insurance rating] in the state at a seven until Jefferson Parish got a six. If we get a six at our next rating then the people of Terrebonne would have a 20 percent savings on their flood insurance,” Claudet said. “Living in Terrebonne you already pay too much for flood insurance but living in another parish you would pay 20 percent more.”

Claudet stressed that more property improvements, including demolition of buildings and removal of abandoned and sunk vessels, damaged by past storms are essential to the future of the parish.

“What will run people out is a lack of levees and insurance rates,” Claudet said. “We are spending a lot of time trying to get stricter building codes. People are not building the way they use to. They are building a lot stronger right now.”

The only question from those in attendance asked about the removal of abandoned vessels in parish waterways. Claudet said it is a problem that must be addressed as a quality of life issue.

The next town hall meeting is set for tomorrow at the Devon Keller Memorial Center in Gibson at 6 p.m.

Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet presents highlights of parish progress during a town hall meeting in Houma. During the past year $9 million has been invested in road improvements and $17 million in levee, drainage, sewer and pump station projects. MIKE NIXON