LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / August 30, 1999

HAHNVILLE – New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial’s first visit to St. CharlesParish in 15 years was an occasion for two governments to unite in a common purpose. Morial came to endorse funding a St. Charles Parish studyon the effects of a new north-south runway on parish residents.

Morial commented, “We’ve been discussing for a number of years how New Orleans International Airport can work more closely with St. CharlesParish leadership toward common objectives.”The mayor’s remarks came at Tuesday’s meeting of the Parish Council’s Public Safety, Health and Environmental Committee, chaired by Curtis Johnson Sr.

New Orleans Aviation Board chairman, retired Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Revius Ortique Jr., said this action will move intergovernmentalrelations “in a new, positive direction.”He added, “Nothing can be done unless there is cooperation.”The meeting itself was generated by a resolution approved by the Parish Council at its Aug. 2 meeting, opposing regionalization of the airport byremoving it from the present supervisory governments and expanding that to a regional authority.

Ortique said he has been assured the Federal Aviation Administration has told him “New Orleans Airport is the airport of the future” and there would be no other new regional airport developed.

“If it’s true, we want to make sure it works well for all our parishes,” he noted.

This spirit of cooperation is not only aimed at airport development, but also on development of the southeast Louisiana segment of a new high- speed railroad between Pensacola, Fla., and Houston, Texas, which wouldnecessarily pass through St. Charles Parish.”We need a plan ready within 12 to 18 months,” he continued. “You areright in the apex of a movement which you cannot avoid, and we want you to be partners with us.”Councilman Brian Champagne, who supports airport regionalization and opposes a new north-south runway which would possibly disturb Ama residents, complained this was the first time he was aware of the railway project and added, “We seem to be just getting the brief of your plans in progress.”Champagne asked as well, “How are you going to change the hearts and minds of the people of St. Charles Parish?”Morial rebutted Champagne, saying that since the airport’s east-west runway expanded into St. Charles Parish the parish has had one of nineseats on the aviation board. Regionalization would further dilute theparish’s voting strength on the board.

Morial pointed out that despite the impact of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway on the city of New Orleans, the city does not have representation on the Causeway Commission.

“I don’t think we want to turn into lobbyists,” the mayor told Champagne of a possible effect of regionalization.

Champage pointed out the airport is totally land-locked and, with nowhere physically possible to expand except in to St. Charles Parish, that the cityshould be looking for a totally new site. “NOIA has expanded to itsboarders, and the FAA assured us they wouldn’t expropriate.”Ortique put in, “You make the study and tell us what we ought to be doing.”

Return To News Stories