Livingston Parish officials outlined ongoing public safety efforts, infrastructure improvements, and plans for responsible growth during an Aug. 12 gathering at Forest Grove Plantation, where Parish President Randy Delatte announced several upcoming and recently completed projects.
The event opened with an invocation by Justin Barksdale, a member of the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. Louisiana Sen. Valerie Hodges led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Brad Holleman, senior vice president and geospatial division leader for Forte & Tablada, then spoke about the “honor” of being able to “serve the communities” and “contribute our part to making Livingston Parish a success.”
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard was the next speaker, highlighting the Sheriff’s Office’s efforts to fight crime. Ard cited the department’s latest drug seizure as one example of its work to protect the parish.
“800 pounds, 360 kilos of methamphetamine. I think it’s like 8 to 10 million dollars street value,” Ard said. “Thinking about all that, I think about one thing. You know how many lives we just saved?”
“Unfortunately, we have a drug use problem [in Livingston Parish]. Everybody in this room, you know, because either you, personally, have a family member or a close friend… that has had to deal with some type of addiction,” Ard continued. “We’re on the front lines every day fighting that.”
Ard also discussed the arrests of individuals accused of stealing approximately 3,400 pounds of copper wire from AT&T, which he said cost the corporation $300,000.
Ard also cited the continued work of the Internet Crimes Against Children unit to protect local children from online predators.
“We have arrested over 200 individuals that have tried to exploit our children. 70% of them are not from here,” Ard said. “Now the [detectives] are having a tough time [getting the predators to self-incriminate] because as soon as they figure out they’re talking to somebody from Livingston Parish, they don’t want none of that… and that’s what we want. We don’t want [predators] in this parish.”
Following Ard’s remarks, state Rep. Kellee Hennessy Dickerson thanked several attendees for their work in the parish.
“We had a rough year but a positive year in the capital, and we tried to do more with less,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson acknowledged Hodges for her efforts to secure funding for projects throughout the parish, adding that “she gave with all of her heart and made that difference to constantly give.”
Dickerson said officials working at the administrative and governmental levels often ask, “How can we leave [Louisiana] better? How can we make a difference?”
She said they are often able to make progress because “we try to find ways, we try to think out of the box, we try to pick up the phone, or we try to roll up our sleeves and get it done… we help because we care.”
Dickerson then recognized “those of you who care with all of your heart,” including first responders, elected officials, assessors, and “everybody who comes together to make a difference.”
“We are so much more alike than different,” Dickerson concluded. “We are all the same hearts.”
State Rep. Roger Wilder began his remarks by providing updates on several parish projects.
The Cook Road Extension, which was recently declared complete and opened to the public, was the first project Wilder highlighted.
Wilder next discussed the widening of Juban Road, noting that the project is “currently over 95% complete, probably closer to 97%.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” Wilder added.
About three miles east of Livingston, work is underway to expand the final two I-12 bridges in Livingston Parish that are not three lanes.
Wilder said, “materials are mobilizing, project’s funded, work has begun… and we’ve already turned our attention to the 11 miles left on that stretch of road that is not three lanes.”
Wilder also discussed the project to widen portions of Highway 447, emphasizing the work of “two senators, four House representatives, the sheriff, a parish president, and the mayor of Walker” in securing the funding needed to begin and continue the project.
“As you can tell, there’s a lot happening with infrastructure in our parish,” Wilder concluded, “but we’re not stopping here. We’re catching up with the past, we’re working on things now, and we’re planning for the future.”
Delatte was the final speaker, providing an update on the state of the parish and outlining projects expected to have a major impact on the area.
Delatte began by addressing the importance of “responsible growth” to Livingston Parish’s future.
“Families want to live here, businesses want to invest here… but growth brings new challenges,” Delatte said. “Growth without planning can change the character and quality of life that communities… enjoy in the first place.”
Delatte said one way to encourage responsible growth is through the creation of parishwide zoning maps, which would give “our parish a framework to better plan for different types of development” without sacrificing the structural integrity or safety of surrounding infrastructure and neighborhoods.
“We have to find the right balance between protecting property rights and protecting the families and communities that are already here,” Delatte added. “Our responsibility is to make sure that we grow the right way.”
Another project Delatte highlighted was the $80 million road improvement program focused on rebuilding parish roads. Delatte said that, by the end of his first term as parish president, the program is “on track to have completed well over 100 million in parish road improvements.”
Delatte also said that the Public Works Department has completed more than 97 miles of roadside ditching and more than 142 miles of lateral ditching this year.
The parish now has a comprehensive, parishwide Drainage Master Plan that is used to “identify problems, prioritize projects, and make decisions based on where an investment can provide the greatest benefit,” Delatte said.
Livingston Parish currently has a Class 7 rating through FEMA’s Community Rating System, providing policyholders with a 15% discount on flood insurance. Delatte said the parish will work toward earning a Class 5 rating, which would provide a 25% discount.
Delatte said the parish’s current FEMA flood maps list more than 20,000 homes as being located in a flood zone, requiring those homeowners to pay for flood insurance. Revising the parish’s flood maps could take up to six months and cost $900,000, he said, but the potential savings for residents would make the effort worthwhile.
Delatte then announced that the parish has received a permit to dredge a large portion of the Amite River. The project would remove 3 million tons of sediment and help restore the river’s capacity.
“I really, really believe… that we’re gonna bid this out in the next two months… and that this is going to be a phenomenal benefit for flood protection,” Delatte said.
Delatte closed his address by discussing progress in the parish’s litter abatement efforts, the creation of a new parish animal shelter, and the work of the parish’s opioid mitigation program.
The program has focused on “prevention, education, treatment, recovery, and access to Narcan… doing everything we can to keep another family from losing someone they love,” Delatte said.
