Mildred Skidmore
January 29, 2007Children’s Coalition to meet in Houma
January 31, 2007The Terrebonne Parish Council OK’d a deal Wednesday with Petroleum Land Resources of Houma clearing the way for the company to survey certain areas in the city and the Plant Maintenance Facility for possible traces or oil, gas or minerals.
In return, the parish will receive a three-year combined rental of $36,949 and a pledge of 25 percent of any royalties generated from any findings.
Company representatives said the following areas will be surveyed: Acklen Avenue, Authement Street, Banks Avenue, Bryant Street, Disposal Plant Road, East Street, Effie Street, Ezra Court, Furman Street, Hellier Street, Howard Avenue, Isaac Street, Isabel Street, Jerome Court, Larry Street, Madge Street, McKnight Street, Morris Street, Myrtle Street, Plum Street, Robert Street, Rosary Street, Roselawn Avenue, Senator Street, Slatter Street, Truman Street, and West Street.
The parish opened bids for oil, gas and or mineral leases on property owned by the parish government last December.
Petroleum Land Resources of Houma paid the rental fee in full to the parish council last month.
The agreement is now pending approval of the State of Louisiana Mineral Board.
In personnel matters, the parish council appointed Courtney Alcock as Terrebonne Parish attorney for 2007.
The council also agreed to set a drug-, alcohol-free zone in the vicinity of the Good Earth Transit Station on Main Street during the 2007 Mardi Gras season.
Also, the council agreed to hold pubic hearings at its Feb. 14 meeting, while members consider spending $250 thousand for these fiscal projects:
• $82,000 to hire an additional assistant district attorney and an investigator to prosecute an increased caseload.
• $75,240 to AMR’S Lawn & Landscape, LLC, of Thibodaux, which is owned by Aaron Michael Robichaux, for mowing and maintaining various parks and grounds throughout the parish.
• $40,000 for a new roof at the Central Fire Station.
• $27,894.80 for the purchase of 20 sets of bunker gear for the City of Houma Fire Department.
• $23,597.37 for the purchase of a portable building from Morgan Buildings and Spas, Inc., to be used as a quarantine building for the parish’s animal shelter.
The parish council also agreed to set a public hearing on Feb 14 to consider reclassifying jobs for the parish’s wastewater treatment plant operators, and also to increase their pay because of the parish’s inability to attract qualified applicants and to retain those persons that are certified. The council is also considering a proposal to also increase entry-level pay.
Also slated for public comment are:
• Selecting J.P. Morgan Chase, and Capital One as the parish’s fiscal agents for 2007.
• Changing the rental fee for the Terrebonne Parish School Board for high school graduations from $1,500 to $1,425 in order to use the Terrebonne Parish Civic Center.
• Extending the time for the American Cancer Society’s Terrebonne Relay for Life, set for April 28, to 2 a.m., from midnight.
