Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting, including our public officials. I apologize to those who could not get in nor have a seat. I did not expect 120-150 people to show up! I will be better prepared when we meet with the mayor who has agreed to meet with the group later to share his thoughts on the issues discussed.
Main Issues
The meeting focused on three key issues:
- Natural Gas Supply
- Flooding
- City Council’s Influence on Project Proposals and Budgeting
- Home Rule Charter and Clarity of Roles
Natural Gas Supply
John Toups shared a previous conversation that he had with Chad Mire where he explained a few concepts regarding the natural gas supply issues. He mentioned that we are currently operating on an older gas line with a PSI capacity of about 60, but due to valve restrictions, it is running at only 20 PSI. If these valves are changed, the pressure could be gradually increased by increments of 10 PSI, possibly reaching up to 45 or 50 PSI. Additionally, there are discussions about involving two different vendors due to the length of the line and the associated pressure loss, which might allow for more pressure in the northern section of the line. I am not sure if these are just brainstorming ideas the administration is exploring, or details are still being worked out. The administration is committed to addressing individual concerns. They encourage residents to report issues, as they are actively helping by checking regulators, meters, and possibly increasing individual PSI levels where needed.
Flooding
There were two aspects of the flooding issue discussed:
- Cascading Water and Drainage Issues: During our recent meeting, we discussed the ongoing cascading water and drainage issues affecting our neighborhoods. The conversation highlighted how water flows from Highway 308 all the way into Ashland, Belmont, and the surrounding streets. A video presentation demonstrated that water from The Rienzi Commons flows down Rosedown Drive. There is a difference in the size of culverts between Mr. Ledet’s house and the pipe under Rienzi Drive itself. This disparity causes overtopping, forcing water down Rienzi Drive and exacerbating the flooding problem.
In a second video, Jason Adams explained how water from the Rienzi Manor subdivision overflows into the backyards of homes, coming within one inch of his house. This water then makes its way to Rienzi Drive, where it continues to pool and causes flooding. The video from Sue and Rusty Hymel further illustrated how water overtops the right-of-way, flooding homes on Ashland, with water building up and affecting properties on both sides of the street before moving onto Belmont and other areas, creating widespread flooding issues.
The evidence presented clearly shows how interconnected these drainage problems are, with one area’s overflow leading to cascading issues in neighboring streets. We are continuing to press for solutions to address these issues and prevent future flooding.
- 2018 Drainage Study: The existence of a drainage study from 2018 was mentioned, but both the planning board chair and council member at the time were unaware of it. It was recommended that the city convene the engineers to explain the study. From there, we need to define the flooding problem more clearly, determine what solutions were recommended by the study, estimate the cost, and identify how we can fund these improvements.
Both Cory Kief with the North Lafourche Levee District and Mike Naquin, referring to the 5th Ward Drainage District, expressed the critical importance of maintaining the 80 Arpent Canal to avoid flooding for everyone.
City Council’s Role and Accountability
A roadmap for implementing a successful drainage project was discussed, but there was no clear path presented. It was emphasized that the mayor must initiate the process, but the City Council appears to havelimited authority in placing items on the agenda or enforcing accountability for project execution. Mike Naquin will ask the attorney general for an opinion on their ability to influence the budget.
Home Rule Charter and Clarity of Roles
John emphasized the need for more clarity regarding the Home Rule Charter and the shared belief system that has developed over time about what the council and mayor can and cannot do. This lack of clarity has led to a perception that the government is not functioning as efficiently as it could. It was stated that a citizens’ group will be formed to take a closer look at the Home Rule Charter to ensure it serves our interests and allows for transparent and effective governance.
Next Steps:
Call or email your Mayor and your City Council Members: Ask them to allocate funds to the 2025 budget to fix the problems.
Clarification on the 2018 Drainage Study: Convene city engineers to explain the findings.
Define the Solutions: Based on the flooding presentation and the study.
Identify Corrective Actions and Funding: Determine the cost and funding avenues for drainage improvements.
Clarify Home Rule Charter: Ensure clear roles and responsibilities between the mayor and City Council to achieve a truly representative and transparent government.
Master Plan: Ask the Council to develop a master plan for the whole North Thibodaux drainage system on both sides of Canal Boulevard.
This summary will be shared with all attendees and the City Council and the mayor for review and further discussion.