Drainage issue dominates talk

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, March 13, 2019

The second St. Martinville City Council town hall meeting, this one for Mayor Pro Tem Craig Prosper, was a far cry from Monday night’s contentious special meeting of the city council.

About 25 residents showed up at the Magnolia Park Community Center to ask questions about drainage issues, roads, recreation projects and other issues under the purview of the council. Mayor Melinda Mitchell and District 3 Councilman Dennis Paul Williams also were on hand to answer questions from the public.

As with the first town hall in January — and most of St. Martin Parish, for that matter — drainage was a big issue for residents. Prosper led with that discussion, talking about a study underway to improve drainage in the Old and New Durand subdivisions.

“We had allocated money for a drainage study, and we are 30 days away from the results,” Prosper said. “We have shot all the elevations and are doing some modeling. So far we think another outlet in the northwest corner should help alleviate the problem.”

Prosper and the residents went into deep detail, talking about drainage from house to house through most of the subdivisions. They also discussed some of the reasons for the drainage issues in the district.

“There used to be three outlets,” Prosper said. “When they built the Wal-Mart — progress, I guess — it closed off one outlet. The other, by the railroad tracks, is no longer there. So now you only have one.”

Some residents, like Lance Laviolette, brought up issues with clogged drainage pipes. 

“Some of them are three-quarters full of mud,” Laviolette said. “If they were clear, that would give the water more room before it started to flood.”

Mitchell mentioned a recent council discussion about getting a new drain cleaning tool.

“It is on the agenda for our next meeting,” she said.

Prosper also brought up one of the misfortunes of St. Martinville.

“We were cursed with a clay pipe plant in St. Martinville,” Prosper joked. “So now we have broken pipes everywhere.”

Prosper also reminded to the residents that he will not seek reelection at the end of this term.

“I’ve said it before, but I just wanted to remind you,” he said.

“I think it was worthwhile,” resident Louis Derand said. “It’s good to have these discussions.”

The next town hall, scheduled for April, will be held in Williams’ district.