[StBernard] JACOB DRIVE FIRE STATION

[Westley Annis]

OK Howard, et al,
This is the email that I sent to the council and parish president this
morning.  I agree it is important to let them know our opinion all
matters.   

Returning Regards,

Laura

-----Original Message-----
Gentlemen, 
    Good morning.  I'm writing this morning concerning the Jacob Drive
Fire station.  I'm hearing rumors about the your discussions with Murphy
Oil pertaining to the property and relocation of the fire station.  One
version would have the station located in Meraux, another was to locate
the station closer to Paris Road on St. Bernard Hwy and yet another is
to locate the station on property to be given to the parish by Murphy
Oil on Lena drive at Judge Perez.  What concerns me most is that I
haven't heard anything from the "Parish"... the "council"
.... You guys...on what you are discussing and considering in this
matter.  In fact, at the most recent Community Development Committee
meeting, that group was not aware of the Lena Drive scenario until Mr.
Dysart (one of Murphy Oil's lawyers) mentioned it.  I have to stress
that I am very concerned about my representation in this matter.  Am I
being represented???  If Kenny can't vote on this issue, then who would
be representing my position?  

If the station is relocated to Lena drive at Judge Perez, will it be
within the area that I understood was supposed to be a buffer zone?  To
my understanding that was meant to be green space between Murphy and our
district to protect us from future errors by Murphy such as that which
caused the oil spill following Katrina.  Yet Murphy Oil is trying to use
up the buffer zone in various ways, including a new Laboratory and who
knows what else because they won't tell us their big plans.  You who are
supposed to be representing our interest as residents are not telling us
what you are considering, so whether my district representative can vote
on this issue or not doesn't matter.  If I don't know what's going on I
can't possibly take a position for it to be represented by anyone.  

Guys!!  What's going on???

On the subject of the Fire station issue... I would like it to be
located in the Lena area and feel that would be terrific coverage for
District C.  However, I would not like it to be placed within our
"buffer zone."  To my layman's mind, cemented streets and buildings
would not stem the flow of a possible oil spill.  The buildings would in
effect displace the area they cover causing a spill to be diverted into
other areas and the cement would provide clear passage for oil to flow
over and into adjourning areas.  I believe this can be seen in the flow
of the Katrina Spill.  The oil followed the avenue of least resistance,
which to a large extent was the streets and canals where the flow was
unimpeded.  

Here's an idea, how about Murphy Oil constructing a levee around their
plant starting at their current plant boundary line.  The levee should
be higher enough to contain all petroleum products within their plant
should they all spill at the same time.  Once that levee is constructed,
and we are guaranteed of containment, then we can discuss what is to be
done with the remainder of the buffer zone up to Lena drive.  


Laura Napolitano
Management Analyst (8.1.4) Civilian
Corporate Operations Department
SPAWAR Systems Center New Orleans
Commercial (504) 697-5539  DSN 647-5539
email:  laura.napolitano at navy.mil