[StBernard] Grand Openings held at two St. Bernard Parish Fire Stations Tuesday

[Westley Annis]

Grand Openings held at two St. Bernard Parish Fire Stations Tuesday 

Ceremonies mark the completion of 9 of 10 fire stations rebuilt or
constructed since Katrina

 

Putting two fire stations in service today representing more than $3.7
million of construction is a good day for St. Bernard and its residents, St.
Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. said at grand openings for
both facilities on Tuesday that celebrated Growth and Recovery in St.
Bernard.

 

"With these projects we move one step closer to having all of our fire
stations completed," said Taffaro, standing among a crowd of FEMA and other
officials, including fire fighters eager to be able to offer better response
times to residents. "We celebrate these days because they are special, but
these station houses are a tribute to the dedication of our firefighters who
put service above themselves during Katrina and since then."

Fire Station No. 5, at 2000 E. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, was built by
Braithwaite Construction for a total construction cost of $1.7 million, paid
for with FEMA funds. Aegis Construction built Fire Station No. 6 at a total
construction cost of $2 million paid for with FEMA funds. Stuart Consulting
and Chase Design are the firms responsible for the design and engineering
for Fire Station No. 5 and Fire Station No. 6, located at 4119 E. Judge
Perez Drive, near Paul Drive in Meraux 

 

Fire Chief Thomas Stone said today's events mark progress of critical
emergency service for residents, especially at Fire Station No. 6 in the
heart of Meraux, where there was no temporary fire station during
construction. The original station at Paul Drive took on more than 15 feet
of flood waters and was destroyed by a tornado. This will mark a dramatic
increase in service and response time for that area, Stone said.

 

"When I sat on Santa's lap, I said I wanted to open two more fires stations
before the end of the year, and I got my wish," Stone said.

 

Council Chairman Wayne Landry said he wanted to thank the people of America
for supporting St. Bernard's recovery because all of these projects are due
to the support of FEMA funding. 

"Not only will St. Bernard have all new fire stations when we open the last
one, we now have new levees, and by March of 2012, we will have a new
hospital" with the help of a variety of governmental funding sources, said
Landry, who also serves as chairman of the St. Bernard Hospital Service
District.

 

Andre Cadogan, FEMA Deputy Director of Programs for the Louisiana
Transitional Recovery Office, said he was proud of FEMA's role in the
projects and promised continued cooperation with local officials on the
remaining recovery projects.

 

"I can think of no more fitting way to end 2010 than to emphasize these
milestones of the recovery," Cadogan said.

 

At the ceremonies, Taffaro thanked all the partners that came together to
complete these projects, including FEMA and the Governor's Office of
Homeland Security. Additionally, he thanked his Chief Administrative Officer
David Dysart, Recovery Director Michael Dorris, Jr. and his staff and the
Public Works Department that was led by Logan Martin, 44, until his untimely
death on Dec. 24. Taffaro asked for a moment of silence at the second
ceremony. 

 

"Logan was not one to want to be front and center, but he worked behind the
scenes to make sure these days happened," Taffaro said. 

 

Craig Landry is the CDM project manager for both of the fire stations, and
Dennis Tauzin is the overall project manager for CDM, which provides
oversight for all FEMA-funded projects. Gil Carlin of the St. Bernard Parish
Department of Public Works is the project manager and resident inspector for
both of the fire stations.

 

These are the seven St. Bernard Fire Stations that were completed before
today's two stations: Station No. 1 on Aycock Street in Arabi, Station No. 2
on West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, Station No. 3, known as Central station
at Packenham Drive in Chalmette, Station No. 7 in Violet, Station No. 10 on
Bayou Road in Verrett, Station No. 11 in Yscloskey and Station No. 12 in
Delacroix Island. The final one, Station No. 8 in Poydras, is operating out
of temporary quarters, while construction in being wrapped up.

 

For more information about Recovery and Growth in St. Bernard Parish, visit
our website at www.sbpg.net
<https://mail.sbpg.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sbpg.net/> .

 

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