As Tropical Storm Bonnie continues to dissipate we all breathe a sigh of relief.  Tropical Storm warnings are lifted.

I was reminded of the first tropical system we faced post Katrina/Rita.  TD10 was a small system that never developed into a storm.  Nevertheless, we needed to test our emergency response systems. 

There appeared to be a need by BP and the U.S. Coast Guard to test their systems in this first post-oil spill tropical system.  I understand and applaud that reasoning.  I understand the need to protect assets.  Systems testing and asset protection are the hallmarks of St. Tammany Parish's Hurricane Response Plan.

However, a desire to test systems should not supersede the need to protect the Gulf Coast from oil intrusion.  Our fight to keep oil contamination fighting assets in St. Tammany was one of the most frustrating I have encountered.  I never imagined having to fight our federal government over what I considered a paramount public safety and environmental issue.  It was with reluctance but firm resolve that I issued the executive order stating that no oil contamination fighting assets could be removed from this parish.  This order stands; violators are subject to arrest and prosecution.

After more than eight hours of tough discussions, the assets we need remain in our parish.  The all important barges were moved to in-parish lagoons for safe harbor instead of 100 miles up the Mississippi River.

I hope that the U.S. Coast Guard begins barge redeployment tomorrow.  I also hope that we have all learned how important communication and cooperation are to the protection of us all.

Kevin

Today I traveled to Lafayette with Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser to attend the Rally for Economic Survival in the Cajun Dome.  We are firmly united against the 6 month moratorium on drilling which is currently being presented.  Simply changing the scope of the drilling operations affected by the moratorium does nothing to lessen the blow it will have to the economy of all of Southeast Louisiana. 

Suspending drilling of any capacity for several months will devastate the economy in our area.  Many jobs will be lost immediately, and more will continue to be lost as rigs move elsewhere to continue operations.

There were literally thousands of citizens in attendance from across South Louisiana at the rally.  We are all united in our efforts to keep the economy of our area strong and viable.  We will not let this moratorium happen without putting up a fight.  We are all committed to doing everything possible to protect the interests of St. Tammany and other area parishes.



Kevin

Friday, July 9th

This morning I was able to go into the Rigolets Pass to observe oil clean up efforts.  The bad news is that there is oil in the pass.  The good news is that, at this time, the amount appears to be containable and clean up is underway.  I was especially pleased to see some of our fishermen in the Pass working the clean up.

There were far fewer reports of oil in the far eastern end of Lake Pontchartrain this morning than we have had previous mornings.  The shifting winds and quick response appear to be working.

There was a report of a fish kill in the Northshore Beach area.  It is unknown if this is related to the oil spill.  Crews have been dispatched to investigate and I will let you know what the scientists determine is the cause. I am very happy that every reported sighting is being taken seriously and investigated quickly.

On an aside, I've had the opportunity in the past weeks to observe members of the U.S. Coast Guard working locally on our behalf.  These men and women are being deployed from across the country to come to our aid.  They are working in close partnership with the members of our own outstanding National Guard.  If you see any of these men and women in uniform, please take a moment to thank them for their service.

Kevin

PS - Yesterday's blimp was moved to the Lakefront Airport and now to Mobile, Alabama.  Don't be surprised, however, if you see it patrolling Louisiana's shoreline in the future.

Parish offices have been receiving calls regarding a blimp flying our coastline.  I have confirmed that the blimp is working as part of the oil spill response effort.  It will be based at the Slidell Airport for the near future and will fly under the command of the Mobile Incident Command Post.

It is tasked with shoreline surveillance westward from Pascagoula, MS.  Members of the U.S. Coast Guard will be observers on the blimp and will dispatch oil spill response teams as necessary.

Kevin

Yesterday morning, tar balls were sighted and confirmed as far west as the Carr Drive area of Slidell.  Surveillance crews are continuing to search the entire area and cleanup teams are being dispatched to each sighting.  The tar balls are coming in under water where we cannot see them or stop them until they surface.  The total number seen and collected in the area was minimal.

I am calling upon Incident Command to immediately stop the use of oil dispersants.  Breaking the oil down so that it travels underwater and resurfaces, creating a situation where we can neither see it nor fight it is not a prudent course of action.  We are fighting as fast and hard as we can, but this enemy is unseen.  If anyone spots tar balls, call 1-866-448-5816.


Kevin

These last few weeks the theme to "Jaws" has been playing  in my head.  You know, that haunting music that tells you the shark is coming but you don't know where or when.  In this case, instead of a great white shark, the music foretold the arrival of tar balls in Lake Pontchartrain. 

Like the "Jaws" Shark, tar balls travel underwater and you don't know they are there until they strike. 

We first found them in the Rigolets on Sunday, where 680 pounds of oily waste was collected.  Monday, July 5th, we found them in the eastern end of the Lake.  That day responders collected another 1,000 pounds of oily waste.

The winds and tides are working against us for the next day or so. Response crews are working shorelines and docks when they cannot safely travel over water.

In the past two months, we had the time to get assets in place to fight the oil and more are being gathered as we speak.   We must be pro-active.  We cannot wait to fight. 

If you see evidence of tar balls or endangered wildlife, call 1-866-448-5816.  Your information will be taken and entered into the response database for the Slidell mini-command center.

The parish's Crisis Action Team is meeting this afternoon to recommend our next steps.

Kevin

July certainly came in with a bang.  Just as Mayor Mitch Landrieu and I were reviewing our oil-spill response plans, oil plumes and tar balls were making their closest run yet to our outer lines of defense.  Oil is now in the Mississippi sound, on the beaches from Bay St. Louis to the Alabama line.

It seems inevitable that oil is coming our way.  However, with our multiple lines of defense and regional approach, it is NOT inevitable that it will invade the lakes.  I am working to ensure that every oil-fighting technique we can find is put in place to protect Lakes Borgne, Catherine and Pontchartrain.

Last evening, I was informed that our request for 9 thousand feet of permeable boom, which catches oil but allows water to pass, was approved and a local vendor is receiving a purchase order.  This request was approved in two days and I am thankful for the cooperation we are receiving in these urgent matters.  This is a team effort where political and agency boundaries must be thrown away.

I am pushing the contractor to begin installation of the permeable boom immediately.  I will let you know that timetable as soon as possible.

Kevin

Update on our order for permeable boom: 

After meeting with staff and representatives of the many agencies involved in protecting our coastline, the order for permeable boom was increased to 9,000 feet.  This boom, which allows water to pass through but catches oil, is placed on the sandy bottoms of our shoreline, preventing oil from getting into the marsh.  The amount ordered will provided significant protection for all of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.  I am going to push this project in Houma this afternoon.

Meeting with the U.S. Secretary of the Navy:

Early this morning, representatives of parishes across southeast Louisiana met with the Honorable Ray Mabus, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy.  Secretary Mabus has been tasked by President Obama with developing a recovery plan for those communities impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

In that meeting, I asked specifically for federal incentives for job creation.  Louisiana citizens don't want hand outs.  We want to work.

We must provide incentives for rebuilding businesses damaged by the the spill, incentives to bring businesses into Lousiana,  and seed money to create new businesses in a creative economy.  We are a strong and resilient people and we must find a way to prosper during this time.

The meeting attendees did, of course, take the opportunity to also discuss some of our short term problems with oil spill response, including frustration at the pace of the bureaucracy.

This afternoon, I will be in Houma to discuss hurricane protection and other issues with the U.S. Coast Guard, BP, and my fellow parish presidents.

More later-

Kevin

 

Monday, June 28th

Most of this afternoon was spent with staff reviewing our oil spill multiple lines of defense.  The underwater currents appear to have shifted and the spill is moving more to the west. 

A 250 square mile oil sheen is located north of the Chandeleur Islands that we are watching closely.  We are also monitoring the winds that are expected to be out of the east tomorrow, blowing between 10 and 15 knots. Skimmers and barges have been deployed by BP to retrieve this oil.  I am concerned, however, because they cannot work in bad weather.  This will give the spill more time to move westward.

St. Tammany Parish requested a pilot project today of over 3000' of a new permeable boom that allows water to pass through while capturing the oil.  This boom can be placed on the sandy bottoms of our coast and could prevent oil from entering our marshes.  We hand carried the request and will follow through for immediate action.

Tomorrow I am meeting with the U.S. Secretary of the Navy in the morning and with BP & the U.S. Coast Guard in the afternoon.  I will keep you briefed on these meetings as they occur.

As I have in the past, I am once again asking for prayer to give the men and women fighting this oil spill the courage and stamina to do their jobs.

More tomorrow-

Kevin

Sunday, June 20th

This week I flew over the Chandeleur Islands with Governor Jindal.  It was amazing to see the work being done in the Gulf of Mexico.

I wanted to share what I saw with you.  Talking about ocean booming and seeing it in place are very different.  The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office provided some great video taken from their helicopter showing the Rigolets, Lake Borgne, Half Moon and the Chandeleur Islands.

Please click here to see Protecting Our Shores.

Kevin

At this point in time, there does not appear to be much of a change, either in the flow of oil in the Gulf or the preparations we have made.

We continue to be vigilant in our preparations, and I believe we have the best possible plan in place for stopping oil should implementation of the plan become necessary.

If any new developments occur, I will post them here.  Thank you for all of  your continued prayers and hard work.

Kevin

I had a productive meeting Tuesday with Captain Roger Laferriere, U.S.C.G.  We discussed the Lake Borgne Shoreline protection plan which will provide an oil spill barrier as well as aid with marsh restoration and hurricane protection.  The shoreline plan begins at the mouth of the Pearl River and continues south into Orleans Parish by Alligator Bend.

Hundreds of millions, if not billions, will be spent protecting and cleaning Louisiana, as well as the Gulf of Mexico, in the coming years.  Common sense tells us that solutions which provide more permanent protection and multiple benefits are a good use of dollars.  I am hoping, with Captain Laferriere's aid, to move this project up the Coast Guard chain of command and into construction quickly.

Work continues driving pilings to close the entrance of Lake Borgne if necessary.  I certainly hope that we never have to take this action but must be prepared.

On another note, I would like to remind everyone that there is a Parish Council meeting Thursday evening at 6:00PM at 21490 Koop Drive. Click here for the agenda.

Kevin

If you have questions about the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, I encourage you to attend this meeting:

BP Spill Informational Meeting
Tuesday, June 1st
6:00 PM
Slidell High School cafeteria

I hope to see you there,

Kevin

Tuesday, May 25th 3:00PM

Wikipedia defines "Herding Cats" as a saying that refers to a task that is extremely difficult or impossible to do, due to one or more variables being in flux and uncontrollable.

I suggest that the Deep Horizon Oil Spill be added as a prime example of herding cats.

The variables include oil flow rate, wind, tide, rainwater coming down the Mississippi River Basin, as well as the bureaucracy that forms around large projects, government or private.  With the oil spill, we have both.

The system moves at its own rate and local government must push hard to nudge it in the direction most beneficial to its citizens and to the local environment.  For St. Tammany, that means that we have formed a strong and effective partnership with Orleans Parish and the other parishes surrounding the lake to protect the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. We stand together.

There is some good news to report today.  Survey ships are working today to mark the position of a defensive line of boom that will cross the entrance to Lake Borgne.  A shipping channel will remain open.

