From many discussions with some of the residents who were denied elevation, we are left wondering: are we forgotten?

These are our voices and concerns, full of anxiety, fear and distress on a regular basis. On July 13, 2017, Ms. Laverne Toombs, CAO with her team including Ms. Myra Alexis-Valentine and the Royal Engineering team, stated to Council members and the 55 residents at the meeting that their homes would be elevated and gave the residents her personal number.

She gave us hope.

As stated in the Oct. 28, 2017, L’OBSERVATEUR, “What is known is that at a July 13 meeting, where several Parish Council members were in attendance, 55 families were told the contracts for repairs at their houses were temporarily being put on hold while the budget was revisited. However, those residents were promised their houses would be elevated.”

Early October 2017, 21 residents were individually called in to be informed by Scott Reddoch and Ms. Myra Valentine that their homes would not be elevated. At the council meeting held on Oct. 24, councilman Michael Wright asked for a audit, where it was revealed 21 residents wouldn’t have their homes elevated as previously promised.

Scott Reddoch stated they would need about $2.4 million to continue the elevation process. The Council expressed their thoughts, and we felt we were wronged by those we trusted.

The councilmen stated that they were going to Washington and Baton Rouge to see if can get the money to elevate the residents. We are still waiting on an update. Have they gone to Washington and Baton Rouge? What about looking for some emergency funding money?

Leonard Minor said, “I was extremely disappointed not being elevated. So far our parish president called the program a success. We do not agree. Leaving 21 victims not elevated because of change orders is not a success.”

Scott Reddoch stated that $1.8 million in change orders were due to construction problems (faulty wiring, mold from leaks) was the cause of 21 homes left out. Our Parish President Natalie Robottom said it was due to the cost of elevation being higher than expected.

Whom do we believe since they contradicted each other?

She says she was not in contact with Royal like she should have been. We believe that. However, Royal Engineering is a large corporation. They are not a fly-by-night company. They know how to handle large projects.

She said we “allegedly” were told that we would be elevated.

We have signed contracts, so she is out on contact with the process. We agreed with the statement, “The parish is not a construction company.”

Experienced people should have been in place to oversee Royal Engineering handling the funds. For us to think from July to October, that the funds ran out is unbelievable!

Ms. Robottom said, “It’s ludicrous to think theft was the culprit.” What’s ludicrous is that $1.8 million of change orders actually occurred.

When we read this statement, some of us were thinking we have had corruption in our parish. With the CDBG grant project, so many dots do not connect.

Other construction projects going on in the area for a big firehouse, schools and government buildings are proceeding forward, but for us, no money. If it wouldn’t have been for the flooding, we wouldn’t have this grant money and President Obama wouldn’t have visited our parish to give us hope. We wondered why the homes weren’t elevated first. Maybe the audit will answer some questions.

Are they trying to acquire funds to help offset that amount of money in change orders for these victims? Ms. Robottom said she would try to. We truly hope so. The homeowners are now concerned why we were pushed to sign for renovations if you’re still seeking funding to elevate? We will continue to fight for elevation. It’s a top priority for us.

Joycelyn Howard is a St. John the Baptist Parish resident. She can be reached at h2o82812@yahoo.com.