Homeowners updated on latest issues

St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis fielded questions while providing updates on a number of topics, including hurricane cleanup, flood protection and drainage and roadway improvements at a town hall-type meeting Saturday with leaders of homeowner’s associations across the parish.

Some of the concerns of citizens involved repeated flooding in certain subdivisions and areas that have not experienced flooding before.

Davis said many flooding and drainage problems are because debris cleanup from hurricanes Gustav and Ike has not been completed. Davis said the parish is in contact with both the Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to clean out rivers and creeks that provide drainage for many areas. The protection of scenic rivers is an issue since many waterways cannot be dredged or altered.

Hurricane communication was also discussed as many residents do not receive cable and therefore did not get Channel 10 during the hurricanes. Suzanne Parsons-Stymiest said that satellite companies will not carry the government access channel unless enough customers request it. She encourages citizens to let their satellite provider know they want to receive the channel.

Some people said this could be considered a public safety issue, since warnings about the water pressure and safe drinking water were broadcast continuously on the channel and other information was not readily available. Davis said WWL-AM radio was embedded with the parish government at the Emergency Operations Center, and citizens should turn to that station during an emergency for updates, even when the electricity is out.

Stymiest reported the parish is also providing webcasts of Channel 10 and updates on the parish web sites.

Davis discussed drainage and roadway improvements as he presented an update on various projects throughout the parish. Many projects have run into funding problems but are still being considered when funding becomes available. He said many drainage issues were also on hold until funding can be obtained. The parish is applying to the Corps for Southeast Louisiana Flood Control flood control money, but this has been difficult due to paperwork issues required by Congress, he said.

The need for retention and detention ponds in subdivisions and the need to hold developers of subdivisions accountable for longer periods of time to insure that drainage and ponds are properly installed was also discussed.

FEMA trailers still are in the parish, mainly because FEMA can only remove a maximum of 50 a week and usually only remove 20 per week depending upon weather conditions, equipment and holiday schedules.

The parishwide millages were also discussed. Davis said the only millages controlled by the parish government itself are the general government millage, the animal shelter, Council on Aging, STARC, coroner’s millage and drainage millages, a total of 10 percent of the total millage collected. The largest millages are controlled by the School Board at 51 percent; law enforcement at 8 percent; fire districts at 19 percent; the library and Mosquito District 2 each at 4 percent; the assessor’s office and Florida Parishes Juvenile Center, each at 2 percent; and public health at 1 percent.

This applies to millages outside of municipalities that may have their own millages on top of parish millages.

Davis addressed rezoning issues and confusion. He said the best course of action is to attend the zoning meetings and voice concerns before the plan is presented to the Parish Council.

Many questions arose about large developments in progress that could be affected by the current economic crisis, including the Fremeaux Summit project in Slidell and Nord du Lac in Covington.

The Summit project is not as far along as Nord du Lac, but the project is moving forward.

The Nord du Lac development at Interstate 12 and Louisiana Highway 21 is still progressing. Davis said some retailers are waiting until after the holidays to commit to the project.

“Hypothetically they could go under, but, we have bonds and are not worried about it,” Davis said. He added the roads and drainage will be completed, and the buildings that have been started will be completed as well.

Davis concluded the meeting by saying he intends to hold such meetings about once a quarter. He also stated that any concerns should be e-mailed to him and will be addressed by him or the proper department personnel.