This off and on again project appears to be moving swiftly now and we are all thankful.  This moves the fight to protect the Lake Pontchartrain Basin out into open water where hopefully skimmers and sorbent boom will be effective.  It will help keep the oil from our marshes.

Sections of oil have been spotted in the northeastern-most marshes of St. Bernard, around Grand Pass and Brush Island.  We must stop the oil farther out if possible.  We need to save all of Louisiana's marshes. 

I strongly support Governor Jindal's plan to restore barrier islands as a coastal protection measure. 

I also want to encourage you to remember the power of prayer.  We need to send strength and resolve to the engineers trying to stop the leak and to the men and women fighting the spill on our behalf.

Kevin

 

Saturday, May 15th Update

I have some new information regarding the British Petroleum claims office in Slidell.  It will open this Monday morning at 2040 Gause Boulevard, Suite 10.  It will remain open daily from 7:00AM to 7:00PM.  The purpose of the office is to expedite claims between British Petroleum and those affected by the oil spill. The office will be staffed by claims adjusters hired by BP.

You must call one of two numbers - 985.265.6823 or 985.265.5381 - to set up an appointment with an adjuster before going to the office.

Also-

The Access St. Tammany staff has uploaded a copy of Friday's press conference with Governor Jindal.  You may see the conference in its entirety at: http://vimeo.com/11750712.  It will be linked to the STP homepage on Monday.

The STP staff remains on alert.  I will let you know as soon as more information is forthcoming.

Kevin

 

 

Thursday, May 13th Update
3:00PM

In our local sector, there are no significant developments in our oil spill protection plan or its implementation.  We are staying the course.

The larger picture continues to change with the tides, literally.  It has been reported to me that the placement of boom at the mouth of Lake Bornge has been postponed in favor of a plan that will provide boom protection from the northern part of the Chandeleur Sound to Venice.

I have been assured that the Lake Bornge closure will happen if needed.

When a hurricane threatens, we know what to expect and have a vetted plan in place.  I am sorry to report that after this oil spill event is concluded, we will have experience with a different type of environmental disaster planning.

Let's continue to pray that the efforts to close off the leak are successful.

Kevin

 

2:30 PM

The Tammany/Orleans plan to protect the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, Lake Bornge and Lake Catherine is about 95% complete.  Yesterday, BP crews from the Slidell mini-command mapped some blow-outs in eastern New Orleans for additional booming.  This same crew is surveying the Rigolets today for similar problem spots.  Maintenance on boom already in place continues.

At the Northshore Harbor Center this afternoon, 212 fishermen signed in for the Vessels of Opportunity Training Program.  Another session will be held at 6:00 PM tonight.  You do not need to pre-register to attend this program for the owners/operators of boats seeking work with BP.

I hope to have information within the next day or two regarding a new BP office in eastern St. Tammany to assist citizens affected by the spill.  As soon as information about this office is available, I will share it with you.

It looks like winds will continue out of the southeast through the weekend.  This may push the spill closer to us but I have found that this situation is so changeable that  projections are far from certain.  We will be monitoring the oil spill closely all through southeastern Louisiana.  I know our neighbors in Mississippi will be doing the same. 

BP is lowering the 'Top Hat' into the water today to contain some of the oil leakage.  This is a good time to pray for their success.

All navigable waterways are open and will remain so unless absolutely necessary.  Closure is under the control of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Kevin

11:30 AM

Please forgive the cliche, but sometimes no news is good news.  This is one of those times.  Today's morning oil spill briefing had no major news and that is a good thing.

Over 40,000 feet of boom has been deployed in the St. Tammany/Orleans Parish plan.  We are finalizing implementation strategies and timelines.  The major preventive work in this plan is complete.  I want to thank everyone working emergency response out of the Slidell mini-command center for their extraordinary efforts.

Now, we wait.

The U.S. Coast Guard is driving pilings to anchor boom across the entrance to Lake Bornge.  This is our first line of defense for Lakes Bornge, Catherine and Pontchartrain.  As of this morning, we did not have a timetable for completion of this work.  This project is vital to protect these sensitive wetlands areas.

I am very proud of the inter-agency cooperation that is being demonstrated in this sector.  I have mentioned our branches of the military as well as local BP officials before.  Today, I want to add the St. Tammany Mosquito Protection district.  They are keeping mosquitos under control at the Pearl River deployment site.  It is amazing what can be accomplished through cooperation.

Kevin

Monday, May 10, 2010
1:30 PM

Oil Spill Update

Over 13,700 feet of boom was deployed in the St. Tammany/Orleans Plan yesterday, bringing plan completion to 90%.  All navigable waters remain open but materials are in place to close these passages should it become necessary to prevent the intrusion of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill.

The U.S. Coast Guard has begun drilling pilings into the 10 mile mouth of Lake Bornge.  When these pilings are in place, 42 inch boom will be deployed to the site.  The boom will be installed if necessary to keep oil out of Lake Bornge.  Skimmer boats have been assigned to collect any oil the booms may catch.  This is the first line of defense for the Lake Pontchartrain basin.

Booms are in place to close the mouths of the Pearl and East Pearl rivers as well.  I want to re-emphasize however that NO navigable waterways in the plan have been closed.  I hope it will never become necessary to close any of these sites.

However, with the oil spill still uncontained, we must take all preventive measures possible to protect our environment and our economy.

I want to thank the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Louisiana National Guard for their quick assistance in the implementation of this plan. 

Kevin

 

There appears to be some on-going confusion at the 800 number BP provided to register for Haz Mat training in the Slidell area.  While this problem is being corrected,  you may register for training via email at this address:  horizonresponse@pecpremier.com  For more information on the training, see the News Section of our website, www.stpgov.org.

St. Tammany Parish is fully mobilized to respond to the oil spill should it come our way.  Our teams will remain on alert and can be fully activated with a single call.  We also continue to monitor the spill 24/7.  To conserve funds, we will not fully activate all personnel unless is become necessary,  I want to assure you, however, that our response plan, and the materials needed to implement that plan, are at the ready.

Kevin

 

 

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Oil Spill Update

I was able to get out on the water today to see the preparations underway to protect our region from the Deepwater Horizon spill.

I am happy to report that the teams out of Mississippi have laid boom to protect the western side of Pearl River's mouth should oil come that way.  Teams from Slidell are laying boom to protect the estuaries to the east of the mouth now.  I was also able to see work underway at the outer reach of the Chef Pass.

This is truly an immense team effort.  The breadth of work is impressive.  On behalf of the people of St. Tammany, I want to say thank you to all the fishermen, contractors, military personnel and civilian volunteers involved in this effort.

Jason Melerine from the parish took some photographs today of the work underway.  I will post them tomorrow so that you can see the work for yourselves.

Kevin

 

Oil Spill Briefing
Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Good morning.  I just finished a briefing with the BP team based in Slidell.  With all we have been hearing in the news, I want to make sure and say that the Slidell based BP team has been great in working with St. Tammany Parish to implement our local plan.

This is my most current news:

The wind continues today to be in our favor, coming from a more northerly direction.  A wind shift is expected tomorrow that will likely bring the spill closer to land.  The spill is a moving, changing target.  No one can predict with any certainty where it will be in 72 hours.  Therefore, we must continue to make preparations.  If BP's 'coning' operation next week is successful, the oil flow will lessen considerably bringing hope to all of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.

Today, we are waiting for final approval of our local response plan from the Joint Information Command Center in Houma.  Meanwhile, we are working to mobilize assets in the East Pearl, Chef Pass, the Rocks and Sawmill Pass.  No waterways will be closed.  We are simply putting protective materials in place so they can be moblized quickly if necessary.

St. Bernard and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have been working at a tremendous pace to provide protective booms off their shores.  Our BP teams reports that tomorrow morning, equipment will be in place and working to close the gap north of the St. Bernard deployment at Shell Isle to the Mississippi booms.  That is our first line of defense.

I want to thank Governor Jindal for his quick response to the needs of our fisherman and fisheries industries.  I believe that food stamps and other emergency protective measures will be in place quickly.

The Lake Pontchartrain area is open for fishing and I will do everything in my power to keep it that way.

Kevin

 

 

President’s Message
Monday, May 03, 2010
1:30 PM

I just completed a conference call regarding the federal response to the oil spill with President Barack Obama.  I was encouraged that President Obama clearly acknowledged the need for local partnership and participation in protecting our natural resources.

The President’s first priority is to stop the oil leak.  Until the spill source is shut off, containment is like pushing a rock uphill over and over again.  Parallel to the stoppage is the protection of our coast line.

The President has appointed Admiral Thad Allen, who worked with Louisiana very effectively post-Katrina, to head a National Incident Command to coordinate federal response to the oil spill.  The NIC will be active within 36 hours.   Offices will be opened in Washington, D.C. and somewhere on the Gulf Coast.

The President also gave local leaders a direct White House contact if necessary to cut through bureaucracy. 

This is a national crisis, affecting our national ecology, economy and food source.  The oil spill must be contained.  Damage to Louisiana’s wetlands must be stopped, and reversed, to the benefit of our entire nation.

Kevin

 

 

I met this morning with fishermen from St. Tammany to discuss the potential economic impact of the oil spill on the fisheries and related industries in our region.  I will give you additional details on this meeting later this afternoon.
 
In 30 minutes I will be participating in a conference call with President Obama to discuss our needs and get further information on the federal response.  The concerns expressed in the morning meeting, as well as those concerned sent to me over the last several days, will be included in my discussion this afternoon.
 
I will have more information about mobilization later this afternoon.
 
Kevin

Sunday, May 2nd

I met with representatives of British Petroleum this morning to discuss their response plans to the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill.  The company has emergency response plans for much of Louisiana's marshland but not for the mouth of the Pearl River and the Rigolets area.  That plan is being developed and I hope to meet with them again tomorrow to review the proposed plan.

Meanwhile, St. Tammany Parish continues to prepare to place a boom to contain oil penetration at the Rigolets should it become necessary. An expert in placing and controlling booms in strong currents arrived on the site today. 

It is essential that this spill be fought farther out in the Breton Sound.  Everyone fully supports that plan.  However, we will have the Rigolets plan ready to deploy if needed. Orleans Parish is partnering with us to make a final stand to prevent the oil from entering the lake at that point if needed.  I hope we never have to deploy.

This oil spill is literally a moving target.  With the source of the spill not contained, we cannot predict with certainty which areas of the Gulf Coast will be affected or at what time.  Given tides and winds, an area cleaned one day may need to be cleaned again within a week.  This is a long term situation.  Until the spill is stopped, containment of the gushing oil is very unlikely. 

I am coordinating our efforts with British Petroleum, state and federal agencies.  The parish will be assisting BP and other state and federal agencies in establishing offices and deployment sites in eastern St. Tammany. 

With the federal government putting a halt to fishing in the Gulf today, the economic impact of this spill will be felt immediately.  I have been assured by BP that purchasing will remain local if possible.  I am meeting with local fishermen tomorrow to discuss the situation.  I will also be meeting with Orleans Parish officials tomorrow and with federal officials on Tuesday.

I wish I could give you definite answers about this crisis.  There simply are none at this time.  I will keep you as up to date as possible through these messages.

In the topics of interest section of our website, www.stpgov.org, I have placed an Oil Spill information Guide for citizens impacted by the oil spill.  A St. Tammany Parish automated information line, 985-809-2300, has been activated and will be kept updated.

Kevin

I wanted to give you an update on what we are doing to protect St. Tammany Parish from any potential oil as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident.

