[StBernard] Latest Press Release from the Parish

[Westley Annis]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:  steve cannizaro

St. Bernard Parish Government

Public Information Officer

 

504.278.4221 OR 504.259.3395 

 

September 29, 2005; 8:00 PM CST

 

St. Bernard needs help to meet payroll; plans proceed for insurance adjuster
area; death toll from Katrina at 107; and Murphy lists phone number for oil
leak problem

 

St. Bernard Parish is facing financial disaster heaped upon storm disaster
because of no tax revenue coming in, and several agencies need an immediate
infusion of cash from the federal or state government, according to Parish
President Henry "Junior" Rodriguez.

 

Despite efforts to re-build the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged St. Bernard
Parish, Rodriguez said he will feel like a captain on a sinking ship unless
the government approves massive spending to cover the payroll of several
agencies soon to be without tax revenue.

 

The parish is fighting for its economic life, Rodriguez said, contending the
Sheriff's Office and Levee Board all face the same imminent payroll problem.
Public school officials have already told teachers they won't be paid beyond
Oct. 1.

 

"Our tax base is gone.  We only have enough money for two more months of
payroll at best," Rodriguez said.  St. Bernard Parish normally has an annual
budget of about $55 million.

 

He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, only pays overtime
costs but not basic pay of public employees in disaster situations.

 

Rodriguez said he is hopeful the state's Congressional delegation and state
legislative delegation can help, but said, "Time is getting short.  Someone
has to resolve the problem" or parish workers will be laid off and
government won't be able to provide services.  "They have to come up with
money."

 

St. Bernard residents should demand help from their congressman, U.S. Rep.
Charles Melancon, their U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, and
the senators and congressmen in the areas where they presently live outside
St. Bernard.

 

Also, progress has been made on a proposal to provide a centralized area in
Chalmette for insurance adjusters to live and meet with returning parish
residents.

 

Rodriguez, Council Chairman Joseph DiFatta, and Council member Craig Taffaro
Jr. met Wednesday in Belle Chasse with state Insurance Commissioner Robert
Wooley, insurance officials, and Plaquemines Parish leaders.

 

The tentative plan is to open a facility in the parking lot of the new
Wal-Mart in Chalmette, possibly by Monday of next week, officials said.

 

St. Bernard officials have said insurance adjusters should already be coming
to the parish to meet with residents now that all parts of the parish are
open.

 

Also, the death toll from Katrina in St. Bernard Parish has been revised to
107 by Coroner Dr. Bryan Bertucci, who said several of the victims were
discovered by returning family members in the past few days.  Most of the
victims haven't been positively identified, he said.

 

Also, Murphy Oil USA in Meraux has announced a phone number for residents
affected by an oil leak that happened during Hurricane Katrina when a
storage tank was damaged.  Residents may call 1-877-511-1006.

 

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