West Baton Rouge Parish to celebrate 200 years with special

VISION WEST
West Baton Rouge Parish - Community, Growth, Possibilities
January, 2007
A quarterly publication for West Baton Rouge residents by your public agencies
West Baton Rouge Parish to celebrate
200 years with special ceremony
Join West Baton Rouge citizens and officials on
March 31 as the parish celebrates its Bicentennial at
Heroes Plaza at 10 a.m.
A state historic marker donated by the West
Baton Rouge Historical Association will be unveiled
and other tributes are planned, along with a
reception at the West Baton Rouge Parish
Library. March 31, 1807 was the day the
Territory of Orleans legislature signed the
articles that formed 19 parishes, the 11th being
Baton Rouge, which is now the Parish of West Baton
Rouge (the land currently called East Baton Rouge
Parish was under the control of Spain at the time).
The Bicentennial will be commemorated in the
parish at all community events and festivals
throughout the year with special flags and
ceremonies. The Bicentennial flag will also
be available for purchase at the West Baton
Rouge Tourist Information and Conference
Center. In addition, training will be offered to West Baton
The West Baton Rouge
Bicentennial Logo is shown here.
Flags with the logo are available for
purchase from the West Baton Rouge
Tourism
Calendar of Events
FEBRUARY
Feb. 11
Addis Volunteer Fire Department
Mardi Gras Parade, 11 a.m.
Feb. 18 Krewe of Good Friends Mardi Gras
Parade in Port Allen, 1 p.m.
MARCH
March 24
Gospel Explosion by West BR
Parish Mass Choir, Port Allen Community Center, 6 p.m.
March 31
Ceremony to commemorate the
West BR Bicentennial, 10 a.m.
at Heroes Plaza in Port Allen
March 30-
April 1
Kite Fest Louisiane’ at WBR
Soccer Complex
CELEBRATING REV. KING... A host of floats
and spectators joined to celebrate Rev.
Martin Luther King in the annual Port Allen
parade sponsored by the West Baton Rouge
Parish Mass Choir. The parade rolled on Jan.
13.
Government Meetings
PAID
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
TOWN OF ADDIS - Meets on 1st Wednesday of each month
at 7 p.m. at Addis Town Hall. Phone: 225-687-4844, www.
addisla.org
TOWN OF BRUSLY - Committee meetings on 1st Monday
of each month at 6:30 p.m. Town Council meetings on 2nd
Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., 225-749-2909, www.
bruslyla.com
Port Allen, LA
Permit #18
WBR PARISH SCHOOL BOARD - Committee meetings on
2nd Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. School Board meetings on 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the
School Board office, 225-343-8309, www.wbrschools.net
CITY OF PORT ALLEN - Committee meetings on 1st Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Town council meetings on
2nd Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., 225-346-5670,
www.portallen.org
Postal Patron Local
WBR PARISH COUNCIL - Meets 2nd & 4th Thursday of each
month at 6:30 p.m. at the Parish Council Building, 225-3834755, www.wbrparish.org
Rouge teachers this summer on how to incorporate
parish history into their classes.
WBR HISTORY
The first parish courthouse was established in
the town of St. Michel, which is the present day Port
Allen. Later, the encroachment of the Mississippi River
forced its abandonment.
After the Louisiana Purchase on April 30, 1803,
the Territory of Louisiana applied for statehood. It did
not include the area east of the Mississippi River as
it was still under the control of Spain, but in 1810 the
residents expelled the Spanish. When the State of
Louisiana was admitted into the Union in 1812, the
Parish of Baton Rouge became West Baton Rouge
Parish and the land directly to the east across the
Mississippi River became East Baton Rouge Parish.
The parish boundaries changed in the years that
followed. Originally the western boundary was the
Continued on Page 2
WBR Tourism
Hitting the road
Staff of the West Baton Rouge Tourist Commission are hitting
the road to entice travelers to West Baton Rouge. They will have
booths at three tourism shows in Florida, Texas and Arizona,
reaching a total of 60,000 attendees!
