Lafourche Parish Facts And Opinions

FACTS:

The definition of confidential, used as an adjective is, Known only to a select few.
SYNONYMS:private; closet; hushed;inside

OPINIONS:

The state of Louisiana Board of Ethics strive towards confidentiality when considering cases submitted to the board for consideration.  In my opinion, when the Lafourche Parish District Attorney was questioned by the media concerning Lafourche Parish DPW Director and public equipment loaned out to family members, his response may have been, I am looking into it.  Instead, in my opinion, the D.A. told the whole region that he placed the matter on the backs of the Ethics Board (confidential?).
                              1.Will the board consider the case now that it is not so confidential?
                              2.Was this strategy planned?
                              3.If it wasn’t planned, was it a deficiency in alertness or activity?

For related information, visit —- http://thepublicsrighttoknow.blogspot.com/

FACTS:

The Lafourche Parish District Attorney, Cam Morvant, arranged to hold information meetings (classes) on Louisiana ethics laws.  He sent out notifications informing Lafourche Parish elected officials, public board members, and public employees.

OPINIONS:

Please keep in mind, opinions issued by the State Attorney General and the Lafourche Parish District Attorney are not law.  I wonder why an unsolicited A.G. opinion on the installation of culverts, which will cost Lafourche Parish tax payers additional monies, went unchallenged.  I wonder why a requested opinion from the A.G. office on the legality of spending health money on the purchase of a building for the District Attorney, which will save tax payers money, is being challenged. 

Rather than wasting time and money on non-productive ethics laws, I wish that my “good friend” Cam Morvant would set up classes on improving money management skills.  In my opinion, this Lafourche Parish Government Administration is severely lacking in money management skills.  In my opinion, we as tax payers of Lafourche Parish deserve proper management of our taxes by the people we entrusted as public servants.

I wish that Lafourche First would have included good money management skills as one of their core values.  Of course, this group of elected officials do not live up to the three original core values.

Visit with us tomorrow, we may examine some of the Parish President’s comments made on KLRZ’s “Talk on the Bayou”.

FACTS:

The Lafourche Parish President was on June 28,2006 edition of Talk on the Bayou, hosted by Captain Kirk on radio station KLRZ.

OPINIONS:

The Parish President and Capt. Kirk discussed several issues.  Lafourche Parish is experiencing a severe rain shortage, a drought.  The Parish President voiced concern over the use of fire works in Lafourche Parish, over the 4th of July holidays, and rightfully so.  In my opinion, the Lafourche Parish Council should revoke the sale of fireworks until the drought is over.  Instead of preventing possible fire hazards, the Parish President chose to advise parents of the liabilities involved in damaging other people’s property.

In my opinion, the Parish President and her current husband George should take her advice and live up to their responsibility to the tax payers of Lafourche Parish.  In my opinion, George Randolph, a private citizen, wrecked a public vehicle which cost the tax payers over $17,000.00,  They are not living up to their responsibility.

The Lafourche Parish Council, less two members, agreed to pay the damages with tax payers money.  In my opinion, which is probably worth more than Cam Morvant’s opinions, the council, D.A., and Sheriff department are not living up to their responsibility to the Lafourche Parish tax payers.  Why should the not elected individual, Carl Chauvin, file suit in an attempt to have the Parish President and Parish Council obey state law?  Where is the Council’s legal adviser in this matter?

FACTS:

As a child growing up in the 1950’s, my biggest fear was of the ‘Boogie Man.”  Today, many citizens in America fear crime.  It appears that crime is escalating out of control.  Is there anything that can be done to rid America of its crime fright?

OPINIONS:

In my opinion, the crime rate in America could be lowered in a relatively short time, by replacing “The Bill of Rights” with a “Bill of Responsibilities”.

FACTS:

The Louisiana State Legislature recently concluded its Spring session for 2006.  Included in bills to be considered were:                 
        1.Band on Cock Fighting
        2.Band on Smoking in Restaurants
        3.Band on Public Employees Lending Public Property to Family Members
Bills of this type were considered while the Legislators’ constituents were focused on protection levees, insurance rates, and wet lands restoration.

OPINIONS:

In my opinion, former Governor Huey P. Long introduced a legislative black mail scheme that is still being used today.  Most of the funds in the state budget are dedicated, with the exceptions being health-care and education.  When the governor or legislators do not get their way,  it seems like they threaten to cut the only places they can, health-care and/or education.

