St. John to Host Three Meetings on Flood Protection Plans

St. John the Baptist Parish Officials will host town hall meetings to discuss the April 29th election on a tax dedicated to the Westshore Lake Pontchartrain Levee Project and flood protection.

After more than 40 years in the study phase, and Hurricane Isaac devastation, the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Risk Reduction Project received Congressional authorization to move forward, the parish said in its release.

The proposed tax will fund the parish’s portion of the levee which would extend 18 miles from the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Montz to the Hope Canal in Garyville.

The projected cost of the levee is $718 million and St. John’s cost-share is $50 million, with annual maintenance costs of $5 million.

Town Hall Meetings:

• April 3, 2017 – Edgard Courthouse, 2393 LA-18, Edgard – 6 pm;
• April 4, 2017 – St. John Community Center, 2900 Hwy 51, LaPlace – 6 pm;
• April 5, 2017 – REGALA Gymnasium, 200 Regala Park Rd, Reserve – 6 pm.