by Leonard Gray – Managing Editor

One of the revelations of the recent rain was how new residential development in the Montz area can be affected by high water and heavy rainfall.

In short, it wasn’t a pretty picture. Newly-built homes, not even occupied, had a foot and more of water inside the residence. Evangeline Road, one of the main access roads to the River Road community, was completely blocked by high water resulting from intense rain over a relatively small area.

It was a wake-up call to new St. Charles Parish residents, already getting a taste of dealing with local disaster. It was also a red flag to the St. Charles Parish Council, and especially Norco/Montz area councilman Dickie Duhe, who pushed a resolution through, calling for a moratorium on new home construction in Montz.

Any moratorium cannot be official unless backed by an ordinance, which is planned for the May 17 meeting.

A word of caution was raised by Councilman G. “Ram” Ramchandran, as developers may pursue legal action, but Duhe and others reminded him that after disastrous floods elsewhere, similar moratoriums went without a hitch.

On the other hand, it is to the best interests of the developers, who can market other homesites easier, having addressed the drainage shortcomings evident in this flood.

Residents win with improved drainage and pumps to insure their homes and possessions are safe. Even the public officials win, with their public service mandate addressed.

Montz, being one of the more isolated and, in the past, least developed communities is going through changes, with dozens of new homes and a leap in population. By the 2010 census, Montz will likely be more than a tiny blip on the map.

It is best to fix the problems now, rather than allow it to get worse. Then everyone loses.

LEONARD GRAY is managing editor of L’Observateur.