A constitutional amendment by Louisiana State Senator Reggie Dupre , Jr. is scheduled for the September 2006 election.  If successful, the amendment would dedicate 100% of future O.C.S. revenues to coastal protection.  Why wasn’t a percentage of the revenues dedicated to health-care and education?

In my opinion, a few of  the Louisiana and Lafourche Parish elected officials are more concerned with finding work for connected engineers than they are for the welfare of the rest of their constituency.  Morality in Louisiana?

                                                 Louisiana, the nation is watching! 

FACTS:

An article written by Emilie Bahr in Wednesday, jUNE 21,2006 edition of the Daily Comet is about Parish President Charlotte Randolph’s Guest speaker appearence at a lunch meeting of the South Central Industrial Association.

OPINIONS:

According to the article, Ms. Randolph stated that she was in Washington last week and she learned that “we are certainly making headway.  But when we realize the amount of money that’s necessary, it’s important we look at the mechanism to gain those monies.”  Isn’t she amazing?  She also stated, speaking of her trip to the Netherlands, “perhaps the most important lesson I learned was an old one; Where there’s a will there’s a way.”  She is simply fantastic.  I do not care how much tax payers money it cost to fund Lafourche’s social butterfly’s travels, as long as she keeps bringing back this type of inspiring information, it is worth it.  Aren’t you proud Lafourche First?

Please stay in touch for future world shattering information from the Lafourche Parish President, Charlotte Randolph.

FACTS:

Ray Cheramie was recommended by Charlotte Randolph and approved by the Lafourche Parish Council to fill the position of the Director of Public Works.

OPINIONS:

In my opinion,in the past, Lafourche Parish filled the position of Public Works Director with college educated personnel experienced in the field of engineering and public works.  Who is Ray Cheramie?  How did he get this position?  Perhaps we can ask a few questions and see if anyone knows the answers.

1.Was Mr. Cheramie employed by an oil field contracting company when this parish administration was elected?

2.Is this oil field contracting company still owned by two local owners (owner-A & owner-B)?

3.Was the Parish President, Charlotte Randolph and Councilman Brent Callais endorsed by a political organization known as Lafourche First?

4.Was owner-A Secretary/Treasurer of Lafourche First?

5. Did owner-A or owner-B contribute money to Charlotte Randolph and Brent Callais’ political campaign fund?

6.Were owners-A & B disappointed when they lost one of their “Best and Brightest” (Mr. Cheramie) to the Lafourche parish Government as director of public works?  Or,were they happy that he was gone?  Or, was the move planned in advance?

7.Is there any truth in the rumors that most of the drainage projects done during Mr.Cheramie’s first two years as director of public works of Lafourche Parish, was on property belonging to owner-A?

8.Did owner-B purchase a large parcel of land on Ludivine Plantation, located on the east side of Bayou Lafourche, between Valentine and Larose, Louisiana?

9.Did Mr. Cheramie have parish personnel ( at tax payers expense) install a pump on the back side of owner-B’s newly aquired property in an effort to enhance drainage of this un-developed property?

10.Did Mr. Cheramie break any laws?  If Mr. Cheramie did break the law, is he concerned or is he connected?  If he is not connected, is he the crony of someone who is connected?

Lafourche Parish is moving forward, as designed by the group known as Lafourche First.

Stay in touch. Some of these questions may be answered soon.

FACTS:

The Lafourche Parish President, Charlotte Randolph, was not in attendance at the June 13th Lafourche Parish Council Meeting.

OPINIONS:

Rumors have it that our Lafourche Parish Social Butterfly was in Washington D.C.,trying to save Louisiana’s wet lands rather then trying to straighten up the mess she helped create in the Parish.  Extremely powerful former congressional leaders like Bennet Johnson, John Breaux, and Billy Tauzin were unsucessful in saving Louisiana’s wet lands or getting Louisiana its fair share of oil royalties from off shore operations.  We as Lafourche Parish tax payers are expected to pay for the travels of the Lafourche Parish social butterfly in an attempt to accomplish what our congressional and state elected officials can not.

Lafourche Parish social butterfly’s husband, George Randolph, was driving a parish vehicle and wrecked with another vehicle.  Instead of being charged with the unarthorized use of a movable, all but two councilmen voted to pay thousands of dollars of tax payers money for damages.  Councilman Lorraine attempted to seek an opinion from the D.A. on weather the council violated state law, but was unsuccessful.

