[StBernard] St. Bernard To Start Repairing Government Building

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard To Start Repairing Government Building

January 17 , 2006

By: Steve Cannizaro


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The St. Bernard Parish Council voted Tuesday to ask the administration to
start rebuilding the now gutted Council Chambers and the rest of the first
floor of the parish government building at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive in
Chalmette.

Officials had been hoping the federal government would cover the cost of a
new building to replace its storm-damaged government complex but FEMA says
the two-story building sustained only 20 percent damage and will reimburse
the parish an estimated $2.5 million for reapirs.

Council member Joseph DiFatta Jr. said there are no estimates on what it
would cost to repair the mid-1970s building.

The building's first floor has been gutted and the second-floor offices were
undamaged in the storm except for wind damage to windows.

"Once they put the glass in, we can start using it,'' DiFatta said.

Officials said glass vendors will be there next week to give prices to
replace the glass windows and doors. The wall behind the council dais in the
council meeting room also will be replaced so the massive room can be
sealed.

Chief Administrative Officer Danny Menesses also told the council FEMA won't
build a new Civic Center, but will cover repairs. The building, the
Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, next to the government building, sustained
an estimated $1 million in damage. The parish already is moving to repair
the structure's roof.