[StBernard] Parish Operations Meeting Minutes

[Westley Annis]

MINUTES OF OPERATIONS BRIEFING
Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 8:00 a.m.

Craig Taffaro, Councilman District D, presiding.
Present:  35

Emergency Operations: Larry Ingargiola.  Not present.
Community Development:  Michael Hunnicutt.  Not present.

Public Works and Water and Sewer:  Chris Merkl
1.  Recognize Dave Curry, URG, for an update on debris clean-up.  Curry
stated that URG was ramping up crews, working through problems with the
number of monitors, some crews doing a great job and some were not; plan to
place good crews on top of other crews to address some of the problem areas.
On Monday crews picked up 10,400 cubic yards of debris and 581 white goods,
prior to that they hauled 8,000 cubic yards of debris and 6,238 white goods.
Merkl stated they were meeting concerning strategy and has asked Dysart to
assist and fill in for Commander Howl who has left, trying to reestablish
contacts and review avenues to resolve debris problems.  Noted that Murphy
Oil has never picked up white goods because it was never determined if they
needed to be de-conned or not.  Desselle stated they did not have to be
de-conned.  Merkl stated it was his understanding that white goods needed to
be hauled to a different site with a higher level of hazardous waste
material and consequently that is why it has not been done. FEMA was
restricting white goods pick-up.  Taffaro asked for the name of a specific
person with FEMA who said URG could not pick up white goods.  Merkl said he
would discuss the issue with Marion off-line.  Curry is working on the issue
with DEQ, EPA and FEMA.  Volume goal is 18,000-20,000 cubic yards per day at
the Paris Road site.  URG will be adding crews to handle the debris; will
max-out at 25,000 cubic yards per day.  Tuesday 12,400 cubic yards were
picked up and 518 white goods.  Meraux temporary storage site needs one more
night of work to clear that site, then raked and capped with top soil.

Recovery:  David Dysart
1.  New Parish provided telephone number is 504-874-1205.  
2.  In process of revamping volunteers after Easter holiday should have
800-1,000 volunteers next week.
3.  In process of deciding whether we can move into the Manor or
temporarily/full time move into the school.  Received approval from the
Archdiocese for the Manor. Received approval from LA Housing and Finance but
HUD is saying that facility is strictly for the elderly so he can house all
the elderly volunteers he wants at that facility.  Mike Bayham is in
Washington and hopefully he will receive approval for the change on that
rule.  
4.  Working with Merkl to resolve the debris pick-up in the Murphy Oil
footprint.

Public Assistance: 
Residential:  Craig Taffaro
Business:  Charles Ponstein
1.  Advance Auto Parts opened; hours are 7:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday
and 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Private Non-Profit:  Judy Hoffmeister.  Not present.
Volunteer:  Gidget McDougall
1.  Continue collecting volunteer hours and trying to determine the value of
those hours.
2.  Katrina Cottage needs electricity for A/C.
3.  Reminder: Art in April Festival is next Saturday, April 29.

Agriculture/Wildlife and Fisheries:  Ricky Melerine.  Not present.

Lake Borgne Basin Levee District:  Bob Turner
1.   Meeting at the Corps yesterday regarding canal work, he did not attend
due to a surprise levee inspection by the Corps.  Starting work on the
eleven choke points in canals. NRCS is performing damage assessments,
confirmed depth of sediments he has reported all along.  Problem is work is
75/25 match, will need to seek funding from State level.
2.  Levee work is on schedule.
3.  Bayou Dupre structure is nearing completion, plan for 9:00 a.m. to start
the generator and try the locks tomorrow.
4.  New requirements for LBBLD, must submit written reports to the Corps
regarding levees.
5.  There is a bill presently in the legislature mandating a profile of all
levees annually.  The problem he has is there are 60 miles of levees in St.
Bernard and not enough personnel.
6.  Taffaro inquired to the present percentage of drainage capacity in St.
Bernard.  Turner answered we are presently at 2” inches during the first
hour and ½ - 1” inch after that considering no snags or problems with debris
in grates.  Pre Katrina our capacity was 2” inches within the first hour and
1 ½ -2” inches there after.

Medical:  Dr. Bertucci
1.  Patients seen at medical clinic: Monday 99; Tuesday 70+.
2.  Ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the 22K facility,
but cannot access facility.
3.  Tele conference with Public Health trying to set up committee to meet
with LRA.
4.  Paysse is going to go over some problems we are having with denied
access to the 22K facility.  The medical staff cannot access the facility
until an agreement is signed by Parish Government and FEMA.  Marion
delivered a fax on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. of a draft agreement from
FEMA.  Originally we were told we could move into the facility on April 1,
now that has been changed to May 1.  In essence FEMA has created a crisis
where there never needed to be a crisis.

EMS:  Janie Fuller.  Status quo.

Public Safety:  Sheriff’s Office.  Not present.

Military: Mark Paxton
1.  Representing the LRA, working with the grant writing program, organizing
a one day workshop for basic grant writing, funding sources and things of
that nature at the AFO in Algiers.

Fire Department:  Armand Buuck.  Status quo.
1.  Cleaned up outside of the 22K facility last night for ribbon cutting
ceremony.

Environmental Issues: 
CDC and DEQ:  Wayne Desselle
1.  Bad news on vehicle removal: FEMA has thrown out the bidder because they
could not produce a performance bond in time, therefore, they will have to
re-bid that project.  Taffaro inquired for clarification that St. Bernard
Parish Government could follow the regular towing procedures and DEQ will
not stop the process.  Desselle confirmed stating especially if it was a
health and safety issue.
2.  Regarding the Murphy expanded footprint of oil and debris removal, met
with Martin and Bonura, seems that FEMA originally stated that DEQ and EPA
would have to certify there was no oil in the debris before removal but
there seems to be a bit of movement and they are modifying their position to
work that issue out; expecting official word later today. 
3.  Vessel removal by the Coast Guard is moving well, still have a couple of
boats down there.
4.  Taffaro inquired about DEQ office allowing opportunity to receive
letters of objection for the Newport Landfill/the intention to grant a
permit for a landfill on our side of the MRGO.  Desselle stated that it was
an expedited procedure, not a normal process and he was not sure.  One issue
in old Gentily was they were afraid that if they loaded that area up, the
extra load would cause slippage and cause the levee to fall down.  That is a
potential problem, how close will that be sited to the levee.  He will find
out about public hearings or objections by the Parish.

EPA: Not present.
Murphy Oil Spill update:  Matt Dobson. 
1.  Status quo.
2.  Households cleaned to date: 1,319 exteriors, 328 interiors, 66 yards
were scrapped, 265,000 cubic yards of debris were cleared and no white goods
were picked up to date!

Parish Government:  Danny Menesses
Council:  Lynn Dean
Parks and Recreation:  John Metzler, Jr.  Not present.
Finance:  Geremie Loupe.  Not present.
Personnel:  Kevin Clark. Not present.
Insurance:  Mike Wiltz.  Not present.
Long Term Recovery:  V.J. Dauterive.  Not present.
General Information:
Next meeting scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2006 at 8:00 a.m.