Lafourche Parish Facts And Opinions

“Once it comes to my attention, I will not put my head in the sand.  Once I find out about it, I will do something about it.  I strongly urge you to follow your ordinances to the letter.  ( In reference to the charter, Art. 3, Sec. 2 Prohibitions: Mandatory for Council members: Not to interfere directly or indirectly, not to give orders or directives to officers, department heads, employees, or independent contractors of the Parish.)

QUOTES: In reference to the Lafourche Parish Council,
1. LF-”We are looking for good leaders”
2. LF-”We are here to explain the difference between facts and fiction”
3. LF-”A positive point of our organization is that we will attract more candidates for public office with our backing”
4. LF-”We want our Parish Council to have teamwork, vision, and quality of life”
5. LF-”We are growing so fast that we must find bigger and bigger places” (to meet)
6. LF-”We want local government to govern on our behalf”

a) TRUCK-”We must ask the hard Questions”
b) TRUCK-”Do you believe that more candidates will step forward” (because of Lafourche First)
c) TRUCK-”The biggest void in government is a plan”
d) TRUCK-”You don’t belong running the parish if you don’t have a plan”
e) TRUCK-”I would like to have you back on”

OPINIONS:

!. Did LF succeed in finding a good leader in Charlotte Randolph?  Perhaps a good leader for Lafourche First, but surely not for the citizenry.
2. In order to explain the difference between facts and fiction, LF must learn the difference.  I have never seen a group of people(LF) with such inflated egos, lacking touch with reality.
3. Thank you Lafourche First, you attracted candidates like Charlotte Randolph, Michael Matherne, Brent Callais, and Mark Atzenhoffer (GOOD GOVERNMENT?).
4. Your Parish Council have made Lafourche Parish an embarrassment to the citizens of Lafourche Parish.
5. Is that the reason the DA purchased such a large building?
6. You got what you wanted.  Local government governs on LF’s behalf (Windell Curole, Cullen Curole, Charlotte Randolph and George, Ray Cheramie, Etc.).

The citizens of Lafourche Parish are waiting for Michael Smith, Lindy Hoffmann and Bill Melancon to return to “Talk On The Bayou” and answer the hard Questions.

a) Hard Questions?  Who is we Truck?  Darryl Marlbrough asked you to allow him to go on your radio station and ask the hard questions of all elected officials and you denied him access.
b) Is Lafourche First the reason you stepped up?
c) Where is your plan truck?  What is your plan Truck?  Making campaign statements on issues is not exactly a plan for Lafourche Parish or District 54.
d) The same thing applies to your position, TRUCK!
e) Why didn’t you get LF “BACK ON”?

1. the “WATER WEENIE” scam?  In my opinion,thanks to DA Cam Morvant, tax payers money was used to pay for undocumented transactions.
2. violation of the parish ordinance (law) covering subdivision regulations?  In my opinion,three groups are responsible for using taxpayers’ money to pay for an undersized water line to private individuals.  The three groups are the Water District of Lafourche Parish, The Lafourche Pariah Council and its administration, and the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s office.  In my opinion, the payment for and installation of an under-sized water line is a violation of law.  The people responsible should be asked to resign their position and reimburse the tax-payers.
3. the purchase of the new DA building?  Where did the funding come from?  Was this “Health Unit” funds, dedicated to children and senior citizens?  Was there a need by the DA to purchase this particular building?  Did the Building belong to a friend or family member of the Lafourche First organization?  Was the public money used to help unload the “PINK ELEPHANT”?
4. expenditures from a Thibodaux-based “Foundation” fund?

2. Brent Callais is the area Councilman from 2004-2007.

3. Rodney Doucet is the recently elected area Councilman for 2008-2011.

OPINIONS:

 
1. Lafourche Parish had a serious health problem, prior to 1996.  Most streets in the parish was surfaced with clam shells and limestone.  The rain would cause many pot holes and the lack of rain would create a serious dust problem which affected the residence comfort and health.  Although the bulk of the revenues were raised in the southern end of the parish, priority wasn’t considered and revenues were spent mostly in the northern end of the parish.  Marlbrough was instrumental in improving Parish conditions during his tenure.  Over 90% of the streets in his area were hard-surfaced, which eliminated pot-holes and dust.  Because of good honest politics, Marlbrough was able to get for the residence of his area, a fair portion of revenues generated.  Marlbrough accomplished more for the people of the area than any previous councilman or councilman to date.  In spite of the inadequate negative reporting by Brennan Matherne on KLRZ radio, Marlbrough can hold his head up high in the community.  He is proud of his accomplishments and deserve an “A+” on his elected official report card.

2. Callais, aided by the negative reporting of Brennan Matherne and the bullet proof vest scam (with many other lies) gained him the area public office with a surplus of money and very few problems.  During the 2003 campaign, Callais swore he was working for Paul Dufrene when in reality he was working for “CHOUEST”.  Callais and Phillip Gouaux were the only two councilmen alleged to be involved in keeping the “water weenie” scam a secret from the rest of the council. In my opinion, other than helping Brennan Matherne get a high paying job with the parish, lying about accomplishments which never happened, being part of the most corrupted parish administration ever in Lafourche, and who now wear his Chouest employment as a badge of honor ends up with an “F” on his elected official report card.  Why didn’t Brent Callais run for a second term?  Could it be because he is an embarrassment to his family, employer, and his community?  It is not your fault Mr. Callais.  Lafourche First inflated your ego and you proved them wrong where it comes to good government. Never send a boy to do a man’s job.  Now, in the most recent audit report, we are asked to believe what Mr. Callais states in his memorandum to the Parish Finance Department of May 8, 2007.  In reference to the Police Jury Association Convention, Mr. Callais states that all hotel fees for two nights were paid for by the Parish President with the Parish credit card.