We have successfully mobilized booms in the two most strategic locations to minimize any oil entering Lake Pontchartrain.  I and members of my staff, including the Director of St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations, will be meeting Governor Jindal this evening at 6:00 PM.  We will be meeting at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Operations along with the other Parish Presidents from affected and potentially affected areas.

Monday morning we will be setting up a Command Center at a location by the Rigolets.  Representatives from the city of New Orleans will join us, as this strategic area will provide great protection to them as well.  I have asked a representative from BP to join us, and they have agreed.  They have assigned a liaison to St. Tammany Parish, and I think it is imperative that they see how hard we are working to protect our parish. 

As I mentioned before, I cannot simply sit and wait to see what BP and other leaders may do to protect St. Tammany.  We have a plan in place, and we are ready with personnel and equipment.  We will continue to do everything in our power to protect our parish.


Kevin

    In a proactive effort to minimize the amount of oil potentially entering Lake Pontchartrain from the Deepwater Horizon incident, after putting out an RFP I have awarded a contract to mobilize 7,500 feet of boom capable of containing oil.  This boom material will be deployed in the Rigolets and the Chef Menteur Pass areas, the two largest locations where oil could be pushed into the lake.

    The operation will take place in two phases.  The mobilization phase will consist of the boom material being placed on the embankments on either side of these waterways in preparation for use.  If oil does begin to enter the Rigolets or the Chef Pass, phase two will take place.  The deployment phase will occur when the contractors actually put the boom material in the water across both waterways.  In both areas, the booms will be deployed at bridges, which will provide a rigid structure as an anchor for the boom material.

    I cannot sit and wait to see if we are going to be affected by this spill.  In all good conscience, we must act now to prevent what could be a very serious situation for St. Tammany Parish. By having this boom material in place, if it becomes necessary, all the parishes around Lake Pontchartrain will be protected to the best of our ability. 

     I have spoken with the Parish Presidents in the Lake Pontchartrain area.  I have spoken with all our local elected officials, the sheriff, police and fire departments.  We are all in agreement we must move forward and protect our parish.


Kevin

I have declared a parish-wide state of emergency as a precautionary measure concerning the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  This declaration has been issued in preparation for any possible impact of oil along the coastline of St. Tammany.

The St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center continues to monitor the situation with the Coast Guard and the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.  St. Tammany will follow all state protocols in dealing with oil spills and other environmental hazards.

Ongoing air quality testing is taking place throughout the Louisiana coastal areas by the EPA, the Louisiana DEQ and the Coast Guard.  At this point, the EPA and Louisiana DEQ have determined there are no problems with air quality in any coastal areas, including St. Tammany Parish.  However, citizens may smell oil in the air.  If you have respiratory problems or other medical conditions, or if any smell makes you uncomfortable, officials are advising citizens to shelter in place in their homes and avoid prolonged outside contact.

We have established a plan to minimize the effect of potential oil on Lake Pontchartrain and coastal areas by blocking its path at the Rigolets and the Chef Menteur Pass. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available from the Coast Guard and state and federal agencies.



Kevin

Today's U.S. Census participation figures show that St. Tammany has now tied the United States average census return percentage of 64%.  Earlier this week we were 1% behind the national average.  By this time next week, I hope that we are many points ahead of the average.

I am concerned by the calls my office has received since I started sharing the Census participation numbers on this website.  A number of citizens, including a member of my own staff who has lived in the same home for 30 years, did not receive a census form.

If you did not receive a form, please pick one up at any St. Tammany Parish library and fill it out today. 

Please check with your neighbors and co-workers.  This census is too important for us not to ensure full participation.  We can't be sure that our neighbors received a form.  Please check with them.  Some may not realize the importance of this census to our community.  We need to encourage EVERYONE'S participation.

I want to reiterate that a full and accurate count will mean that our fair share of the taxes we send to Washington, D.C. and Baton Rouge will be returned to our community and not spent elsewhere.  Let's bring our money home to our community for hospitals, public safety, schools, roads, and drainage improvements.

We only get this chance every ten years.  Let's make it happen.

Kevin

 

Good morning.

I took a look at St. Tammany's 2010 Census participation again this morning.  We are up 3% from last week but are now a point behind the national average.  This is not good. 

I am sure that most of you reading this message have filled out your Census Form and returned it in the mail.  However, 45% of your friends, relatives and neighbors have not filled out their forms.  Please help your community by encouraging your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to answer the 10 Census questions and return the form.

If you did not get a form, you can pick one up at a St. Tammany Parish Library.  Please do it right away.

I continue to stress the importance of filling out your census form.

Kevin

As of March 30, only 52% of St. Tammany's census surveys have been returned to the Census Bureau.

We must do better.

The outcome of this census will directly affect St. Tammany's transportation, drainage, education, public safety and health care for at least ten years. 

We need to be fully counted to be sure that our fair share of the tax dollars that we send to Washington, D.C. is returned to us, and not sent elsewhere.  Undercounting in the census means that some dollars that should be used here in our parish will be sent to another community.

The official census also determines how much representation we will have in the State Legislature and Congress for the next ten years.  If we want our voices to be heard, we must be counted.

Please, return your census survey today.

It's that important.

Kevin

By now, you have received your 2010 Census questionnaire in the mail.  If you have not, please call 1-866-872-6868 to make sure that you are counted.

The 2010 Census is very important to you, your neighborhood and your community.  These numbers ensure that St. Tammany Parish receives back our fair share of the taxes we send to Washington, D. C.  These funds are returned to us for roads, drainage, hospitals, schools, senior citizen services, and many other programs.  We are sending the taxes.  Let's make sure that the fair amount is returned to our community.

The 2010 Census will also be used to determine how we will be represented in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C.  The number of legislators representing our community is directly tied to the census figure.

For the good of all, please return your form today.

Kevin

Marsh mud stinks and it's a good thing.

That thought went through my mind as I went through the marsh this morning looking at the Coin du Lestin canal cleaning/marsh restoration project.  This is the last major debris clearing project left from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Katrina took acre upon acre of the Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge and dumped it in homes across the Bayou Liberty and Bayou Bonfouca areas.  The marsh grass and other debris have been sitting in the canals, obstructing drainage and decomposing, for five years.  As we are pumping the sediment back into the Wildlife Refuge, the mud's strong odor is a signal of developing new marshlands for wildlife habitat, better drainage in the Bayou Liberty Basin, and improved storm protection.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has been a model partner in this project to complete the Katrina debris removal and restore marshland at the same time.  Returning the land to the area from which it came just makes sense.  It also saves taxpayers the cost of hauling the muck to a disposal site.

We are waiting the final decision from the arbitration panel in Washington D.C. over who will ultimately pay the cost of this debris removal.  I am hopeful that the panel will instruct FEMA to cover the costs as has been done in other similar projects.  We should receive the final word in April.

We have been fighting for this clean up for almost five years.  It is good to see the end in sight.

Kevin

Public safety, in its many forms, is the first priority of any government.

After learning that Sheriff Strain was asking for Parish government’s aid in reviewing the circumstances in the recent jail break, I requested a jail walk through.  Sheriff Strain responded immediately and I walked through the jail yesterday morning.

I agree, there are issues at the parish jail that must be reviewed.

This is not a time for politics.  This is a time for each party to look at their respective areas of responsibility and to ensure that they are fulfilling them to the best of their ability.

Parish government’s legal responsibility is to provide the building to be used as a parish jail.  Accordingly, upon a referendum of the people of this parish, a new jail was built in 2000 and turned over to the Sheriff’s Office to maintain and operate that same year.

A contract for jail maintenance has been regularly renewed since 1998, including just this past December.

While the maintenance of the parish jails buildings have contractually been under the Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish will continue to work cooperatively with the Sheriff to review the jail’s structure and determine what updates and improvements are needed in the jail.

I understand that at this time, Sheriff Strain has not received the building review from Tom Holden (corrections consultant), that he expected today.  Therefore, I believe that a different course of action is in order.

Therefore, with the Sheriff’s cooperation, I am calling for an independent review of the jail facility.  Public safety must be maintained.

My staff  is working with consultants to find the best independent experts in this field and will make arrangements to bring them to St. Tammany at the first possible opportunity.

The sheriff is reviewing the operational aspects of the jail that are his area of responsibility.  Neither I, nor the parish council, have the law enforcement expertise to examine deputy placement or operational protocols.  The allocation of the sheriff’s personnel is a law enforcement issue which the  Sheriff is examining.  
 
After the independent review, I will request that the parish council take whatever actions are necessary to ensure public safety.

St. Tammany Parish was recently named the healthiest overall parish in Louisiana.  A study conducted by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Health Institute looked at factors ranging from individual health behaviors and environment to quality of health care.

Each parish in Louisiana was ranked according to these and other criteria, and St. Tammany Parish was ranked first overall.   I am very pleased to receive this ranking, but believe we need to keep striving to improve in areas which may be lacking.

There are so many intangibles which make life great here in St. Tammany.  Our health should always be one of the things we treasure.


Kevin

I hope you have all seen the weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow.  Snow and sleet are projected for St. Tammany Parish overnight tonight and possibly into the morning hours.

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, February 12th.

Please don't drive in these conditions unless absolutely necessary.

Kevin

PS - BLESS YOU BOYS!

I want to bring you up to date on a few things that happened regarding St. Tammany Parish this week.

First, the arbitration hearings in Washington, D.C. regarding who will ultimately pay to clean the post-Katrina debris from the Coin du Lestin canals went well.  It was tough and frustrating at times.  FEMA continued to argue against our case, but I am hopeful that the arbitration panel will find in our favor. 

Second, we got some good news at Thursday evening's meeting of the Parish Council.  Our bond attorney presented the bids to purchase the SELA utility system. The interest rate bids came in lower than we'd expected, with the lowest at 4.99%.  This low interest rate will greatly help in keeping the line on utility rates in this area.

I want to acknowledge the hard work of our finance department for their work, which helps give St. Tammany Parish the outstanding bond ratings that we currently enjoy.

As we continue to acquire and consolidate utility services, we are working toward improving the water quality in our bayous and in the lake.  We will also be able to hold utility bills to the lowest possible rates.

And that is enough for business today.  It's time get ready for the Superbowl!

Kevin

I am in Washington DC this morning to appeal FEMA's decision not to fund the cleaning of the Coin du Lestin canals after Katrina.  I finished my testimony a short while ago.  FEMA's attorneys are fighting us hard.  What is clear common sense to me is apparently cloudy to others. 

I must say that I never thought that I would be here, four and a half years after the storm, trying to get debris picked up.

I must concede, however, that the Saints are in the Superbowl and miraculous things can happen.

I don't think we will get a decision today on the canal issue.  Hopefully, it won't take more than a few days.

On another note, I want you to know that I have contacted Governor Jindal's office to protest the closing of the Department of Motor Vehicle office in Mandeville.  This will create an undue burden on St. Tammany residents.  Residents on the western side of the parish will be forced to drive 30 miles for basic services and residents on the east will face longer lines as one office tries to serve over 230,000 people.

I will let you know when I hear back from the Governor's office.

I'm flying home tonight and will be back in the office tomorrow.

Kevin

I know the game is on everyone's mind today. Maria & I were lucky enough to attend the NFC Championship Game last night.  I don't have much of a voice today.  It was something else:  exhilarating, exciting, unbelievable. 

