Parish Council renews opposition to coastal lawsuits

FRANKLIN — The day after a major settlement of coastal loss lawsuits was announced, the St. Mary Parish Council on Wednesday restated its opposition to such suits while also pressing for quick settlements when they’re available.
The council took no action on two other potentially touchy issues: two ordinances designed to increase Black representation on the council, and a residency waiver request by a woman who hopes to open a Sorrel bar.
Coastal suits
On Tuesday, Gov. Jeff Landry announced that the state had reached an agreement with Exxon to settle lawsuits alleging that the energy giant’s operations in Louisiana contributed to the loss of coastal land. More than such 40 lawsuits had been filed by parish governments against oil companies, pitting local governments and environmental interests against energy companies.
After a Plaquemines Parish jury awarded $744 million in one of those suits, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that those lawsuits belong in federal rather that state court.
Wednesday’s Parish Council resolution, passed after a short closed-door session, said the parish will “continue opposition to the filing of any coastal erosion/coastal permit, coastal zone management, or other similar lawsuits. …”
But the resolution also said the council decided “to urge, request, and authorize” 16th Judicial District Attorney M. Michael Haik to the offers “of any oil and gas companies requesting the settlement of coastal erosion/coastal permit, coastal zone management, or other similar claims which St. Mary Parish might have against them under the same or similar terms as such oil and gas companies have reached with other coastal parishes.”
Ordinances
Two proposed charter amendments introduced by Councilman J Ina of Franklin were on Wednesday’s agenda for passage votes. But the council delayed action because Ina was absent Wednesday.
Ina has long lobbied his colleagues on behalf of measures to increase minority representation. The parish’s population is about one-third Black, Ina has argued, while only two of 11 council districts have Black majorities.
One of the ordinances would limit voting in the three at-large council districts to residents of those districts. Currently, the three at-large council members are elected by parishwide votes.
Restricting District 9 voting to District 9 residents would give the district a Black majority, Ina has argued.
The second ordinance would open the council chairmanship and vice chairmanship to any council member. Currently, the parish charter limits those leadership posts to members from at-large districts.
Both ordinances would require voter approval, and the election would come after the Nov. 3 vote on a series of proposed charter revisions. One of those revisions would eliminate the three at-large districts.
Residency
Shayla Anderson hopes to open a bar at 300 Bosco Road, Sorrel, in a building owned by Columbia Talmore Jr.
Anderson, of Breaux Bridge, is seeking a variance from rules that require two years of residency in the state and six months in the parish before a liquor license may be issued.
Anderson noted that the variance decision has been delayed since at least April. She brought petitions she said represent unanimous support from neighbors.
Talmore said he’s losing “a couple of thousand” in rent per month while his property remains unoccupied.
Latarsha Charles, whose mother lives in the neighborhood near the proposed bar, spoke in opposition. She said the business’ small parking lot means cars will be parked along a narrow road or in nearby yards. She pointed to one incident in which a parked car tore up a yard.
Many older people live in that neighborhood, Charles said.
In the end, the council put off action on the variance request. Councilman the Rev. Craig Mathews, whose District 1 includes the Bosco Road site, was absent for the first part of the meeting.