Coastal authority holds first meeting
Published 11:07 am Friday, March 1, 2013
The Chenier Plain Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority met for the first time on Thursday to discuss projects that state coastal officials have planned for Southwest Louisiana.
The group — made up of three members from Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion parishes — met at the Vermilion Parish Police Jury Room in Abbeville.
Kay Barnett, who represents Calcasieu Parish, said the authority heard from state Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, R-Jennings, and officials with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office and the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. She said CPRA officials briefed the group on “starting from scratch.”
“We’re going to function like a levee board,” Barnett said. “At some point, we will have the authority to levee a tax that would have to be passed by voters. We are an authority, so now we have to develop and begin our work.”
Laurie Cormier, assistant planner and coastal zone manager for the Calcasieu Police Jury, said the meeting “was a historic day for Southwest Louisiana.”
“We were left out of the loop for so long,” she said. “It’s the first time we have some skin in the game. Now we can push for projects and dollars that will help what’s important in our area.”
District 6 Calcasieu Police Juror Dennis Scott, the parish’s coastal liaison, said the board will also work to ensure projects listed in the CPRA’s 50-year, $50 billion coastal restoration master plan are carried out. The plan calls for protecting Lake Charles from a 500-year flood event.
“It won’t be so fractured between the parishes,” Scott said. “It’s just a great time to know that we as three parishes are working together across tables for the same thing. Now we have one clear voice from Southwest Louisiana.”
Steve Trahan of Cameron Parish was elected chairman of the authority. Earl Landry of Vermilion Parish was named vice chairman, and Janet Woolman was named secretary-treasurer. Other members: Ossie Norton from Calcasieu Parish; Ryan Bourriaque and Phillip Trosclair from Cameron Parish; and Al Vidrine and Skie Sagrera from Vermilion Parish.
The authority will meet on the third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for March 19 in Calcasieu Parish. Cormier said the location has not yet been determined.
(American Press Archives)
