Stocks of Local Interest
March 17, 2010
Lenten Gumbo served for 20 years, still going strong
March 19, 2010
After nearly an hour-long tussle, it’s still unclear who will be paying for repairs to an area road several locals claim was destroyed by Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District construction efforts following Hurricane Ike. It’s also not certain whether Pointe-aux-Chenes Marina will be protected from the consequences of levee building efforts nearby.
The levee district hired Lowland Construction in 2008 to conduct emergency repairs on a damaged levee in Pointe-aux-Chenes.
Timothy Fanguy, owner of a bail bonds company in Ashland, claimed the road – Paw Paw’s Court – was destroyed because of that activity. He filed suit against the district for $300,000, which is money he said came out of his own pocket to repave the roadway.
In an attempt to harness awareness about the issue, Fanguy paid to have several billboards put up in Houma, which openly blamed the board for destroying his road.
However, records from a Planning Commission meeting could prove trucks hired by Fanguy before the levee district stepped foot on the road may actually be the culprit.
As both parties took sides and argued for more than 60 minutes, tensions were subtly dismounted during a routine levee board meeting last Tuesday.
With several issues in the mix, Paw Paw’s Court still hangs in limbo.
While Fanguy did hire trucks to haul riprap and concrete during a project at the marina, he said new asphalt was laid on the road after that, for the second time. “I’ve got the receipts to prove it,” touted Fanguy.
He also said he has pictures.
Levee district attorney Jimmy Dagate played a tape for board members from a Planning Commission meeting that took place in 2006. During the meeting, Brandon Arceneaux – a contractor hired by Fanguy – said the road was in unfavorable condition, “…nothing but a bunch of dust and shells right now.” He noted that in order to build a new batch of campsites, Fanguy planned to fix the road.
The bail bondsman said the road was repaved as Arceneaux explained and that an entourage of dump trucks and construction vehicles used by the district dwindled Paw Paw’s Court to almost nothing.
While officials didn’t deny the allegations, a meeting between Fanguy’s attorney and the board is in the works.
There are also strict limits on what the levee board can do with public money, making the issue a little stickier.
“We have a fiduciary responsibility, where we have to watch [how] we spend public funds. We can’t spend public money unless there’s a legal obligation to do so,” noted levee board president Tony Alford.
Misappropriation of funds could also lead to jail time, he added. Meaning, if the board is responsible for the repairs, it could take some investigating.
And although many would have liked to keep most of the issue behind closed doors, Alford said it has quickly become a public issue and people need to know what’s going on.
Fanguy, unfortunately, has not been able to escape the affair, as John and Glade Musemeche sued him sometime last year. The two individuals owned a campsite off of Paw Paw’s Court but moved forward with legal action after claiming they didn’t have adequate access to their site because of the less-than-perfect road.
Goodbye good days
Fanguy’s brother – Barry – is the owner of Pointe-aux-Chenes Marina, a place of business that has been left outside levee protection boundaries and is in danger of evaporating come the next big storm surge.
Barry Fanguy is also in contention with the board about how best to preserve his setup, a place he said is an excellent venue for people to come and enjoy the outdoors – fishing, hunting and boat riding.
The marina also brings in a fair amount of revenue, as several RV campgrounds can be found within a few feet.
Barry Fanguy fears new plans from the levee board will not only leave the marina exposed, but also destroy his livelihood.
“We’ve discussed this plenty of times and we’ve had plenty of meetings. But nothing has been finalized,” he said. “Nothing has been set in black and white.”
Under Barry Fanguy’s request, “The levee district moved [a] flood gate alignment about 300 feet further north on the next property over,” said Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District executive director Reggie Dupre. “We recently purchased property just north of them, and that’s probably what led to a lot of this.”
The district plans to erect a levee on the new property.
At the time of the floodgate, Barry Fanguy started developing several parcels of land, noted Dupre. “The original flood gate was going to be positioned on the north side of his property. He told [officials] he wanted to be left out.”
If Barry Fanguy had given a “thumbs up” to the original plans, the structure would have dissected the neighboring RV Park, which he owns, and the marina. It would have also been sitting on his property, which is something he didn’t necessarily want.
“I’m not an engineer, but I’m sure they can figure something out,” he noted.
If levee construction efforts are approved “as is,” the structure will act as a funnel, channeling large amounts of water into coves and dips in the levee system, which could ultimately cause the levees to breach or for water to rush over them, explained Barry Fanguy.
While a portion of the park could be protected from storm surge and incoming waves, the marina will be left to fend for itself and would receive the largest brunt of water due to the levee’s design and the marina’s position on an outside point, he claimed.
“I’d love to see my children enjoy this place and everyone else’s too. It’s not good to know you can work all you’re life and come back to basically a swimming pool,” said Barry Fanguy.
Not only do incoming storms bring water, but piles of debris and trash that take hours upon hours of manpower to clean up.
Unfortunately, the next step is on shaky ground, as Barry Fanguy said the levee board hasn’t contacted him directly about the issue in more than two weeks. “I’m in a bind right now.”
And for Barry Fanguy, the issue isn’t as simple as building a levee. “This is my life,” he said.
For now, the marina owner will continue to pull strings and hope for the best so he can support his family.
Barry Fanguy, owner of Pointe-aux-Chenes Marina, sifts through piles of debris that could soon build up on his property. * Photo by MICHAEL DAVIS