It's a bit hard to be eloquent when all the clichés seem to apply. 

If you want to share your Saints game story, email it to sparsons@stpgov.org and Suzanne will post them on our home page under Topics of Interest.

 "Black & Gold Superbowl!"

Kevin

As President of St. Tammany Parish, I am officially declaring Friday, January 22nd through Sunday, January 24th St. Tammany Black and Gold Weekend in honor of the Saints and the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

As such, all loyal members of the Who Dat Nation are invited to proudly display their Black and Gold colors on their person, house, vehicle, pet and any other appropriate showplace.

We send forth Head Coach Sean Payton as one of our own to do battle in the Superdome on Sunday.  As a resident of St. Tammany Parish, our Coach holds a special place in our hearts as he leads our team to victory.

The Who Dat Nation has reached a fever pitch with the impending NFC championship Game.  The song created for WVUE Fox 8, “Big Thang” was written by St. Tammany native Greg Barnhill.  He attended Holy Redeemer High School in Lacombe before becoming a world renowned songwriter.

Our local connections are strong.  Our offensive and defensive lines are strong.  Our legions of fans are strong and inspired.

I invite all the residents of St. Tammany Parish to unite as one with the Who Dat Nation.  We are an unstoppable force which will take the Superdome by storm, and the sound of our unified cheering shall echo across the bayous of south Louisiana.

God bless you, boys.

Who Dat!


Kevin

I will be in Washington, DC for a large part of next week.  I am meeting with members of Congress and their staffs to advocate for hurricane protection for St. Tammany Parish, as well as key transportation projects.

Meetings are also scheduled with administration officials whose duties include water resources, transportation, community development and grants. 

I will be joined in these meetings by members of our business community and other elected officials.  We will stand united for hurricane protection for the north shore.  The score of $14 billion for south shore improvements vs. $0 for the north shore is not acceptable.

I will give you a report on our meetings when I return.

Kevin

 

I was very pleased that we didn't get as much rain as expected yesterday.  As a result, we didn't have the magnitude of road problems that were predicted.

We still have the coldest nights in over ten years coming tonight and over the weekend.  Remember to protect your family, pets and pipes. 

Do not overload electric circuits with heaters, as this is a serious fire hazard.  If your home does not have adequate heat, please stay with friends or come to one of the two parish shelters:

The St. Tammany Parish Department of Public Works has been out sanding parish bridges since early this morning in anticipation of icy driving conditions.   The Causeway police let us know that they will be making decisions on road conditions and possible closures based on weather conditions as the night progresses.  The State Police and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office will be following similar protocols.

With freezing conditions coming our way, I thought it might be a good idea to share these tips for driving on icy roads from The Weather Channel:

Driving safely on icy roads

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If at all possible, stay home during bad road conditions.

Kevin

Here is Thursday morning's message from the National Weather Service:

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM
CST SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ISSUED A HARD
FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO
9 AM CST SATURDAY. THE HARD FREEZE WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

A HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND
THOSE AREAS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA NORTH OF A MORGAN CITY TO LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN LINE. TEMPERATURES IN THESE AREAS ARE FORECAST TO BE
BELOW 26 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL HOURS WITH SOME LOCATIONS STRUGGLING
TO EVEN GET ABOVE FREEZING DURING THE DAY FRIDAY. IF TEMPERATURES
GET ABOVE FREEZING IT WILL BE FOR ONLY A FEW HOURS WITH
TEMPERATURES BACK BELOW FREEZING RIGHT AROUND SUNSET. LOWS WILL BE
EVEN LOWER FRIDAY NIGHT WITH MANY LOCATIONS POSSIBLY DROPPING INTO
THE MID TO UPPER TEENS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HARD FREEZE WATCH MEANS TEMPERATURES BELOW 26 DEGREES FOR TWO
OR MORE HOURS ARE POSSIBLE. THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND
OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION AND CAUSE FREEZING AND THE POSSIBLE
BURSTING OF EXPOSED PIPES.

Please take precautions,

Kevin

I want to make sure that everyone is aware of this alert from the National Weather Service in Slidell:

...EXTENDED COLD SNAP FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...
...A BRIEF PERIOD OF LIGHT WINTRY PRECIPITATION IS POSSIBLE
MAINLY IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND UPPER SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
THURSDAY...

TEMPERATURES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GO BELOW FREEZING TONIGHT AS CLOUDS
RETURN AND A LIGHT RAIN DEVELOPS TOWARDS DAYBREAK THURSDAY. A COLD
RAIN IS EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF THE AREA THURSDAY IN ADVANCE OF A STRONG
SURGE OF ARCTIC AIR CURRENTLY MOVING OUT OF CANADA. THE DENSE COLD
AIR WILL FLUSH THE RAIN OUT OF THE AREA BUT IN DOING SO...MAY BRIEFLY
TRANSITION TO A MIX OF LIGHT SLEET AND LIGHT SNOW WITH LITTLE OR NO
ACCUMULATION BEFORE ENDING THURSDAY AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. THE
AREA MOST LIKELY TO SEE THESE CONDITIONS MAY BE LIMITED TO THE
SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT FLORIDA PARISHES.
SOUTH OF THIS AREA TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE WARM ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE
WINTER PRECIPITATION.

RESIDUAL MOISTURE ON AREA BRIDGES AND WATER CROSSINGS MAY RESULT
IN THE FORMATION OF BLACK ICE...A CONDITION WHERE A THIN GLAZE OF
ICE COVERS EXPOSED PAVED SURFACES. THESE CONDITIONS WOULD FAVOR
RURAL AREA ROADS THAT ARE LESS TRAVELED DURING THE NIGHT. TRAVEL
IN THE REGION LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING SHOULD
BE DONE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. ELEVATED ICE GLAZING...SUCH AS ON
TREES AND POWERLINES...IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

THE ARCTIC AIR WILL BE THE COLDEST THIS FAR SOUTH SINCE FEBRUARY
1996 AND WILL HAVE A LONG DURATION IMPACT FOR EACH NIGHT THURSDAY
NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. AREA TEMPERATURES MAY UNDERGO FREEZE
DURATIONS OF 12 TO 15 HOURS EACH NIGHT...GENERALLY FROM SHORTLY
AFTER SUNSET UNTIL ABOUT MID-MORNING. AREAS WITHIN HARD FREEZE
WARNINGS CAN EXPERIENCE THOSE CONDITIONS FOR DURATIONS OF 8 TO 10
HOURS EACH NIGHT.

IN ADDITION...THE COMBINATION OF VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND WILL
PRODUCE VERY COLD WIND CHILL READINGS FROM 5 TO AROUND 10 DEGREES
FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING ...AND FROM AROUND 10 TO 15 DEGREES
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING.

___________________________________

If you know of someone who does not have adequate shelter during these time periods, please get them to one of the emergency shelters located at the First Baptist Church of Mandeville, on Hwy 190, or the Northside Baptist Church on Hwy 1091 (Robert Rd. North) in Slidell.

Remember to protect your family, pets, pipes & property.

Kevin

The National Weather Service has issued the following warning for St. Tammany Parish:

“MORE COLD AIR IS EXPECTED TO FILTER INTO THE REGION TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. AS A RESULT...FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND A HARD FREEZE ARE EXPECTED ACROSS AREA WEDNESDAY MORNING. EVEN COLDER AIR IS ON THE WAY FOR LATE THIS WEEK AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS ANOTHER ARCTIC AIRMASS MOVES SOUTH TOWARDS THE REGION.”

 

Please take precautions to protect your family, pets and property from the cold for the rest of the week.

 

Keep warm,

Kevin

May the year 2010 bring us all peace and prosperity,

Kevin

I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy holiday season. Whether you and your family celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, this is the season for family and faith.

While St. Tammany is a relatively prosperous parish, please do not forget those among us who are in need.   Whether it's visiting a senior citizen in your neighborhood or assisting the food banks, we can make someone's life a little better.

We often repeat common sayings to the point where they lose meaning.  However, it really "is better to give than to receive."

If you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer or contribute,  click http://www.stpgov.org/departments_social_resources.php for a listing of Community Resource organizations.

Yours truly,

Kevin

I received a very interesting and timely e-mail from Representative Kevin Pearson today.  I was going to summarize it to share with you but it seemed better to simply share Rep. Pearson's letter with you. 

First, you should read this open letter from State Senator Butch Gautreaux:

How can that be? We passed Act 433 of the 2008 legislative session to allow open market cable competition to benefit the citizens of Louisiana (at least this is how it was advertised to our constituents).  Earlier today, I performed a Google search on “Louisiana Consumer Choice for Television” and found an interesting article on this bill, http://saveaccess.org/node/2303 . According to the viewpoint of its author, it seems that we, the legislature of the State of Louisiana, become the official enforcer of the digital divide. Alternatively, the legislature should restore to communities the right to act in their own self interest in matters of network technology access. The article suggests that the only entities that are obligated to act in the interest of all citizens in communities are local governments. Cox Communications is making a wise strategic move by allowing its Baton Rouge subscribers access to the game…at least this time. For those areas identified as “financially unattractive,” (rural Louisiana?), I doubt we will see any change under current law.

 

Representing Slidell and Pearl River, my constituents and I are very fortunate that New Orleans’ WGNO channel 26 is airing the game to our region. There are countless season ticket holders and supporters in my district, as there are in many areas of our state. Without this local broadcast we would have no option through our local cable provider, Charter Communications. To those citizens of Louisiana that are locked out of this historic event, I hope we will work towards a solution to this corporate manipulation ensuring that it does not happen in the future.

 

This brings to mind another issue we have been unable to resolve with Cox Sports Television and Charter Communications despite repeated attempts. CST has the exclusive rights to the New Orleans Hornets’ broadcasts, and offers these games to subscribers through its Cox affiliates. Neither Cox nor Charter is willing to negotiate in the interest of our sports fans. Is it fair when CST monopolizes the market with a publicly funded product? New Orleans Hornets’ games are not offered to our region (and perhaps yours) despite thousands of loyal season ticket holders and supporters.

 

I would be glad to work with any of my colleagues on legislation to ensure citizens of Louisiana the “choice” to view televised games of our publicly funded professional sports teams. I do hope our staff members and especially the members of our commerce committees will work towards a reasonable solution. Perhaps the Consumer Choice for Television Act should only apply to providers that offer broadcasts of Louisiana’s professional sports teams, backed by taxpayer dollars, to all residents of Louisiana at a fair and level cost. If we are unable to find a solution, we should return the enforcement of cable providers to local governments.

Louisiana's investment in professional sports teams will only be enhanced with the backing and support of our Louisiana's stakeholders.  Mr. Benson and Mr. Shin would certainly agree.

Kevin Pearson

Taxpayer, Saints fan and Hornets fan

Thank you Rep. Pearson.  You can count on my support.

 

Kevin Davis,

Taxpayer, Saints fan and Hornets fan

 

Please forgive the George Harrison reference today.  I am just glad to see the sun shining in St. Tammany Parish.

We made it through the rain storms without widespread flooding.  I am thankful for that. 

We will continue to monitor the rivers, especially the West Pearl, through Saturday's peak.  At this time, it looks good for us.  I want to commend our Emergency Preparedness, Engineering, Permits and Public Works employees who worked during the rain storm, keeping us apprised of water levels parish wide.

