[StBernard] MINUTES OF OPERATIONS BRIEFING - May 17

[Westley Annis]

MINUTES OF OPERATIONS BRIEFING
Monday May 17, 2006, 8:00 a.m.

Dave Peratla, Chief Administrative Officer presiding.              
Present: 30

Emergency Operations: Larry Ingargiola. Status Quo.            
Community Development:  Michael Hunnicutt.  

Public Works and Water and Sewer:  Chris Merkl
Curry, URG, reported demolition is continuing and picking up of debris,
increasing focus on white goods.
11 homes were demolished yesterday, 7 on tap for today, that may increase. 
Merkl reported the contract with URG will continue with a report on a weekly
basis. There are still some issues about prepping a home before it can be
demolished.  Reviewing the pilot program for the travel trailers that Junior
and Dave have to sign for project.
Water and Sewer: We got $5.5m for drain cleaning and are receiving money for
sewer. 
 
Recovery:  Dave Dysart.  
1. We are looking into moving to the Willy P. Smith School on June 1, 2006.
We are in the process of working on a memorandum of understanding between
St. Bernard Parish Government and St. Bernard Parish School Board, expected
to be signed by Friday. 
2. We are still short of kitchen supplies. Operations Blessing have provided
us with a mobile kitchen.  
We also have two water tanks that were donated from California and we are
going to ask Operations Blessing if they could get them moved here, we do
not have a way of getting them here. We also have some bunk-beds donated
from Florida.
3. Will be meeting with Merkl, we submitted a list last week on all of the
outstanding issues about the debris. We need to get some type of resolution
from Fema and the State for St. Bernard, Murphy oil spill and expanded area
this is for the AB Fund which the deadline is June 30th.
4. I have the volunteers going into the neighborhoods adding to our list of
homes that have been cleaned, demolished or untouched. This will give the
parish an idea of the numbers regarding taking any legal action against
those homes that owners have not expressed their intentions. Plus this will
let URG know an amount of debris that will need to be picked up.  

Public Assistance: 
Residential:  Craig Taffaro. Not present.

Business:  Charles Ponstein. 
1. We have some new business open now in the parish:  Auto Zone on Paris
Road, Meraux Furniture, Nails First & Spa, Chalmette C-Food & More (formerly
Crabby J's), The Tamale Shop and Whitney Bank.
2.  Buccaneer Villa Swim Club will have registration for new membership
Saturday, May 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dues are $500 for family and
$250 for individual per year.
3.  This evening is the Chamber of Commerce meeting at 4:00 p.m. at Nunez
College, membership is free this year. 

Volunteers:  Gidget McDougall. 
1. Asked if there was a list of businesses that will be demolished, Mike
said he thinks only 8 are on list to be demolished. The only way of knowing
is by address.  
2. Handed out a list of restaurants that are now open, the list is also on
our web site. 
3. Working on getting the volunteer hours from the Department of Recovery. 
4. We had a conference call with the State Office of Tourism about funds
that may be available to us.  	

Private Non-Profit: Judy Hoffmeister Not present. 
Agriculture/Wildlife and Fisheries:  Ricky Melerine. Not present. 
Dave said he is working with Melerine and Ponstein about looking at helping
the shrimp/fisherman to get a fish market open in the parish. This will
prevent the fishermen from having to unload the catch back into the water
because no one is purchasing them. This would also help due to lack of ice
in the parish. Brown shrimp season opened Monday. 
 
Lake Borgne Basin Levee District:  Bob Turner.  Not present.

Medical:  Dr. Bertucci. 
Medical Clinic Update: 
1. The clinic is seeing about 78 to 80 people each day. 
2. Expecting entry into the 22 K today.
  
EMS:  Janie Fuller.  Status quo.

Public Safety:  Sheriff=s Office. Pete Tafaro 
1. We are starting our survey at the EGG sites for the neighborhood watch
program.

Fire Department:   A.J. Seruntine     
1. Reported an arson fire on Paris Road at the Gulf Outlet Marine last
night, was able to put it out and reported no injuries.

CDC and DEQ:  Wayne Desselle. Not present.                     
EPA:  Not present.
 
Murphy Oil: Jim Wallwork
1. Household cleaned to date: 1,465 exteriors, 412 interiors, 87 yards have
been scrapped and 296,000 cubic yards of debris have been cleared.
Requested a copy of the parish hurricane evacuation plan.
                                             
Parish Government:   
Council:  Lynn Dean.  Not present.

Parks and Recreation:  John Metzler, Jr.  
1. We already have 95 children signed up for baseball.


Finance:  Geremie Loupe.  Not present.
Personnel:  Kevin Clark. Not present.
Insurance:  Mike Wiltz.  Not present.
Long Term Recovery:  Marvin LeBlanc. Not present.

General Information:
Next meeting scheduled for Friday, May 19, 2006, 8:00 a.m., in CAO's
conference room on the second floor of the Government Complex.