[StBernard] Bobby Cozies Up to Out-of-State Landfill Developer

[Westley Annis]

Jindal gets Colo. help

Landfill company, allies donate $50,000 to campaign

By JORDAN BLUM <mailto:jblum at theadvocate.com> 
Advocate Capitol News Bureau 
Published: Oct 13, 2007 - Page: 1A 

A Colorado-based company is making a new push to open a landfill near Alsen,
and the group donated heavily to U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal's campaign for
governor.

Jindal received a total of $50,000 from supporters in Littleton, Colo. - all
on Monday.

Littleton-based Louisiana Land Systems is currently applying for an
industrial waste landfill permit. The contributors are from allied
businesses, their executives, and family members of the executives,
according to campaign records.

Members of the Alsen community in north Baton Rouge and then-state Rep. Kip
Holden, now mayor, were among those who fought a previous attempt to open
the landfill. The state Department of Environmental Quality denied the
permit in December 2000 because of a failure to show "genuine demand."

The landfill site is at the end of Brooklawn Drive, just west of Scenic
Highway, according to DEQ records.

Alsen resident Juanita Stewart of the Concerned Citizens of North Baton
Rouge said she was "somewhat surprised" to learn the Colorado company was
trying again.

"We're certainly going to fight them," Stewart said. "We fought them in
2000, and we'll do it again."

Stewart said she is aware of community efforts from Louisiana Land to win
public support.

Already near Alsen are the Ronaldson Field construction landfill and the
PetroProcessors Superfund hazardous waste sites.

Jindal refused comment on the story. His spokeswoman Melissa Sellers said
Jindal never discussed any landfill project when he spoke with the donors.

Jindal and the Colorado group discussed only how outside states can help
Louisiana small businesses attract investors, Sellers said.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden did not return three detailed messages Thursday
and Friday.

The Jindal campaign contributions were led by Earnest and Valerie Mathis of
Littleton, Colo.

Earnest Mathis is listed as the president of Louisiana Land Systems,
although he was not in charge in 2000. He gave the maximum-allowed $5,000 to
Jindal, and Valerie Mathis gave $2,500.

Mathis also is a principle with Inverness Investment and Mathis Partners,
both of which share the same Littleton address with Louisiana Land Systems.

Louisiana Land, Inverness and Mathis Partners each gave $5,000 to Jindal.

Louisiana Land Systems Vice President Gordon Burr gave $5,000 to Jindal,
Kaja Sceery-Burr gave $5,000, and Inverness principle Robert Lazzeri also
gave $5,000.

Another $12,500 came from Littleton attorney Randall Taylor and his family,
Patricia and Lee Taylor.

In a phone interview, Earnest Mathis said the landfill project and the
donations are unrelated.

"I don't think he (Jindal) would be able to help at all," Mathis said about
the landfill. "We really need to get the local and community support."

Mathis said they are investing in community service and school tutorials in
Alsen.

Mathis said he appreciates Jindal's "good leadership" and that he also is
interested in new-market tax credits to assist with the post-Hurricane
Katrina rebuilding process.

When reached by phone at his home, Randall Taylor said he is supporting
Jindal because he is a lifelong Republican who believes Jindal can "help
carry Louisiana."

Taylor then abruptly hung up the phone while being asked if he was linked to
the Littleton corporations.

In 2000, the sale of the landfill site from NPC Services to Louisiana Land
was contingent on the permit approval. The site was originally designed for
waste from nearby Superfund sites.

The current, pending permit was first submitted in November. DEQ is about to
send Louisiana Land its "third round of deficiencies" to ensure all the
necessary information is received before the permitting process can move
forward, said Darin Mann, DEQ spokesman.