Season’s Greetings From FEMA to the Lafourche Parish Council
FACTS:
The following is an excerpt from correspondence written on FEMA letterhead stationary. Dated November 27, 2006, the correspondence is referenced Lafourche Parish reimbursement on levee dams:
The correspondence reads, “On November 9, 2006, we wrote you to advise of our decision on the reimbursement requested by Lafourche Parish, regarding the cost of portable levee dams. We will not repeat the substance of that letter here, but we did advise that Lafourche Parish should retain $1,016, 400.00 of a total FEMA payment of $4,915,545.oo, and return the balance to the State. The State was advised that the funds should be retained in the State’s Smart Link Account, and remains available for disbursement by the State “to pay approved projects.”
Lafourche Parish Government wrote this office on November 17,2006. This letter was copied to you. I regret to advise that the Lafourche Parish Government has misread my Nov. 9,2006 letter.
At no time did I advise the state or parish that if the levee dams issue became a litigated matter that the FEMA funds authorized for payment of the original rental invoices would be available to pay a judgement. At no time did I advise the state or parish that the Parish “would not, under any circumstances, have to pay these invoice amounts or any associated costs of litigation with parish funds.” The Parish Council’s letter also asked that if his letter did not state the FEMA position correctly, that the parish be advised by Nov. 28, 2006. Please provide the parish a copy of this letter and advise them that the parish council’s letter incorrectly states FEM A’s position.
FEMA understood that the parish was originally invoiced for the rental of 500 dams for a period of 30 days, at a cost of approximately $5.2. FEMA authorized payment toward this cost of $4,917,545.00. Subsequently, FEMA was advised the parish actually used 102 portable dams, and that the cost of that use was $1,016,400.00. As you know, FEMA pays reasonable costs for necessary expenses. FEMA will therefore not pay for portable dams which were not used.
We remain hopeful that the parish will negotiate this matter to a reasonable conclusion, and utilize the $1,016,400.00 paid by FEMA to pay for the levee dams actually used. The balance of the $4,917,545.00 advanced to the parish should be reimbursed to the State and retained in the State’s Smart Link Account to be available to pay for approved projects”.
The above excerpt is from correspondence sent to Colonel Tom Kirkpatrick of the State Coordinating Office, from Jim Stark, FEMA Director of the Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office.
OPINIONS:
In my opinion, it is obvious from the above letter that the Lafourche Parish Council Administration submitted a fraudulent claim when they submitted the invoices for “Water Weenies” which weren’t used. In many informed people’s opinion, the “Water Weenies” were NEVER NECESSARY, and certainly not for 30 days. When will the tax payers of Lafourche Parish realize that this is alleged to be nothing but a GET RICH QUICK SCAM, at the expense of the tax payers? Charlotte Randolph, Ray Cheramie, Phillip Goaux, and others is alleged to have stated that they witnessed the placement of the levee dams. Don’t the letter prove that they lied? No one witnessed that 102 levee dams were ACTUALLY USED. No one can prove that they were ever necessary. Payment for 102 levee dams is alleged to be as fraudulent as payment for 500 as originally invoiced. It has the appearance that FEMA and the DA just want this exposed alleged scam to “JUST GO AWAY.”
It appears that the Sheriff and District Attorney have their heads in the sand and are saluting the tax payers with their posteriors. WHY? WHY? WHY?
Maybe they are being pressured by an outside force. There was a group known as Lafourche First. They existed to get rid of the 2000-2003 Council and replace them with individuals who had the same core values as members of Lafourche First. They convinced the voters of Lafourche Parish to vote for the present day elected officials, and Lafourche Parish would have GOOD GOVERNMENT and a cum-ba-ya Council. Members of Lafourche First claimed not to be self-servant. YOU DECIDE, LAFOURCHE PARISH.
The President of Lafourche First was Ronald Adams, who is now president of the North Lafourche Levee District. Did Mr. Adams witness the placement of the levee dams? The Secretary / Treasurer was Al Danos of Danos and Curole Contractor fame. It is alleged that Mr. Danos was influential in getting Ray Cheramie the position of Director of DPW. Did you really believe that Mr. Cheramie was placed into his position because of qualifications? Board member Jane Birdsall have a sister known as Charlotte Randolph, who just happens to be the Lafourche Parish President (“WATER WEENIE QUEENIE”?). Board member Harold Block’s son-in-law just happens to be Lafourche Parish Councilman Michael Matherne. Board member Cullen Curole, is now Lafourche Parish Council Administrator. Board member Jake Giardinia is also a member of the board of Thibodaux Hospital. A short time board member was Larry Weidel, who is still the PR person for the present day Sheriff. Board member Chick Martin is a Chouest employee, as is Councilman Brent Callais who is alleged to have participated in keeping the levee dams information a secret from his colleagues on the Parish Council. You, be the judge Lafourche Parish tax payers. If you were Sheriff or DA, who would you answer too? The tax payers of Lafourche or the influential of Lafourche First? If you were the media (radio, TV, or news paper), who would you answer too? The media was quick to report that Randolph received her 5 million $ from FEMA. Will they report on the above mentioned letter?
For our elected officials, the knock on their door at Christmas may not be Santa Claus. Stay in touch, pay attention to the blog, do not believe many of your elected officials, observe their actions. “HAPPY HOLIDAYS.”
