Drainage district hears about flood control progress; challenges remain

Members of the drainage district serving Morgan City heard about progress on pump station upgrades designed to prevent the flooding that damaged more than 300 homes during Hurricane Francine.
But lean times may still be ahead for Consolidated Gravity District No. 2A as another hurricane season approaches and a key property tax election looms.
After the Francine flooding, Parish President Sam Jones obtained $14 million in Coastal Protection and Restoration funding for the pump stations and related work.
The bidding, billing and other administrative tasks went to the St. Mary Parish Levee District. Director Tim Matte gave a progress report at Tuesday’s meeting.
Aside from work on infrastructure leading to or from the stations, the first significant work seems likely to occur at Pump Station 4 in the Marquis Manor area. Bids are out and due to be accepted April 29.
Matte believes work on Pump Station 9 near Lake Palourde will follow the work on No. 4. The station has room for eight pumps but had only four. The upgrade includes equipping the station with all eight pumps.
Next, Matte said, will probably come Pump Station No. 8 in the Siracusa area. The fourth is No. 6 near the Central Fire Station, which should be helped by the work on No. 9.
As for the cost, “once we get a price on [Pump Station] 4, we’ll have a good idea of what the costs may be,” Matte said.
Jones attended the meeting and asked the commissioners to consider a 50-year master plan. The president has said at Parish Council meetings that planning, including maintenance and repair, could avoid a repeat of the problems with the pump stations that occurred during Francine.
Chairman Charlie Solar told Jones that he agrees a plan is needed. But he also said the district has been set back by the need to pay more than $200,000 for rental pumps.
“We want a 50-year plan,” Solar said. “We don’t have the money.”
“I can get the money,” Jones replied.
“Then get us some money,” Solar said.
In what looks like a gauge of public faith in the district, a 2.79-mill property tax renewal is on the May 3 ballot in 10 precincts, 35-44. (See related story.)