By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / February 24, 1999

HAHNVILLE – A Tulane University geology professor told the St. CharlesParish Council its West Bank hurricane protection levee proposal, pushed by Parish President Chris Tregre, is poorly designed and doomed to failure.

Barry Kohl, adjunct professor of geology, addressed the council at the end of its meeting Monday. Tregre, trying to interject his response as themeeting abruptly concluded, said Kohl “grossly misled the public” regarding the proposed project.

On Dec. 9 Kohl also spoke on the project at a town hall meeting held atHahnville High School and said he wanted to see technical information assembled on the project by engineering firm Shread-Kuyrkendall and Associates of Baton Rouge.

He reviewed the data and determined the 150-foot levee foot was too narrow for levee standard; the design does not meet U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers standards; that the borrow canal along a 2.5-mile section of thelevee is too near a high-pressure gas line, and that settling of the levee could rupture the line; and that the soil itself is too unstable and liable to costly maintenance.

His suggestions were to move the levee site to higher ground, using a broad enough right-of-way to stabilize it, use Corps standards and enclose only the currently developed areas.

As the council meeting was being halted for its self-imposed 10 p.m.curfew, Tregre was kept from objecting further.

In other business, the council voted a strong letter of objection against a barge fleeting operation proposed by Herbert D. Hughes Estate Trust. Thefleeting operation is planned for the area of batture surrounding Brown’s Curve at Ormond Plantation House.

Lt. Cmdr. Robert Garrott of the U.S. Coast Guard and Roger Swindler of theCorps of Engineers attended as well to hear the public comments and, after the public hearing, Swindler announced that written comments will be accepted by his office through March 5.

A host of east bank residents voiced their objections to the barge fleeting proposal, which would permit up to 144 barges to be parked, moved and shifted across the levee from a 200-year-old plantation.

Joey Murray of Destrehan suggested instead that the parish purchase the property and develop a river overlook in conjunction with the bicycle path under development through there.

“I don’t own the property and don’t stand to gain from it,” Murray declared.

Dee Abadie of Destrehan likewise said so many barges added to the area “could be a monumental disaster.”Wayne Gaupp, who owns a section of batture in the area, commented, “I don’t see anything positive here. Who’s going to take responsibility forwhat happens to us?” Steve Wilson of Red Church Subdivision offered a 2-inch stack of accident reports on the river between St. Rose and Norco since 1994 to indicate thehazards of the area.

Jim Fazino, president of Ormond Civic Association, commented the noise and lights are quite noticeable at night. Henry Baudoin of Destrehanrecalled an instance where a broadcast using foul language bled into the public-address system at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church duringMass.

The Corps will make the determination on the permit application following the end of the public comment period, Swindler said.

In other activity, the council recognized Black History Month by honoring African-American public officials.

Recognized and presented with plaques were Justice of the Peace Aleshia Smith, Constable Rose LeGaux, School Board Member Alfred Green, Constable James Eugene, School Board Member John L. Smith, ParishCouncilman Ellis Alexander and Parish Councilman Curtis Johnson Sr.

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