September 9, 2009
Belle Chasse Auditorium
Bobby Thomas, Executive Director called the meeting to order at noon and welcomed everyone. Chairman Michael Bush made several announcements and then introduced Parish President Billy Nungesser, who then introduced the Parish Council Chairperson and Representative from District 8, Lynda Banta.
Ms. Banta began her address by stating how passionate she is about the Port in Plaquemines Parish. She is convinced that under the current structure, that the Port can grow beyond the 14 private terminals now operating on the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish. Referring to the recent attempt by the Council to acquire the former Amax site, Ms. Banta said that the site may be small, but it’s port ready. She said that this site can handle both a ship and barges at the same time; that the Port can start small and collect revenues to grow with.
The Council Chairperson said that she realizes that the Plaquemines Port is a “gold mine,” that’s why the Port of New Orleans tries each year to take us over. Banta said that she is opposed to a centralized port authority and wants to have an established Port before considering that idea. Ms. Banta was very adamant when she stated that she would not let anyone steal the Port of Plaquemines Parish! She said that she regrets the cooperative endeavor agreement the Plaquemines Port has with the Port of New Orleans. She added that since the agreement, nothing has happened.
When addressing the collection of past-due tariff fees due the Port, she admits that we need to do a better job of taking care of our business. Ms. Banta also discussed the recent approvals of the Plaquemines Council to hire Consolidated Grain and Barge to conduct a study of business trends for the potential Port and also contracted with Trident Services to develop a “Master Plan” for the Plaquemines Port. Banta stated that the Council as the Port, is in active negotiations with Citrus Lands for the possible purchase of certain land. She sees the Port as a nest-egg, an IRA, she said.
Ms. Banta closed her remarks by saying that she chose to live in Plaquemines Parish, and that she’s very proud to call Plaquemines her home. Her final remark was that we all need to stand united to get past the recovery mode and make this the best place to live!
The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
Plaquemines Parish Council Chairwoman Lynda Banta was the keynote speaker at the September Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry monthly meeting.
Photo courtesy of The Plaquemines Gazette
Dear PABI Members:
Please find the attached Resolution that was adopted at the PABI Board of Directors Meeting on September 9, 2009. This resolution calls upon Federal and State agencies to complete the West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Levee, including the eastern tie-in by the authorized (by US Congress) completion date in 2011.
Contained in the resolution is an explanation of how this project has expanded in scope and the completion date extended many times over the years. The PABI Board of Directors feels this project has continued long enough and that it's imperative that the completion date of 2011 must be met. While your Board of Directors would like to see 100 year flood protection afforded for all of Plaquemines Parish, extending this project farther into the future will only jeopardize the construction already completed leaving vast numbers of businesses and residents vulnerable to an unnecessary risk.
PABI supports and will continue to work tirelessly for the adoption and funding of non-federal levees in Plaquemines Parish to be included in the federal levee system, so that these levees too will be certified as 100 year protection levees to give all businesses and residents the protection and peace of mind they deserve. We will not stand down until all levees in Plaquemines Parish are certified 100 year protection levees!
Please contact me anytime if you have questions regarding this or any PABI matters. I can be reached at either my office: (504) 392-1111 or my cell: (504) 913-7915.
Thank you again for your continued support and the investment of your membership in the Plaquemines Association of Business & Industry.
Sincerely,
Michael M. Bush, 2009 Chairman
Plaquemines Association of Business & Industry
September 10, 2009
RESOLUTION
On motion of David Pavlovich, seconded by Danica Ansardi, the following resolution was adopted at the September 9, 2009, Board of Directors Meeting of the Plaquemines Association of Business & Industry:
A RESOLUTION urging the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority—West, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, to complete the West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Levee Project, including the eastern
tie-in by the authorized scheduled completion date of late 2011.
WHEREAS, following Hurricane Juan in 1986, the United States Congress authorized, funded and tasked the US Army Corps of Engineers to build the West Bank Hurricane Protection Levee, Westwego to Harvey Canal; and
WHEREAS, the project began in 1991 as the Westwego to Harvey Canal Project which was designed to bring hurricane flood protection from the City of Westwego to the west bank of the Harvey Canal. In 1996, the project expanded to include the Lake Cataouatche Levee extending protection to the communities of Avondale, Bridge City and Waggaman and the East of Harvey Canal project to provide flood protection for the communities of Gretna and Harvey as well as for Algiers in Orleans and Belle Chasse in Plaquemines; and
WHEREAS, in 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the New Orleans area bringing wide spread flooding from the failure of existing flood protection projects. Following the hurricane, congress provided sufficient funding and directed the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to completely rebuild the failed flood protection system. Of benefit to the citizens of the west bank, congress also funded and directed the Corps to rapidly complete the West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project and to raise its elevation to protect against the 100 year storm; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project once again expanded, adding the Western Tie-In. This extended flood protection to the parish of St. Charles up to the Davis Pond Fresh Water Diversion levees. The project is scheduled to expand again in 2009 to include the GIWW West Closure, which will add another navigable flood gate and a drainage pump station both to be located just south of the Algiers and Harvey canals. The addition of this feature will eliminate the need for increasing the height of approximately 20 miles of levees along the Algiers Canal and along the Harvey Canal north of the Estelle Pump Station; and
WHEREAS, today, the West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project consists of approximately 56 miles of levees, 11 miles of floodwall and 2 (two) navigable flood gates, providing flood protection for portions of Jefferson Parish's West Bank, Algiers (Orleans Parish), Belle Chasse (Plaquemines Parish) and west St. Charles Parish to the Davis Pond Fresh Water Diversion levees; and
WHEREAS, the Plaquemines Association of Business & Industry strongly urges the Corps to complete the Eastern Tie-In by placing it in a location which provides protection for as many Plaquemines Parish residents and businesses as possible.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plaquemines Association of Business & Industry Board urges the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority—West, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, to complete the West Bank and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Levee Project, including the eastern tie-in by the authorized scheduled completion date of late 2011.
Michael M Bush, Chairman
Plaquemines Association of Business & Industry