In my opinion, if this would have happened in any previous administration with Butch Naquin as D.A. and Duffy Breaux as sheriff, The Parish President would have to resign or be prosecuted.

Social butterfly, Please explain to councilman Matherne, and I use the term councilman lightly, that he can not use  dedicated tax revenues for projects out of the taxing district where it is generated.   I know that he believes he can do anything he wants to do, being from Thibodaux, but his persistence in this matter have him appearing to be a total IDIOT. 

Social butterfly, I commend you on moving the parish into the electronic age in an attempt to save on the paper work.  Had you been at the last meeting, you would have seen more paper work being shuffeled than ever before.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news but in my opinion, you failed again.

Visit with us tomorrow, we may examine the D.P.W. director’s situation.

Visit Carl’s blog—– thepublicsrighttoknow.blogspot.com

FACTS:

The Lafourche Parish Council held its regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 13, 2006.  As is customary, The Chairperson, Brent Callais allowed members of the audience to address the council with a time limit of 5 minutes each. One of the many important functions of the chairperson is to be the time keeper.

OPINIONS:

The first public speaker was Ricky Cheramie.  Callais allowed Cheramie to speak over 30 minutes.  Callais later cut off Constable Lebouef, an elected official, after 5 minutes.  Why?  Could it be because Mr. Cheramie plans on repairing a hazardous condition that exist next to Louisiana Highway One in Dogris, Louisiana, at no charge to the land owner.  Is it the land owner that caused the hazardous condition due to over-dredging?  Is this the same land owner who contributed large amounts of money to Chairperson Brent Callais’ election campaign fund?

Who is Councilman Phillip Goaux?  He is the councilman that speaks on every issue but says nothing.  Is he Brent Callais’ adviser?  NO!  Brent’s adviser is the mumbling Councilman, Mark Atzenhoffer.  Phillip advertise his ignorance each time he speaks.  Mark tries to hide his ignorance by mumbling.

In my opinion, Carl Chauvin was right when his blog (The Public’s Right to Know)entry read that Hollywood may be here next.  Hollywood can re-make the movie of Mayberry RFD.  The following can act naturally:

1.Mark Atzenhoffer—–Barney

2.Phillip Gouaux———Floyd the Barber

3.Brent Callais———–Goober

4.Charlotte Randolph—–Aunt Bea

5.Members of Lafourche First——Town’s people

Visit with us tomorrow as we examine more of the Lafourche Parish Council in the beautiful state of confusion.   

FACTS:

Two articles written in the June 18,2006 edition of The Lafourche Gazette warrants comments from this blogger.

1.Individual seeks to protect LA 1; Written by Alces P. Adams.

2.Citizens are urged to voice support for project; Written by Henri Boulet, Director of LA 1 Coalition.

OPINIONS:

Ricky Cheramie addressed the Lafourche Parish Council at the council’s regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday June 13,2006. Mr. Cheramie stated that the integrity of LA 1 was compromised when land owners were allowed to excavate sand for profit. In my opinion, the land owners were not held responsible for the public’s safety. Mr. Cheramie stated that he acquired a permit which would allow him to dispose of non-hazardous oil field waste into the excavated sand pits and rectify the hazardous situation along LA 1 in Dogris, Louisiana. Mr. Cheramie also asked the council to pass a resolution prohibiting other individuals from disposing this type of waste in Lafourche Parish. The Council voted to request an opinion from the D.A., on the issuance of a resolution.

I have the following questions:

1.Lafourche Parish has an ordinance against dumping within the parish, how did Mr. Cheramie aquire a permit? Who is responsible for enforcement?

2.The Home Rule Charter prohibits the issuance of exclusive franchises. Would the requested resolution be a violation of the Charter?

3.Is Mr. Cheramie going to make a profit on this dumping?  Why would the oil companies spend money to have someone dispose of this waste?  Why don’t the oil companies dump their non-hazardous waste into Bayou Lafourche or the Gulf of Mexico, in the area of the waste generating facilities?  Is it because it is against E.P.A. regulations?  How can Mr. Cheramie be allowed to dump in an area where people gather to catch fish?

4.Who are the land owners who caused this hazardous condition?  Are there any laws being violated?  Who cares?  Is this happening in Lafourche Parish?

In response to the article about the LA 1 Coalition, if the LA 1 project is of such national importance, why then is the burden of financing the project on the backs of our hard-working locals?

Come back and visit with us.  Tomorrow, we will examine the Lafourche Parish time keeper and his advisor.