KITE FEST!... Kite Fest is back March 30 through April 1, with
a lot of fun for families and some great musical entertainment.
Friday, March 30, will be Student Day, in which West Baton
Rouge and surrounding area students will enjoy a variety of kiting
activities. The event welcomes the public on Saturday, March 31
and Sunday, April 1. All of the fantastic professional kite flying
events will be back, along with performances by Don Rich on
Saturday and NaNaSha on Sunday. Don’t miss it! (See flyer at
right for more information.)
STAM TAPPED AS PRESIDENT... West
Baton Rouge Tourism Director Sharon
Stam has been selected as president of
the Louisiana Association of Convention
and Visitor Bureaus for 2007. She was
installed into the prestigious position at the
Louisiana Tourism Summit on January 9.
Sharon Stam
Stam also reported that West Baton
Rouge tourism center staff are all taking exams to be certified as
tourism counselors. This program is provided by the La. Office of
Tourism and La. Travel Promotion Association.
CENTER HAS BANNER YEAR... The West Baton Rouge Tourist
Information and Conference Center had a banner year in 2006,
with bookings up by 7.8 percent. In addition, the parish hotel/
motel tax, which supports tourism operations, was up by 40
percent for 2007. “Many residents don’t realize the economic
impact of the tourism industry here, including our hotels,” Stam
said. “It represents a $5.9 million economic impact for West
Baton Rouge and Louisiana.” Stam said projections for 2007
remain positive, with additional gains being expected due to the
increased popularity of the Conference Center for both business
and social events.
Bicentennial
Continued from Page 1
Atchafalaya River. Unfortunately, it was difficult for the settlers in Grosse
Tête to travel by water to St. Michel, the parish seat of government. It was
easier to travel to Plaquemine. Therefore on April 8, 1826, the Legislative
Council of the House of Representatives of the Territory of Orleans
attached the area around Grosse Tête to Iberville Parish. The boundaries
changed several times after that, until on March 11, 1859, the boundaries
were fixed permanently making West Baton Rouge Parish the smallest
parish in the state of Louisiana.
Watch for the quarterly issues of Vision West during 2007, which will
provide more history on the parish and the municipalities that make up
West Baton Rouge.
NEWEST ADDITION AT MUSEUM... The Reed House, a 1937 shotgun house used by
migrant workers at the Joe Reed farm, is the newest addition to the WBR Museum
offerings. Shotgun houses originated in Louisiana and are now common across the
U.S. In Louisiana, many sharecroppers and tenant farmers lived in the houses.
Page 2 - Vision WEST - January 2007
Exhibits on immigration,
abolition open at Museum
The West Baton Rouge Museum will be hosting two traveling exhibits during
the month of February. The first exhibit is entitled “America’s Heritage: A History of
Immigration in the United States.” The second exhibit, “Free At Last: A History of
Abolition in America.”
The America’s Heritage exhibit provides a comprehensive overview of American
immigration policies over the past 200 years of our country’s history. It is designed
to increase public understanding of U.S. immigration, as well as highlight the many
wonderful contributions made by immigrants to American society. The exhibit helps
to explain America’s rich cultural diversity and the subsequent cultural contributions
made by immigrants who came from all the continents.
Instructive panels, produced by the American Immigration Law Foundation, tell
the story of immigration, beginning with the colonial period in the 18th century and
extending through reforms in the 1990s, using photographs, reproduction documents,
newspapers, and timelines. The museum has also added audio excerpts from local
citizens telling of their immigration experiences. This exhibit will be open through
March 11th.
The exhibit, “Free At Last: A History of Abolition in America,” traces the history
of the movement to abolish slavery from the framing of the Constitution to its
abolition during the Civil War. It illuminates shades of opinion within the ranks of the
famous and ordinary, free and slave, men and women who came to see slavery as
incompatible with the ideals upon which the nation was founded.
