Council seeks pact for debris removal
AMITE — The Tangipahoa Parish Council authorized Parish President Gordon Burgess to seek agreements with parish municipalities to remove Hurricane Isaac debris as needed.
DRC Emergency Services will be retained to offer storm debris removal services in both incorporated and unincorporated areas through December 2013, Melissa Cowart, a certified public accountant who works in Burgess’s office.
Amite was the only municipality that did not join in the cooperative debris removal effort, Cowart told the council during its Monday night meeting.
The ultimate decision to use DRC will be determined by the amount of debris following a storm or other severe weather disturbance, she said.
Cowart added if debris is relatively light, then parish and municipal crews will remove storm debris.
However, should debris dispersal be widespread, then DRC will be retained, she said.
DRC will use local haulers in the event their services are needed, Cowart said.
If the parish is officially declared a disaster area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, she said, then the council and municipal officials would seek assistance in paying for debris cleanup.
If no disaster is declared, she said, then each governmental entity will have to bear the cost.
Other items discussed during the meeting included:
NEW CENTER: The council authorized Burgess to seek bids for construction of the Environmental Health Building. This $3.5 million project is being funded with a $2.5 million Community Development Block Grant and a $1 million match from the parish.
The facility will be on parish-owned land near Hammond on Club Deluxe Road. With its completion, more space will be available for offices conducting parish business at the existing Public Health Building on the same site.
ARCHAEOLOGIST RETAINED: The council agreed to pay Surveys Unlimited Research Associates Inc. $1,750 to conduct an archaeological research project on the site of the Agricultural Events Center, where a new building is planned.
Cowart said Choctaw Nation representatives have suggested that tribal remains may be at the site. The project will determine if any significant cultural artifacts are located there.