We may have a few more showers tonight, but then the Weather Service gives us a dry weekend. 

Dry weather will be great for purchasing last minute holiday gifts. Remember to shop in St. Tammany!

Kevin

 

Good Morning. 

The National Weather Service has informed us that a line of thunderstorms will be moving from the southshore to the northshore between 9:00AM and noon today.  The area of St. Tammany Parish most likely affected will be the Lacombe and Slidell areas.

 

At this time, 911 reports no major road closures, but there is water on some roads in areas of the parish which usually retain water during a hard rain.  St. Tammany Parish Road Inspection Teams are in the field, and we will post road closures if they do occur. 

 

As always, if you do encounter water on a road, do not try to drive through it. It is not safe, and potential wakes can have damaging effects on area homes.  Thank you.

 Kevin

I have just been given an updated road list:

The following roads are still holding water:

Isabel Swamp Road

Gator Lane & Vaughn Rd.  (Indian Village)

Tee St. & Green St.  (Hillcrest)

Sycamore & Magnolia Dr. (River Gardens intersection)

Donnie Lane (end)

Achee Rd.

Other:

Tchefuncte & Hwy 190 - Water rising

Gottschalk Rd. near Hwy 1077 - Water approaching road

Tantella Ranch Rd. - near flooding

Yards & ditches holding water in many areas of NW St. Tammany

____________________________________________________-

I also want to let everyone know that the Parish Department of Public Works will have sandbags available tomorrow from 7:00AM to 5:00PM at the following Maintenance Barns:

Covington Barn, Covington Fairgrounds, 1305 N. Florida Street

Tammany Trace Maintenance, 21411 Koop Dr., N of I-12, Exit 65

Keller Barn, 63131 Fish Hatchery Rd., Lacombe

Airport Barn, 34783 Grantham College Rd. (I-12 Service Rd. North), Slidell

Fritchie Barn, 63119 Hwy 1090, Pearl River

I hope we have a quiet night.  If anything changes, I will let you know here on this message site.

Kevin

 

 

So far, most of the heavy rain has been to our west and north.  Slidell has had a few thunderstorms with light rain.

Only one road, Isabel Swamp Road, has been closed.  We are watching the Pearl River closely. Those of you who like to analyze raw data may want to look at this National Weather Service site that tracks water level gauges in our area:

http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lix

Our engineering, permits and public works employees are in the field, monitoring rivers and low-lying areas.  The rain that has fallen to our north will cause the rivers and bayous to rise as the water flows south.

The Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness is coordinating all of our efforts.  They have met with the St. Tammany Parish School Board, the American Red Cross, and our Department of Social Services.

I will give you another update if this situation changes.

Kevin

"Monday, Monday, Can't trust that day..."

I seem to have an 'ear worm' of that song in my head this Monday morning.  This is a day that we cannot trust, at least in regards to the weather.

The National Weather Service says we should expect 1 to 3 additonal inches of rain today.  They also predict that some areas may receive 4 to 6 inches of rain.  This would be a great day to prove the weather service wrong, but they are getting uncannnily accurate in their predictions.  Unfortunately, they can't yet tell us exactly where the heavier downpours will occur.

Parish teams are meeting this morning to review our plan for the day.  We will be monitoring streets, rivers and other low-lying areas.  I will keep you up-to-date through web messages as the day unfolds.

Please do not drive through flooded areas.  It is dangerous for you and the wave action may cause property damage to your neighbors.

Kevin

PS - 13-0!!!

Last week, I released the text of a letter that the St. Tammany Parish Council and I sent to our Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.  A copy is available by clicking the President's Newsletter link at the bottom of the homepage.  This message is a follow-up to that letter.

I am asking every citizen of St. Tammany Parish to let our delegates know how important hurricane protection is for ALL of our region.  At this time, the federal government has allocated over $14 Billion in hurricane protection for the south shore.  That same federal government has spent $0 for hurricane protection on the north shore.  The people of St. Tammany have worked hard to recover from Katrina.  Many in our region and nation do not realize that over 48,000 St. Tammany Parish homes were damaged in the storm.  The storm surge in eastern St. Tammany was in excess of 16 feet.

We followed the rules, filled out the applications, and waited for the Army Corps of Engineers to announce their protection plan for the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.  That plan never arrived.  In fact, the Army Corps of Engineers has suggested that we leave our homes and abandon our communities.  This is an outrage. 

We do not need another 'plan.'  We need action and we need it now. 

Please join me in asking for an end to inaction in Washington.  It took the corps four years to develop plans that tell us to leave our homes after we were the first to stand on our feet?  I want to find out how many millions of our tax dollars it cost us, as taxpayers, for this outrageous solution.  The Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System report by the corps does not even mention St. Tammany Parish.  I cannot tell you how many meetings I attended where I was assured that the Corps was working on a plan for us.

We must be heard, loud and strong.

Sen. David Vitter; ( 202) 224-4623; Web contact form:
Web contact form: Contact Senator Vitter

Sen. Mary Landrieu; (202)224-5824
Web contact form:  Contact Senator Landrieu

Contact Representative Steve Scalise
Rep. Steve Scalise; (985) 893-9064

Several weeks ago, I wrote asking all of you to remember to shop locally.  Doing so keeps our small businesses healthy, provides local jobs, and supports the roads and other infrastructure that our community needs.

I received a response from Mr. Edilberto Pulido, who lives just outside of Slidell.  Mr. Pulido requested that I broaden my message and ask that we all remember to buy American made products. Mr. Pulido is, of course, correct. 

Too many jobs are moving abroad; too much is being imported.  We must make a conscious decision to support American businesses and manufacturers whenever possible.  It is time to invest in quality American made products.  As we enter the holiday shopping season, we all need to remember that purchasing American made products keeps our dollars at home. 

Of course, I still prefer that you buy your American products locally.

Kevin

The water is draining quickly and most of the parish's waterways should be within their banks before the end of the day.  Drainage will be a little slower, the closer you are to the Rigolets Pass. This afternoon the normally quiet  water in Bayou Bonfouca was racing toward the lake and ultimately the gulf.

And that, I hope, is the last of Hurricane Ida.

Tomorrow we observe Veteran's Day.  This is our special opportunity to thank all the men and women who serve our country in the armed forces.  As well as thanking those who are serving and have served, I would also like to express my appreciation to the families of the men and women who gave their lives in service. 

Kevin

Good morning.

The sun is just starting to shine through the clouds and that is a good sign for better weather and better spirits.  The possibility of another storm, even a minor one, was difficult for some.

As expected, the storm water began rising in eastern St. Tammany Parish overnight, after the storm has passed.  As you know, this is generally when we see the highest, or second, surge in the east.  All the water that the storm pushed from the Gulf of Mexico into Lake Pontchartrain is trying to return now to the Gulf.  The water bottlenecks at the Rigolets Pass, causing flooding along the eastern coastal areas.

We have reports of street flooding in Lacombe, Bayou Liberty, Palm Lake and the Rigolets areas.  We have had no confirmed reports of home flooding at this time.  As the water should begin receding soon, I hope all our homes are spared.

I am doing an inspection of the parish's low lying areas this morning and I will let you know what I find later.  The parish's public works and engineering crews were out at first light and are checking roads and bridges.

With the loss of over seven miles of protective marshland from Hurricane Katrina, we are having to learn the new paths that storm water will take.  All of this information will be entered into our databses to help protect you in the future.

Kevin

Hurricane Ida, now Tropical Storm Ida, and soon to become Tropical Depression Ida, appears to have spared St. Tammany Parish from significant impact.  For that, I am thankful.

As of 7:15 PM Monday evening, November 9th, I am sending home the majority of the Emergency Operations Center liaison officers.  Most have been on duty here since 7:00 AM.   A core crew will monitor the storm during the night.  If the unexpected should occur, they can reactivate quickly. 

On their behalf, I say that It will be good to spend the night at home with family and not in an emergency center bunk.

Remember, if you have an emergency, call 9-1-1.  As always, they are on duty 24/7.  As many of us go home, I am reminded that the dedication of the 9-1-1 ermergency personnel is one more reason to be thankful. 

Good night,

Kevin

 

 

The latest briefing from the National Weather Service is favorable for St. Tammany Parish.  Tropical Storm Ida continues to move quickly north with the estimated time of landfall moved forward to midnight tonight .  This reduces the amount of time the storm will be pushing water into Lake Pontchartrain.  As you know, this is a critical issue for the southern part of the parish.

While inspecting the parish's lakefront, there were some  areas with minor flooding over the road. 

I will send another update as soon as more information is available.

Kevin

We continue to monitor Tropical Storm Ida in the Emergency Operations Center.  When I finish this update, I'm going to take a reconnaisance trip along Lake Pontchartrain.    Our gauges are showing an approximate one-foot rise at this time.

Three roads have minor flooding in low-lying areas:  Lake Road in Lacombe, Hwy 1077 South of Madisonville, and the Covington Boat Launch between 3rd and  4th.  These areas are usually affected by rising tidal water.

At this time, there are no reports of unusual activity from the 9-1-1 center. 

The National Hurricane Center is predicting a two to three foot surge in Lake Pontchartrain.  This estimate does not include wave action or normal tide fluctuations.  We are monitoring Lake Pontchartrain closely.

I have to keep reminding myself that this is November!

Kevin

• Covington Barn, 1305 N. Florida St., Covington
•  
• Koop Drive, 21411 Koop Drive, Mandeville (under Tammany Trace water tower)
•  
• Airport Road Barn, 34783 Grantham College Rd., Slidell
•  
• Fritchie Barn, 63119 Hwy 1090, Pearl River

As of the 9:00 AM weather service briefing, Ida has been downgraded to a tropical storm.  This is certainly good news for everyone along the Gulf Coast.  This is still a large and dangerous storm.  The National Weather Service predicts high tides and surges.  We continue to monitor lake levels.

We are assessing the potential wind fields at this time to see what impact we might expect in St. Tammany.  If you live in a mobile home, or are staying in a travel trailer, please take precautions as these structures have not been proven safe during tropical storm force winds.

The City of Mandeville has sandbags available to the City Barn on Mandeville High Boulevard for citizens. 

I will update you as more information become available.

Kevin

 

 

Good Morning.

The St. Tammany Parish School Board has announced that it will be closing schools three hours early today and that there will be no after school care today.  This schedule allows students to be home before any potential bad weather.

We have activated the Emergency Operations Center this morning to monitor Hurricane Ida and will update you accordingly.  There will be an official briefing with the National Weather Service within the hour and we are communicating with the Governor's Office of Homeland Security. 

Kevin

St. Tammany Public Schools will be open regular hours tomorrow.  If we do experience bad weather tomorow, it is expected to occur tomorrow evening after schools have let out for the day. 

The Emergency Operations Center will activate at 7:00 AM tomorrow to continue to monitor the storm.  We will be monitoring the storm throughout the night to be aware of its course.

As of 4:00 PM today, I have declared a State of Emergency in St. Tammany Parish.  This allows parish government to take necessary actions to protect lives and property should it become necessary. 

The League of Women Voters forum on How Tax Dollars Are Spent was originally scheduled for tomorrow evening.  It will be rescheduled for another night.

Whoever thought we'd be talking about hurricanes on the 8th of November?

Kevin

 

I am on my way to the Emergency Operations Center for a meeting of the Crisis Action Team (CAT) in regards to Hurricane Ida.  The morning forecast models are showing landfall in the area of Mobile Bay, putting St. Tammany Parish on the weaker side of the storm.