This exhibit provides an excellent opportunity for school children and families
to recognize the struggles that past Americans grappled with in order to create a
country truly based on the ideal of freedom. The West Baton Rouge Museum is located at 845 North Jefferson Ave in Port
Allen, LA. It is open on Tuesday-Saturday from 10-4:30 and Sunday from 2-5. Group
tours are welcome, and all tours are free to citizens of West Baton Rouge Parish. For
more information on booking tours or future events, call 225-336-2422.
West Baton Rouge Parish Government
Record number of building
permits issued in 2006
Everyone knows construction in West Baton Rouge has been on the rise, but
did you know it reached record levels in 2006? That’s the report from the parish’s
Office of Community Planning and Development, which issues commercial and
residential building permits.
More than 400 residential, commercial and industrial building permits were
initiated among the parish, Town of Brusly and Town of Addis during 2006.
In addition, some 75 subdivision plats were filed, 46 re-zoning applications
processed, 17 site plan reviews held for new commercial and industrial construction
proposals, and five engineering reviews were held for subdivision construction
plans, including the new Wal-Mart.
In comparison the parish issued a total of 155 building permits in 2004 and
232 building permits in 2005. The department is also charged with enforcing the
parish’s grass cutting and building condemnation ordinances, handling building
inspections, and developing a parish land use plan.
“We expect this growth trend to continue in 2007 with the start of the
new ‘traditional neighborhood’ development, and industrial and commercial
developments,” said Parish President Riley “PeeWee” Berthelot. “As we grow we
will be challenged to find creative ways to improve infrastructure, roads, water
and sewerage, and parish officials are working with other local officials on these
issues now.”
New perks at recreation facilities
SEWER PROJECT UNDERWAY... Both the treatment plant and the collection facilities for
the new sewer system in Erwinville are now underway. The top photo shows work on a
sewer lift station, and the bottom photo shows some of the extensive piping that will be
required from the treatment plant.
Erwinville sewer project
expected to take a year
The long-awaited $3.2 million Erwinville sewer project is now underway, with
work progressing on both the main treatment plant and the collection facilities
throughout the community. Parish representatives will begin working with
individual homeowners soon to identify where the sewer system stub-out should
be located on homeowners’ property.
“We will try to put the stub-outs where homeowners want them whenever
possible,” noted Parish President Riley “PeeWee” Berthelot. “The homeowners
will also need to identify where their existing septic tanks are located. They should
be marked with a small flag or stake, and we can provide flags if needed.”
Some roads may be closed during the day for the construction project, but
crews will try to have closed roads opened by night. The project is about 10
percent complete at this time, and is expected to be completed by the end of
the year. Anyone with questions about the project should call the Parish Utilities
Office at 225-336-2406.
Parish works to alleviate
drainage problems
Despite an extremely soggy late December and some torrential downpours,
the parish has had limited flooding problems. “In one late December rain, we got
almost 6 inches of rain in less than four hours,” Parish President Riley “PeeWee”
Berthelot said. “Our drainage system has trouble with that type of downpour,
and it can overwhelm the system in some areas. We are continuing to work
on the drainage system in areas where we saw weaknesses, and are making
improvements to prevent water from rising into any West Baton Rouge homes.”
“During the rains, we had crews out and were bagging sandbags for those
who needed them. Now we are addressing drainage improvements we can make
and also looking very seriously at drainage in future developments,” Berthelot
said.
Residents can help limit drainage problems by keeping debris and grass
clippings out of drainage ditches, keeping their catch basins obstruction-free,
securing objects in their yards, making sure culverts are not damaged or obstructed, and not leaving trash cans, children’s toys or litter in or around ditches.
The parishes parks have some new recreation facilities. Basketball courts
have been added at Erwinville, Alexander Park, Myhand Park, and at 14th Street
in Port Allen. Court surfacing of those courts will be completed within a month to
make the courts more accommodating and resilient.
Lightening sensors will be added at Alexander, Lukeville, Myhand, William &
Lee, Rivault Parks, and the soccer complex. “The sensors monitor any lightening
strikes in a 30-mile radius, and an alarm sounds if lightening is detected,”
explained Recreation Director Reggie Williams. “When the siren sounds, everyone
must get off the field and take cover. The sensors time the last lightening strike
and when 30 minutes is reached without any lightening strikes, the alarm goes off
three times. This notifies those at the park that play can resume. This takes the
guessing out of the hands of officials by using sophisticated technology.”
