Lafourche Parish Oxymoron Extravaganzas
FACTS:
According to Webster, the definition of oxymoron is, combination of contradictory words.
OPINIONS:
In my opinion, on recent issues presented to the public by the Lafourche Parish Council and the office of Lafourche Parish District Attorney, brings to mind the term oxymoron.
1.At the Lafourche Parish Council meeting of July 11,2006, a presentation on Lafourche on the Move was made by Recreation Director Brennen Matherne. Standing at the council podium, Mr. Matherne reminded me of a Macy’s Float at Thanksgiving, explaining the merits of walking around a one mile track (oxymoron no. one). It is alleged that the Parish has spent over 1/2 million dollars on less than 1% of the population. We applaud the efforts of this administration trying to get Lafourche Parish citizens to move, but good money management would serve the tax payers of Lafourche Parish better, in my opinion.
2.The Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s office recently mailed out its 2006 Mid-Term report. Under the heading of “Investigative Division” was a picture of District Attorney Cam Morvant and five other people. I am only familiar with one of the other five people and in my opinion, here lies the second oxymoron, “Poochie”, as part of an investigative division. In my opinion, Lafourche Parish tax dollars would be better spent if Poochie would visit the eateries less frequently and investigate the Lafourche Parish Council Administration.
EXAMPLE: In Charlotte Randolph’s campaign for parish president she stated that the rules are the rules, just follow the rules. The Lafourche Parish Council collects a tax for drainage and the levee districts collect a tax for flood protection. In my opinion, the responsibility of each entity is specific. Why did the Lafourche Parish Council administration allegedly spend between 5 and 8 million dollars on inflatable levees in the levee district’s jurisdiction? Wouldn’t FEMA reimburse a levee district for rentals on tidal flood protection rather than the Parish? It is my opinion that all previous councils called a meeting and passed an emergency ordinance before the expenditure of public funds by the administration during an emergency. Did this Parish President follow the correct procedure? What section of the Charter authorize the Chairman (Brent Callais) and district councilman (Phillip Gouaux) to expend public funds? It is alleged that Mr. Callais and Mr. Gouaux were aware of this expenditure without the knowledge of the governing authority, the Lafourche Parish Council. Take your head out of the sand and investigate. 5 million dollars and still climbing. For What?
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