The path of Ida is still, however, far from certain.  Please continue to monitor news media.  I will give you an update here after the CAT meeting.

Kevin

President Obama is in Louisiana today, and has pledged improved government response to natural disasters.  He has seen the still evident devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.  This is a positive step for southeastern Louisiana, and for St. Tammany Parish. 

We appreciate Representative Scalise’s efforts to mention St. Tammany Parish, “Where they still don’t have adequate protection from storm surge.”  This is certainly a concern of all citizens in St. Tammany, and needs to be addressed.  By recognizing existing problems and creating a dialogue about possible solutions, we best position ourselves to serve the community and solve present and future issues.

I thank both President Obama and Representative Scalise for recognizing outstanding issues in St. Tammany Parish.  Hopefully this visit will create opportunities for solutions.

I was informed this morning that the date for the Chinese Dry Wall Meeting has been changed from September 14 to Wednesday, September 16th.  All other details remain the same.

I want to remind everyone that State Senator Julie Quinn is hosting a Town Hall Meeting to discuss tainted Chinese drywall issues.  The meeting will be held Wednesday, Sept. 16th at 6:30pm at Mandeville City Hall.

The Senator will discuss what the federal and state governments are doing to address the issue.  Dr. Mark Rigler, an expert in environmental analysis will be available for questions. For information call:

Senator Quinn's District Office
504.219.4640

Meeting address:
Mandeville City Hall
3101 E. Causeway Approach 

If your family was affected by this issue, I urge you to attend this meeting for further information.

Kevin

 

I want to bring you up to date on what I've been working on over the past month in regard to improving storm protection in St. Tammany Parish:

I have met with Dr. Ivor van Heerden, former deputy director of the LSU Hurricane Center.  We have begun what I hope is a continuing conversation regarding the issue of how to best protect St. Tammany from storm surge and flooding.

We need the best scientific minds we can find.   In addition to Dr. van Heerden, I, or my staff, have also met with LSU faculty member Dr. Joseph N. Suhayda, Director of the Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute and with LSU Professor Dr. Roy K. Dokka, Executive Director of the Center for GeoInformatics, Director of the Louisiana Spatial Reference Center, and Fruehan Endowed Professor of Engineering. 

We are gathering as much information as possible to guide us through the coming years as we battle for hurricane protection for the parishes surrounding Lake Pontchartrain.

I have met with citizens groups and with members of our congressional delegation.

On August 12th, I held a meeting with representatives of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority to discuss regional partnerships and cooperation.

This is one of the most difficult problems I think we, as citizens of St. Tammany, will ever face.  First, we are trying to find a way to ease the impact of nature on our region.  Every time man makes changes that affect the ecosystem, there are consequences.  The loss of Louisiana's wetlands attests to that.  We must find a solution that protects our region without having an unacceptable impact on the environment.

Second, layer upon layer of regional, state and federal agencies are involved in these deliberations.  For every two steps forward, there is at least one step back.  Each agency is trying to do its individual jobs to the best of its ability, but there is no single entity to oversee and expedite the entire process.

The Army Corps of Engineers gave us six options to consider.  We have chosen to support the only option that offered weir/gate protection without buying out citizens' homes.   However, until the scientific studies are done, we will not know if this is the best choice or how it will need to be modified.  It is, however, time to begin those studies.  We can go no further until we know what is possible.

The first step is to seek Congressional funding to study the Corps plan. 

It may take many years to simply get funding to do the scientific study.  Please continue to communicate with our Senators and Representatives.  We need them to lead the fight to save our region.  Click the Storm Protection button on the home page to sign up for the Storm Action Team and find email links to your representatives in Congress.

Kevin 

 

 

St. Tammany Parish has now recorded Louisiana’s second case in 2009 of West Nile Virus in a human.  Both cases have occurred in the Covington area.  We have had cases of West Nile in St. Tammany in previous years, but it is always prudent to monitor any cases which occur.

Testing positive for the virus does not mean the individual necessarily shows signs of being sick, as most cases do not ever result in sickness. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is monitoring for any new cases.  The virus is being spread in St. Tammany by two varieties of mosquito: the southern house mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito.  Both of these mosquitoes breed in areas of standing water, so it is important to prevent areas and containers of standing water in yards, and to keep gutters clean.

While West Nile can be a serious condition, we need to remember that 90% of West Nile cases never show symptoms of any kind.  Out of the remaining 10% of cases, 9% may develop West Nile Fever, similar to the flu.  It is only 1% of cases which can lead to encephalitis.

 The St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District has a website now linked to this site. You will find helpful information on mosquito control, West Nile prevention and other information HERE. Citizens may request an inspection of their property to evaluate for any mosquito problems and have them treated as needed.

The St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District is continuing to help reduce the number of mosquitoes in the parish in three ways: they are spraying ditches with a spore which kills mosquito larvae, they are using two airplanes to spray 102,000 acres of the parish, and they are spraying with the trucks in neighborhoods every night.

The most effective way to prevent the contraction of any West Nile virus is using mosquito repellant when spending time outside, and wearing long pants and long sleeved clothing when exposed to mosquitoes.  Repellants containing DEET are recommended for adults and children over two months of age, and are very effective.  

Parish President Kevin Davis is taking a few days of vacation, so I am filling in today with a message.

The media has given Sheriff Jack Strain’s request for an additional $2 million for running the parish jail a lot of attention.  That request cannot be fulfilled and here is why:

This is a summary of the 2009 Parish Budget:
State Mandated Costs                                4,678,966
General Fund                                             10,725,620
Roads & Drainage                                    45,531,265
Jail Sales Tax Fund                                     9,700,000
Justice Complex Sales Tax                     10,413,139
Utilities/Animal Services/Public Health/
Coroner/Environmental Services            11,137,214
Criminal Courts                                            3,224,287

Total:                                                           $95,410,491

Every expense fund listed above is dedicated or restricted except for the General Fund.  The General Fund revenue is primarily self-generated fees & licenses.  This revenue is generated by the parish and funds most of parish government.

As you can see, St. Tammany Parish citizens already provide $9.7 million for the support of the jail.   State law requires the parish to provide for the maintenance of the jail and food for the prisoners.  Citizens approved this special tax specifically for that purpose.  This is the tax that is generating $9.7 million.

The general government of the parish operates for a full year on $10.7 million.  There is no additional $2 million to support the prisoners.  There is simply no more money. 

Unfortunately, any governmental entity that relies on sales taxes in these times is forced to reduce their budgets or ask citizens to raise taxes.  Parish President Kevin Davis adamantly opposes any additional taxes in these difficult economic times to support prisoners. 

William Oiler
Chief Administrative Officer

I hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday weekend.

It seems that the parish introducing a Burn Ban is a great way to get rainfall.  While I know there is no serious correlation, it does seem to happen often.  It is just one of those unexplained coincidences that can make you smile.

We are all thankful for the rain.  It will reduce our fire risk and reduce our water bills as we struggle to keep gardens alive.  At the end of June, we received over two inches of rain but were still down by about four inches of rain for the month. 

I also want to congratulate WST & CLECO for their quick responses after last week's storm.  Over 10,000 electric customers were restored quickly and efficiently.  I also want to acknowledge our Public Works crews that were quick to respond to downed trees on our roads and other problems that arose during the recent storms.

Kevin

The storms going through St. Tammany have brought extensive power outages.  We have estimates of 4,000 outages in the WST service area and about 6,500 in the CLECO area, primarily in Mandeville and Covington.

The National Weather Service reports that the storm brought straight line winds in excess of 40 miles per hour as the storm passed through the parish.

1-800-622-6537 is the CLECO customer service number.

1-866-672-9773 is the WST Emergency Repair number.

 

Kevin

I met with our team at the parish at the end of last week to discuss the June 16th presentation by the Army Corps of Engineers to you about hurricane protection in Lake Pontchartrain.

We have all waited eagerly for this plan and share your frustrations. The reactions of staff closely mirrored the reaction of the majority of citizens attending the meeting. We all recognize, however, that this is the first step and that we must push forward.

Of the plans presented to Congress, the parish continues to feel that LP-a-100-1 is the best at this time. Leaving our homes is not an option, as was presented in four of the six proposals.

It is incomprehensible to me that four of the six Corps hurricane protection plans involved buying out and moving St. Tammany Parish residents. Some plans suggested buying out homes from Kingspoint and Rigolets Estates, through Lacombe, across the Mandeville Harbor and into Madisonville.

We have rebuilt almost all of the over 48,792 homes Katrina damaged. We have followed federal regulations to the best of our ability. We have stood as a community and worked together to help ourselves and to help our neighbors.

Leaving our homes is not an acceptable option from our federal government.

The fifth proposal, restoring wetlands, is necessary and that option must be included with other, structural steps. This proposal will not protect us.

Of the six options available, this leaves building a weir/gate system across the Rigolets and Chef Pass as the best current alternative not only for St. Tammany Parish, but for every parish that borders Lake Pontchartrain.

I hope to visit or speak with every member of our federal delegation within the week. I will again be going to Washington DC to speak with the leaders of the Army Corps of Engineers. With information from these officials, we will begin our action plan for hurricane protection.

Please join this effort by visiting our new page www.stpgov.org/stormprotection and join the Action Team.

Kevin

Wednesday, June 17th

Let's start with the good news:  We opened a new road this morning.  Falconer Drive is now open all the way from Harrison Avenue to Crestwood Drive.  This should mean reduced traffic on both Harrison and Highway 190 around the shopping area.  It will be easier to commute through the area and easier to reach shopping. 

Now, the frustrating news:  About 1,000 residents attended the Army Corps of Engineering Hurricane Protection meeting last night at the Northshore Harbor Center, hoping for an announcement of action regarding hurricane protection for the north shore. Unfortunately, the Corps process is not that far along, and most of the discussion centered around process.

The Corps submitted six plans to Congress for their consideration.  Four of the six plans include the buy out of some homes and businesses.  One restores marshlands only.  The remaining plan, LP-a-100-1, builds a weir/gate system across the Rigolets and Chef Pass and a levee system to Interstate 59. 

Of the six plans submitted, the Parish Council and I believe that this plan, LP-a-100-1, is the best to protect all of St. Tammany Parish.

My team is meeting tomorrow to debrief after the Corps meeting.  I will be back with you after that meeting with more information.

We are in process of creating a new webpage for our website, www.stpgov.org, that will gather information on the Corps & Congressional process in one location for you.

Kevin

On Tuesday, June 16th, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a meeting for St. Tammany residents at the Northshore Harbor Center.  There will be an open house at 6:00 PM and a presentation at 7:00 PM.

The purpose of the meeting is two fold.  First, the Corps will explain the south shore hurricane protection projects and how they will affect the north shore.  Second, the Corps will review the hurricane protection proposals that they have submitted to Congress.

This is a very important meeting for all of St. Tammany Parish.   The actions of the Corps of Engineers will impact our future safety from storms.  This, of course, is the most important consideration.

There are, however, a number of secondary implications.  From economic development to home values and the price of insurance, everyone in our parish will be affected.

For long term protection, six plans were sent to Congress.  Click here to open a .pdf file showing the different plans.  St. Tammany Parish government is supporting the plan labeled LP-a-100-1.  This plan builds a weir across the Rigolets and a levee on a portion of the Pearl River.

