DEAR EDITOR: Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili have moved on and St. Charles Parish is in the process of cleaning up and returning to normal. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were hardest hit by these storms. The surge on the East Bank from Isidore should demonstrate to all the agencies concerned the vital need to accelerate the completion of the East Bank hurricane protection levee and the installation of pumps in it. The ground-breaking ceremony for the West Bank levee was held on Sept. 18, and we will do everything possible to speed up the construction process. My administration will remain focused on these important events.

I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all of those parish employees from virtually every department whose dedication and countless hours of hard work during the past two storm events protected most of our homes and subdivisions.

Thank you also to all of the agencies in the parish for their assistance. These include the sheriff’s office, the Louisiana State Police, the Red Cross, St. Charles Parish Public Schools, the volunteer fire departments, the St. Charles Parish Hospital, Emergency Services, the 911 Communications District, St. Charles Council on Aging, the Nelson Coleman St. Charles Correctional Facility, local industry and the National Guard. The support of the individuals from these agencies enabled the Department of Emergency Preparedness to develop coordinated responses to these types of situations.

I also thank all of those citizens who assisted our employees in the performance of their duties during these trying circumstances. All of you make me proud to tell people I live in St. Charles Parish.

ALBERT D. LAQUE
St. Charles Parish President
Boutte