3. While having lunch with my wife in a local restaurant, we were approached by the newly elected councilman, Rodney Doucet.  We congratulated him on his recent victory and wished him luck and success over the next four years.  His response was a bit strange.  He blurted out that he was tired of just standing by, and now he will move the parish forward.  Those are the exact words that Charlotte Randolph, Brent Callais, and Lafourche First used in the 2003 campaign.  Lafourche Parish stood still for the last four years.  Their only accomplishments was to spend the surplus left to them by the previous (5-4) administration and producing embarrassment for the people of Lafourche Parish. 

During the 2003 campaign, it is alleged that Brennan Matherne was wined and dined by the Lafourche First group.  His position, as an employee of the KLRZ radio station, enabled Mr. Matherne to create negative press for the seated council and partake in Brent Callais’ non-truths.  I wonder how Mr. Matherne would compare the 5-4 council to the present day administration that he is now a part of.  Was Brennan Matherne replaced on the radio by Mr. K. Cheramie or was it by Charlotte’s sister’s friend Joey? 

AUDIT FINDINGS:

A) In January 2006, the Parish paid $4162 to transfer the personal cellular phone accounts of two Council members to the Parish cellular phone plan.  This amount included$1,095 in charges incurred in 2005 as well as $3,000 ($1,500 per council member) to advance each member a cellular phone allowance for the year.  The Parish should refrain from paying expenses before incurred as this practice is prohibited by the Louisiana Constitution.

B) Mr. Windell Curole is employed on a full time basis as the general manager of the South Lafourche Levee District (SLLD).  From June 28, 1993, to January 9,2005, Mr. Curole also served as the assistant director for the Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP). On January 10, 2005, Mr. Curole was appointed as the Parish’s Coastal Zone Management (CZM) director while he retained his duties as the OEP assistant director.  Mr. Curole’s annual salary increased from $6,024 to $21, 024 for these two part time positions.  Mr. Curole’s time sheets do not indicate hours worked or duties performed for each position making it difficult to determine what services were provided to the Parish.

OPINION:

A) In my opinion, the auditor did all of the leg work for the DA.  The DA stated, at several Council meetings, if you do not abide by the charter, you will answer to me.  The two individuals in these findings are alleged to be Phillip Gouaux ll and Mark Atzenhoffer.

The Louisiana State Attorney General opined to what amounts to be, expense allowances paid in advance to Council members should be treated as additional compensation.  The Parish Charter is specific on the amount of compensation a Council member is entitled.  In my opinion, these two Council members should be indicted on possible violations of the State Constitution and the Charter.  If Cam cannot accomplish this simple task, he should resign as DA.

B) Wake up Sheriff Webre and DA Cam Morvant.  Again, it seems that the auditor completed your investigation for you.  Could you be looking at theft of tax payers money?  Who is Windell Curole?

According to the audit findings, OEP Director Chris Boudreaux stated that Mr. Curole mainly works as a consultant in the southern part of the Parish during hurricanes.  According to Ms. Randolph, Mr. Curole’s main CZM duties include handling coastal assistance funds and projects, attending monthly meetings to discuss projects, and overseeing coastal permits.  However, Ms. Randolph later informed auditors that the CZM program has never managed any projects because funding was not available until 2007.  In addition, We (auditor) spoke with Mr. Vince Melvin, CZM administrator for the Parish.  Mr. Melvin stated that he (Melvin) handles all the coastal permits for Lafourche Parish and that Mr. Curole was rarely at the office.  The auditors stated that they could not determine the hours worked by Mr. Curole or whether the allocation of his salary for the two part time positions was accurate.

2.  Good luck to the newly elected state representative of district 54 in Louisiana.  The dilemma is that a small community in Jefferson Parish elected the alleged least qualified of the candidates to represent the majority of district 54 constituents in Lafourche Parish.

3.  Charlotte Randolph is the first Lafourche Parish President to be re-elected.  In light of the recent audit, do you believe that the voters made a wise decision?  The recent audit indicates alleged wrong doing by the Parish President and her administration. 

        Some audit findings:  The Lafourche Parish Council (Parish) provides public credit cards to the parish president, parish administrator, finance director, Head Start director, and public works director.  From January 1, 2004 to January 1,2007, parish employees made 757 credit card purchases totaling $87,789.  During the review of these purchases, it was noted that the parish was missing and/or had incomplete documentation for 108 transactions totaling $11,960: the parish incurred late fees and finance charges totaling $2,245 as the result of untimely payments; there were personal purchases totaling$2,529: and there was inadequate supporting documentation for fuel charges totaling $9,066.

        We reviewed the supporting documentation for 43 travel reimbursements.  Of the 43 reimbursements, 34 did not have travel authorizations and 12 were missing expense reports.  Of the forms we were able to locate, only 7 travel authorization forms and 19 expense reports were properly approved.

The 2000-2004 council proved that they were able to read and interrupt the “Charter”.  Perhaps “Lafourche First” tried to replace the 2000-2004 council with people who can not read.

4.  The Lafourche Parish sheriff is alleged to not have investigated the alleged corruption in the Randolph Administration, over the last four years.  Do the voters expect him to do anything over the next four years?