It will provide protection for every parish that borders Lake Pontchartrain.

If we are to succeed in having this plan authorized and funded through Congress, we will have to undertake a long-term grass roots effort.  The voice of every citizen will need to be heard.

Please join me on Tuesday, June 16th.  We need to hear the Corps report together.

Northshore Harbor Center
100 Harbor Center Blvd.
Slidell, LA 70461
Open house at 6 p.m.
Presentation and discussion at 7 p.m. 

See you there,
Kevin

 

 

May 29, 2009

Monday, June 1st, is the official beginning of hurricane season.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts  "... a 70 percent chance of having nine to 14 named storms, of which four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5)."  This is a near normal season.

At parish government, we spent most of this week in a hurricane preparedness exercise.  We invented the imaginary "Hurricane Daisy" and tracked her through the week.  Each parish department implemented its preparedness plan according to the track of the storm, culminating in an exercise at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Thursday. 

The parish's administrative staff has been in hurricane preparedness training exercises every year since 2000, has worked many storms including Katrina, and continues to find ways to improve efforts. Changing technology, personnel, population, and transportation patterns mean that parish government must continue to adapt its emergency plan.

Every year, the government and media agencies also remind us that this is the time to make a family emergency plan. Many of us nod and think:  "We're covered.  We made it through Katrina-Betsy-Camille. We don't need to think this through again."

Everyone needs to think their emergency plan through again. 

Just as changing circumstances force parish government to test and adapt its plan each year, families must do the same.  If you down-sized your automobile, will your family need an additional vehicle to evacuate?  Has your cousin in Tennessee, who always opened her home for evacuation visits, still able to welcome you?  Do you have a kennel for your new puppy? 

To assist in your planning efforts, we have published a Hurricane Safety Brochure.  Copies will be available the first week of June in public buildings, libraries, and at the Emergency Operations Center.  A copy can be printed from this website by clicking this link: http://www.stpgov.org/pdf/1240518050.pdf

Be safe.

Kevin
 

Good afternoon.

Late last week, FEMA put out a press release stating that the US Coast Guard is in the fourth phase of waterway debris pick up in Louisiana.  St. Tammany is included in the list of parishes being served but the release didn't give any specifics for our parish.

Our Department of Engineering has been coordinating this effort and here is their report:

The Coast Guard has just finished removing submerged debris that might pose a danger in Salt Bayou and the Tchefuncte River.  Additional work will include Eden Isles, Bayou Liberty, Bayou Lacombe and the Pearl River Navigational Canal.  The Coast Guard's mission is restricted to coastal navigable waterways.  We have met with representatives many times to include as many St. Tammany waterways as possible and will continue these discussions. 

The Coast Guard plans to complete this phase by the end of June.

While I am grateful for the assistance of both FEMA and the US Coast Guard, I never thought we'd still be talking hurricane clean up three years and nine months later.

Kevin

 

Good afternoon.

I wanted to give you a brief update on several items of interest.  We have been watching the Swine Flu updates in parish government as closely as you have been at home.  There are no confirmed cases in St. Tammany Parish.  On Monday, the CDC said "...so far, the severity of illness in this country is similar to that of flu, and that's very encouraging. "

The Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development called late last week to let us know that there may be some problem with the Army Corps of Engineers issuing a wetlands permit for the I-12-Hwy. 1088 interchange.  I am working cooperatively with the State of Louisiana to solve this issue and get this long overdue interchange built.  The project is scheduled to be let in June.

On the lighter side, I was looking at the Calendar of Events on this website.  There are concerts, a play written by a local author, and open air markets going on this weekend.  I hope you take a minute to look at the calendar and plan some relaxation.

If you go shopping this weekend, I encourage you to shop in St. Tammany.  Let's support local businesses and keep our tax dollars working directly for us.

Kevin

 

5-1-09

There are still no confirmed cases of swine flu in Louisiana.  As with all states and municipalities, we are following the Center for Disease control protocols for testing. 

With this information, I want to remind everyone again about the best ways to protect yourself from ANY type of flu.

These are the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control:

•  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
•  Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
•  Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
•  Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.  If you, or a member of your immediate family, develop flu-like symptoms, please use caution.

The best source of the most up to date information concerning the swine flu virus is the CDC website:  www.cdc.gov.  As new developments occur throughout St. Tammany and Louisiana, we will keep you posted.

 Kevin

4-27-09

This morning, I participated in a briefing with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness about the Swine Flu. The Swine Flu symptoms appear to be no different than regular seasonal flu.  At this time, the U.S. cases appear to be mild.

There are no known cases in St. Tammany Parish or the State of Louisiana at this time.  Physicians are now testing patients with flu symptoms to determine if they have the Swine Flu virus.  If you develop flu-like symptoms, see your doctor.  There are medicines that can ease flu symptoms.

We are working cooperatively with the Office of Public Health to monitor the situation.  Please use normal precautions: 

•  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
•  Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
•  Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
•  Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
•  If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

 
To learn more about Swine Flu, click the Swine Flu link under 'Topics of Interest.'  We have downloaded the Center for Disease Control's Question & Answer Sheet for your information along with some useful websites, including   www.flula.com

Kevin

Parish government is receiving a lot of calls asking how video bingo is permitted in St. Tammany Parish.  According to our Legal Department, State Law says that if ‘charitable bingo’ is allowed in a parish, ‘video bingo’ is automatically allowed. The State licenses the charities and the video bingo suppliers without parish input.

 The Parish Ordinance governing bingo games was written in 1985, long before today’s technology. As the Executive Branch of Government, the Administration must enforce the ordinances as they are written whether we agree with them or not.

 I have met with representatives of the Parish Council and requested that they review these ordinances.  The ‘charitable gaming’ ordinance is twenty-four years old and in need of modernizing.

 The parish council will be discussing this issue.  I suggest you contact your council representative regarding what actions you think should be taken.

Kevin

The effects of the poor national economy are now being felt in St. Tammany Parish.  Across the board, from sales taxes to earned income, parish government revenues are down.  The ‘rainy day fund’ was reduced by 75% over the past three years as we went through the Katrina recovery process.
 
Sales tax revenue was down by 14% in January.   Residential construction permits are at a twelve year low and construction permits are softening.  Other fees, such as franchise fees, are also declining.
 
In anticipation of declining revenues, we adopted a budget for 2009 that was a 6.5% decrease from 2008.  As the early 2009 numbers become available, we realize that we must tighten our belts even more.
 
Last night, I asked the Parish Council to introduce an ordinance reducing the parish’s operating budget by 3%, across the board. 
 
I have asked all parish agencies and departments to prepare a budget reduction plan before the end of April.  I have instructed the departments to maintain employees if at all possible.  If layoffs must occur within a department, we will look to other agencies for transfers into funded positions if possible.  
 
Until we finalize exactly which line items within the departments and agencies will be directly affected by the cuts, I cannot predict the full impact these cuts may have on services.  I assure you that we will do everything within our power to maintain essential services. 
 
We will continue to be fiscally prudent.  We will continue to monitor all parish revenues and expenditures closely and keep you apprised of our situation.

Kevin

I have just returned to the United Incident Command Post from inspecting the West Pearl River at Davis Landing.  The river is continuing to rise, and should continue to do so for the next twelve hours as it moves through St. Tammany Parish.

It does not appear at this time that the river will reach levels predicted by the National Weather Service, and this is certainly good news.  However, it is very important for residents in low lying areas to continue to monitor the situation, as we still expect more street flooding to occur.

As with any act of nature, this situation is unpredictable.  It seems to have improved for now, but we must continue to monitor the river closely.  All residents in the Pearl River Basin need to remain vigilant.

Thank you.

Kevin

 

Good morning.

The West Pearl River has crested near the town of Pearl River at 19.2 feet this morning, and will continue to move southward through the parish throughout the day.

A United Incident Command Post has been set up at East Gause Blvd. and Military Road.  St. Tammany Parish Government, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the National Guard, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife are all cooperating to deal with any situations or concerns as a result of the flooding.

High water vehicles are on hand, and will be patrolling areas along the river as water rises. 

I will report back as soon as new information becomes available.

Thank you.

Kevin

Good afternoon.

Parts of Eastern St. Tammany will be affected this week by the cresting waters of the West Pearl River.  The river is expected to crest Thursday morning at 19 and one half feet near the town of Pearl River.  It will then move southward through the parish.

While this is a serious situation and we are closely monitoring the river, I want everyone to be clear that this is NOT the same flooding our area saw in 1983.  The 1983 level was 21 feet, and this week's crest will be significantly lower.

I do want everyone in affected areas to monitor local media, channel 10 and this website for further updates.  Watch for rising water in ditches as a sign to move vehicles.  Make sure yards are free of debris which could clog drains. 

If at any time you have an emergency, do not hesitate to call 911.  We are working closely with the Sheriff's Department and have resources on standby if they are needed.

 Thank you for your diligence in dealing with this situation.

Kevin

 

Good morning.

St. Tammany Parish's annual report was posted on this website today.  The Annual Report gives you an unaudited overview of the parish's finances in 2008, a list of capital projects for 2009, departmental reviews, and reports from your council representatives.

In past years, we have either mailed this report to you or inserted it into newspapers.  To reduce costs this year, we are posting the report on our website.  Some printed copies will be available at parish libraries and public buildings.

We are watching the budget closely.  Self-generated fees make up 74% of the parish's general fund and that revenue is decreasing as permits and other fees tied to the general economy decline.  We will make adjustments accordingly.

While the economy is struggling, there are still many bright spots:
The parish received an Award for Excellence in Government Accounting
Animal Services department moved into their new facility
Tammany Trace usage has returned to pre-Katrina levels
Citizens accessed our website over 800,000 times for information
Repairs to the Towers Building in Slidell will be completed this year
Over 1,800 code enforcement cases were closed
Six St. Tammany sites were names Cultural Product Districts by the State

To read the Annual Report, follow the "Annual Report" link under Topics of Interest on the home page.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send them to me by clicking the 'Suggestion Box' button on the home page.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kevin

 

 

We are currently in the process of updating our Homeowners’ Association information across St. Tammany Parish. 

 

We would like to update our list of all the homeowners’ groups across the parish.  This information is crucial during storm times, and is used to communicate with and between our neighborhoods.  Sometimes contact information changes, so we periodically update our files. 

 

We have a link on this website under ‘Citizen Services’ named Homeowners’ Associations.  If you wish to submit your information, you will need the following:  the name of the neighborhood or subdivision, the contact name and contact information.  If you scroll to the bottom of the list on the website, you can click on Daynelle Schenck’s name to get your information to us.  Her email address is dschenck@stpgov.org. 

 

This information is kept confidential, unless you wish to share it on the website.  If you want your information on the website, please make note of this in your email to Daynelle.  

 

Please take advantage of this opportunity we have to better communicate with each other about many important issues.  Thank you.

 

 

 

Kevin

 

As I was driving to work this morning, I was thinking about the start of the Lenten season.  Lent is a time for reflection, to think about what is important in our lives, our communities and our country.

As Parish President, I am reflecting upon what is important now to our community and what parish government needs to do to provide the services you need in the most cost effective and efficient manner.

We have not felt the economic pinch here to the degree it is being felt in other parts of the United States.  However, tax collections are down, our budget is down, so we are tightening our belts and moving forward in a fiscally responsible manner.

