[StBernard] NOLA article

[Westley Annis]

Thanks for the info Craig and clarification.
 
However recall how the article was written...Ass't D.A. Glen Diaz...historic
trees...etc., etc
 
I think you can probably gather by the hue and cry on this listserv that
anything that smacks of our "old politics" is gonna be looked at very
closely by the populace.  We simply can't afford to go back to the old ways
of doing things.
 
Jim York


 


	OK for anyone interested,
	
	The issue of the portion of the back levee that is just west of
Verrett is
	this- the Corps of Engineers was authorized to bring the 40 arpent
levee
	system up to 10 feet and have done so for the vast majority of the
levee
	system. The portion of the levee that is in question is part of a
levee
	alingnment drawn back in the mid 1960's. During that time, the
community of
	Verrett was "reportedly" drawn out of the protection. Now, when the
issue
	was brought to the council as a need by the Corps to commendere the
property
	to complete the project, it was discovered that the ground in
question was
	debatable as a road or a levee- whichever it is is really irrelavant
because
	the question to the Corps was in terms of the standard that was
being used
	to complete this project. Much of the levee or road is at or above
the ten
	feet currently, but the proper slope to the levee was not correct-
keep in
	mind that it was argued by the corps and Lake Borgne that it was a
levee all
	along- but not one built to proper standards- sounds very familiar.
Anyway-
	the Corps admitted that the project would not be completed to a
standard
	that would be accepted into their system because of the remaining
breeches
	such as Bayou Rd. splitting it, an culvert at the back of the levee
and a
	cana l that runs under it at the road way.
	
	Several particular points were involved in my position:
	1. Just about a quarter of a mile east of the current alignment
exists
	another opportunity to close the back levee system- a first glance
there was
	a off the cuff estimate that it would take somewhere between 800k
and 1
	million dollars to tie that portion in- after further preliminary
survey,
	it will likely be substantially less- keep in mind that the portion
of the
	project in question would likely run 200 - 300K and would leave tree
debris
	behind for the Lake Borgen crews to deal with (although the Corps
did
	verbally acquiesce and agree to handle the debris.
	
	2. To intentionally cut the community of Verrett out of the
protection
	again seemed to be a step backwards in today's inclusive
envrionment.
	
	3. Tress are great landscape and serve an important role in the wind
	barriers when placed in large collections, but if there is a tree in
the wa y
	of protecting human life, there is not a question of the human life
taking
	priority.
	
	4. The council further requested immediate action by the Corps to
	reallocate the authorized funds to assist in the re-alignment
process for
	the alternate site.
	
	5. Additionally, the levee in question would have left a need to
flood
	fight that area as well and would require assistance from the local
	government, even had the project gone forward. Why spend money on a
project
	that is substandard and non-inclusive when an opportunity exists to
do it
	right.
	
	Hope this helps clarify the issue a little more; if you're not
interested in
	this one, be patient there is bound to be another decision that will
offer
	ample material for review. That is what makes the democratic process
work.
	
	Good luck and God Bless,
	Craig