Kinder welcomed several congressional leaders and representatives to its council meeting Monday night, March 1, as well as other key players associated with the cleanup process that has been ongoing since the hurricanes in September and October of 2020. (Laura, one of the strongest hurricanes in terms of wind speed to make landfall in Louisiana since 1856 hit on August 27, 2020 as a Category 4, and Hurricane Delta, a Category 2, hit the coast on October 9, 2020.)
Repairing and clearing away the damage caused by the hurricanes were discussed as the council received updates and Mayor Wayland LaFargue thanked our congressional representatives for assisting Kinder with securing federal help. LaFargue said he contacted them for assistance with securing funding, etc. for the area.
As a result of the work of leaders, the parish will receive a 90-10 percent cost share for the cleanup process with FEMA instead of the usual 75-25 percent. U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson joined the meeting virtually and said the process to secure this match was began with the Truman administration. It was completed by the Biden administration allowing the parish to participate in the 90-10 percent cost share for cleanup. Johnson offered the assistance of Jerrie LeDoux, and said she was the energizer bunny for this area. The mayor said she always answered when they called.
Representative DeWith Carrier told the council Senator Heather Cloud, who was in Baton Rouge at the time of this meeting, was the brains and he served as the muscle. He said the legislative session would be starting on April 13, and he would have several local bills. One of the things he planned on visiting was the way capital outlay money was distributed. He hopes to restructure the committee and the way dollars are awarded.
Recently, Carrier said he spoke to the governor about small communities and the difficulties they face when having to find 10 percent in their budgets to pay for cleanup. Without change and assistance, he said many of these communities would have to be taken over by the state to survive. He encouraged council members to contact him or Cloud with their concerns.
Other representatives offering assistance were Emily Stine with Senator John Kennedy’s office and David Allen with Cloud’s office. LaFargue thanked all for their continued assistance.
Parker Cole, director of Safework CM of Baton Rouge, gave an update on the assessment underway of storm damage and drainage. Through the use of a drone and GPS coordinates, they are identifying where debris exists so the areas can be identified and cleared in less time and for fewer dollars.
“This drone can identify stuff really fast instead of having someone walking around, so we are going to be able to save a lot of time and save the town a lot of money with this drone,” Cole said.
Cole’s company is working with the Allen Parish Police Jury, Bayou Blue Drainage District and Kinder to help identify debris, its location and the clearing of it.
John Kropog, vice president of disaster recovery for Safework CM, was also present and explained how the process was saving dollars and time. He also explained for debris to be removed it had to be a threat to the health and safety of the public and/or the economic recovery of area property. He also is assisting Kinder in recovering the cost for debris removal and damage from the hurricane to its library, police station, city park, street signs and community center.
A recent meeting with FEMA indicated data and information gathering is coming to an end and the town should begin seeing action soon. He said the town could begin receiving reimbursements for disaster recovery within 30 to 69 days. He added the process was moving along and they may be able to meet “unmet” needs which can include generators, drainage improvements and other tools to prevent future damage.
In other business, the council:
•Also heard from Thomas Mayes on the drainage board.
•Added and approved technical changes to the language in its ordinance to refinance bonds and to pursue refinancing of $4.5 million in sewer bonds. Mike Busada, bond attorney with Butler Snow, was present. A special meeting will be held Monday, March 29, at 6 p.m. on this refinancing.
•Hired Taylor Jackson as an auxiliary police officer.
•Learned Rocky Fontenot, a detective, retired.