When the first quarter tax collection numbers come in, we will be better able to project income for the rest of 2009 and adjust accordingly. 

Bear with me, I do have a point!

I am seeing this economic uncertainty as our Lenten Season.  It is our time to reexamine our core values, skip all the between meal snacks, and emerge in the end better and stronger.  And to use the old adage, "Seasons come and seasons go."

Kevin

As we head into the final weekend before Mardi Gras, I want to wish everyone a fun and safe holiday.  St. Tammany Parish has some of the most unique and family friendly parades of the season rolling over the next four days.

Friday evening the Krewes of Selene in Slidell, and Orpheus in Mandeville roll their parades.  Sunday afternoon the Krewe of Tchefuncte floats down the Tchefuncte River.  This boat parade is one of the most exeptional sights to be seen during the Mardi Gras season, with the individual boats being transformed into literal 'floats'.  Mardi Gras Day in downtown Covington celebrates with the Krewes of Lions and Covington.  Also on Mardi Gras Day, the Krewes of Skunks and Chata Ima roll in Lacombe, and the Folsom Mardi Gras Parade rolls in Folsom.

Wherever you and your loved ones enjoy this Mardi Gras weekend and holiday, be safe and take advantage of all that St. Tammany Parish has to offer.

Kevin

 

 

The last time I wrote, I was leaving for Washington, D.C.  I want to fill you in on my meetings in the nation's capitol.

I met with Congressmen Scalise, Cao, Cassidy, Melancon and Alexander as well as with Senators Landrieu and Vitter.  The meetings were productive.  Some of the issues we spoke of included:

-The need for local decision making on some of the initiatives in the Economic Stimulus package.  Lawmakers are using existing federal programs to expedite the stimulus package, which is a sound logical approach.  However, sometimes local needs don't fit federal programs and I was asking for some flexibility.

-Extending the time frame for businesses to complete Go-Zone Bond projects.  Because of the lengthy application process, the time for construction is not sufficient to complete some projects.

-Medicare and medicaid reimbursement schedules are hurting healthcare in St. Tammany and I continue to advocate for a schedule change.  St. Tammany is rated as a rural parish for these programs, which gives lower reimbursement rates to physicians for these programs.  Doctors are less likely to practice here because of these rate schedules.

I also met with the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss Hurricane Protection.  I first met Major General Temple, Deputy Commanding General, Military and International Operations for the Corps, in December of 2008 along with N.O. District Commander Colonel Lee.  It was a good initial meeting, and the follow up meeting last week was even better.  We spoke of the considerable need for SELA drainage funding in St. Tammany Parish and I am hopeful that significant funding will follow this meeting.

I was very happy to get home Saturday morning to my family and our good weather.  Washington is just too cold. 

Kevin

This is the week of Washington D.C. Mardi Gras.  By bringing the world's greatest festival to our nation's capitol, we focus congressional attention on Louisiana.  I am leaving tomorrow morning, along with representatives of our chambers of commerce and state legislature, to bring St. Tammany's message to Washington.

Over the next four days, I will attend meetings with seven individual Congressmen and Senators, as well as with congressional staff members of both political parties.

Between meetings with our elected representatives, I will also meet with the American Public Works Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  I will also meet with General Temple, of the Army Corps of Engineers, to further hurricane protection plans for St. Tammany. 

I will be looking for federal infrastructure funding opportunities.  With President Obama's new economic stimulus package coming soon, the federal government will be investing in rebuilding our nation's roads, bridges, and other basic infrastructure. 

I will also be listening carefully to see where our new federal government is going to take our country and what it will mean in St. Tammany Parish.

There are a number of business social events this week as well. I will be attending these gatherings of business leaders.  I want to make sure everyone knows that St. Tammany is eager for new business development.

I will not, however, be attending the Washington Mardi Gras ball.  With all the maps, reports, and other paraphernalia staff is sending with me, there's no room for my dancing shoes.

I'll let you know how the trip went next week.

Kevin

January 23, 2009

We got some good news today.  The federal Minerals Management Service has awarded St. Tammany Parish $1 million toward the acquisition of 22 acres of property along Bayou Liberty.  The property is located south of Interstate 12 and west of Northshore Boulevard. 

In 2006, the Trust for Public Land acquired this land on behalf of St. Tammany Parish.  It was the parish's wish to take this property out of commerce and preserve it for several reasons. In our application to the federal government for funding assistance, our department of Environmental Services wrote:

"The Parish is working to preserve undeveloped tracts of property from commercial and residential development along the Bayou Liberty riparian corridor, on which the ... property is located.  The tannic “blackwater” stream habitat of the Bayou Liberty watershed is an extremely rare habitat, increasingly vulnerable to development.  The Parish plans to restore and enhance the property through hydrologic restoration of the Bayou Liberty headwaters, reforestation, and removal of invasive/exotic flora.  The Parish also plans passive recreation opportunities such as birding on the subject property."

Preserving the pristine nature of this land will also prevent development that might impact the natural drainage basin.

The property was acquired by the TPL for $1.5 million and St. Tammany Parish agreed to purchase the land from the Trust.  The balance of the funds will be paid by future grants and St. Tammany Parish funds. 

Click here for a map of the property.

Getting notice that $1 million is coming our way to help with coastal restoration, preservation and drainage is a good way to end the work week.

Have a great weekend,

Kevin

Today, we inaugurate a new president.

Our new President and Congress must lead us through the most difficult times our nation has faced in a century.  It is my hope that our national Executive and Legislative Branches will work together well, with respect and honor, to bring us out of war and into a sound economic structure.

I know that you share with me a great faith in the strength of our people and our nation.  This is certainly a time to remember the words of President John F. Kennedy:

"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

President Kennedy's call to action is as needed today as it was in 1960.  I believe that together we will find fair and beneficial answers to the problems that face our nation.

Today, however, is a day to celebrate the greatness of the United States of America and our  Constitution.  Tomorrow, we get to work.

Kevin

January 15, 2009

On Monday, January 19th, we will once again honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the day of his birth.  This year I hope you will all join with me in a day of service.  I believe that serving our neighborhood, community, state or country on this day is the highest honor we can give to the memory of Dr. King.

According to the MLK Day website:

"Initiated by Congress in 1994, King Day of Service builds on that that legacy by transforming the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service grounded in his teachings of nonviolence and social justice. The aim is to make the holiday a day where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned."

Over the past three years, we have been privileged to benefit from the work of tens of thousands of volunteers who came to help rebuild the Gulf Coast.  Let us make a point now of "passing it forward."

Let's give thanks by giving service in Dr. King's memory.

Kevin

Friday, January 9, 2009

Good afternoon.

I hope you had a great holiday season.

As we enter 2009, we are looking at a change in our national government and an uncertain economy.  Here in St. Tammany, we are doing better than many parts of our country but we too must proceed carefully into the new year.

We have reduced our budget in 2009 and are planning carefully to manage parish finances through the new year.  These efforts however may not be enough to maintain current citizen services.

Our parish has grown tremendously, and with it the need for citizen services has grown.  From education to law enforcement to recreation, the demands for services are up while  funding has not kept pace.

In parish government, we are doing our best to maintain services and NOT raise taxes.  I certainly don't want higher property taxes, and I don't think you do either.

We are working on creating a varied economy in St. Tammany Parish to assist us with these issues.  From corporate offices to high-tech research firms, we are moving our economy forward.

We are researching additional economic opportunities and will be sharing them with you in the coming months to get your feedback.

Have a great weekend,

Kevin

As we approach 2009, I want to wish each of you a Happy New Year from all the employees at St. Tammany Parish Government.

I just received this attachment of photos of the last FEMA Katrina-house demolition in St. Tammany Parish.  The condemned structure came down today.   Click here to see the photos.

While we still have other blighted property to address, it is a good feeling to see closure on this particular program after three years.  We continue to move forward.

Kevin

Merry Christmas.  Happy Hanukkah.  Have a wonderful Kwanzaa.  In America, there are many ways to say that I hope you have a happy holiday season.  Regardless of the words we use, the sentiment is the same:  My wish is for good will and peace among all men.

 

And women.

 

(I hope that made everyone smile!)

 

This morning, Fox News gave St. Tammany the ‘Bah Humbug’ award because the Library Board issued a ruling that forbade employees from accepting gifts from patrons.  As you all know, a warm chocolate chip cookie will get you the first read on a new best-seller.

 

Seriously, the Library Board, and all local boards and governing bodies, are struggling to find the appropriate interpretation of our very strict State of Louisiana ethics rules.  We all want open and honest government and rules of conduct are essential.  In parish government, our offices have accepted cookies and made them available to everyone.  We have also taken some items to local food banks.  We are trying to enjoy the spirit of the season while following both the letter and the spirit of the law.

 

I hope you enjoy the holidays with family and friends,

 

Kevin

 

Happy Holidays St. Tammany Parish!

As the excitement of the season builds, let us not forget to take a moment to slow down and enjoy each other's company.  Here in St. Tammany Parish, we have so many things for which to be thankful.

Let us look beyond our own family and friends this holiday season.  Check on a shut in neighbor or friend.  Cook a meal for someone pressed for time.  Spend some time with those who do not get many visitors.  If we begin these activities now, they can become habits throughout the year.

Have a blessed holiday season.  Thank you for making St. Tammany Parish such a wonderful place.

Kevin

I hope you all had as much fun in the snow as I did.  This was truly an unexpected treat, especially for our children.  So many of our children have never had the opportunity to experience snow before.

We will keep your photos posted on the "Snow Day" link under the "Topics of Interest" column below so that they can be shared with the whole community.

I am sure this weekend will be filled with holiday preparations.  Please shop in St. Tammany Parish, supporting our local businesses.

Please remember that there will be a special Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday, December 16th at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers on Koop Drive.  The Special Meeting will discuss the rezoning of the southwestern areas of St. Tammany Parish.

Kevin

Welcome to our Winter Wonderland!  Snow is now blanketing all of St. Tammany Parish, and I must admit, there is nothing like snow around the holidays to make us all stop and look with wonder at the beauty it creates.

Of course I would ask all of you to drive a little slower, be a little more courteous and keep an eye out for those who might need some assistance.

I would love for you to share the beauty of this rare occurance with us at St. Tammany Parish.  Get out there and take some pictures in your yards and neighborhoods.  Send your pictures to us at alnicaud@stpgov.org and we will post as many as we can on the website.  It is not often we can share the beauty of snow in South Louisiana; let's have some fun!

Your pictures can be viewed by clicking on the "Snow Day Photos" link under Topics of Interest directly under this message.

Across the nation, many communities are struggling with an economic downturn.  St. Tammany's economy, however, appears to be holding its own.  The post-Katrina slow down was expected and anticipated.

Today, I received the parish's monthly permit statistics report.  The report shows that while new construction is at its lowest point in many years, citizens are investing in their homes in record numbers.  Permits for additions, accessory structures, pools and other amenities are extraordinarily high.  This demonstrates citizens' firm faith in our economic future.

Commercial construction also remains solid.  Commercial permits for 2008 continue to be higher than pre-Katrina numbers.  While some projects are developing in slower phases, all major planned commercial projects in the parish are continuing.  Our economy remains strong.

We can all help keep our economy strong by purchasing from local businesses in the coming holiday season.  By supporting our business community, we keep jobs and payroll in our parish.  That is good for us all.

Kevin