The batting cages at Erwinville, Alexander, Lukeville, Myhand, William and
Lee and Rivault Parks are also being renovated and improved, and the lighting at
the Erwinville walking track has been upgraded.
BIDDY BASKETBALL... The Biddy Basketball league, which included 200
kids on 19 teams, is ending. The parish will have six All Star teams competing in
district and regional play, and will host the World Biddy Basketball Tournament at
the Port Allen Community Center, and Port Allen and Brusly High Schools March
16-20.
BASEBALL... Drafts for the Westside Recreation summer baseball and softball
league will be held March 18 and April 1. The boys draft, age 6-12, is set March
18 at Myhand Park, and the girls draft, age 6-14, is set for April 1 at Alexander
Park. Registration forms will be sent to schools in the parish prior to the drafts.
Registration for the Erwinville Recreation baseball league will be announced at
Central communications
plans progressing
Plans for a parishwide central emergency communications system are
well underway. The new communications tower is complete, and the new
Communications District board, which is an independent government agency,
has been established.
“We are in talks with the Port of Greater Baton Rouge about the possibility
of establishing the central communications facility at their complex,” said Brusly
Mayor Joey Normand, who is chairing the communications board. The advantage
of combining resources with the port include the ability to coordinate with the
Port’s Homeland Security planning and resources.
Having one emergency communications response facility for all parish law
enforcement, fire, parish and city agencies will enhance police and emergency
response, and will provide for a more coordinated response, Normand said.
He noted that once the central communications facility is set up, all emergency
dispatchers will be trained to handle all types of emergencies.
Vision WEST - January 2007 - Page 3
Port of Greater Baton Rouge
Port awarded $11 million
homeland security grant
The Port of Greater Baton Rouge will institute extensive emergency
response vessel launching and mooring projects in 2007, thanks to an $11
million Department of Homeland Security grant awarded in 2006, said Port
Executive Director Jay Hardman, P.E.
Hardman was promoted to the top leadership position for the port by
the Port Commission in November of 2006. Hardman came to the port in
1999, after serving as a civil and environmental engineering consultant to the
port for 10 years. He served as director of engineering
and environmental services from 1999 until 2002. In
May, 2002, he was promoted to managing director.
Hardman has been responsible for the design and
implementation of approximately $40 million in
improvements to the port’s infrastructure, including
cargo docks, road and rail. He has also been involved
in enhancing port security measures and developing
new economic development projects, such as the bulk
sugar storage and distribution complex, container-onbarge facility and other improvements.
Jay Hardman
In his role as executive director, Hardman is
responsible for the port’s day to day management,
along with working to fulfill the port’s mission of supporting international and
domestic commerce and facilitating economic development.
The security projects slated to begin in 2007 will provide for easier access
to the Mississippi River. In addition, Hardman said two biofuel plants to be
constructed by Shaw Capital, Inc. on port property are moving forward. The
first phase is projected to cost $350 million and is expected to open by the
end of 2008. The total investment in these projects has been projected at
$1.5 billion. A major benefit of these plants will be new markets and additional
demand for Louisiana agricultural commodities.
JOHNSON HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP... Outgoing Port Commission President Larry
Johnson receives a plaque honoring him for his years of leadership and service from Alvin
Dragg of Ascension Parish. Dragg is the new Port Commission president. Johnson, who
is also West Baton Rouge Parish Council Chairman, has served as a port commissioner
since 1992 and had previously served as commission president in 1996-97, 2001-02 and
2002-03. He will continue to serve as a Port Commissioner.
The port was selected as one of two sites in the U.S. approved by the
London Metal Exchange (LME) for the delivery and storage of plastics traded on
the international futures market. This selection puts the port in the same arena as
other LME trade sites, such as Antwerp, Singapore and Amsterdam. It also sends
a strong, positive message to industry site selectors about the Baton Rouge region
and Port facilities. The Port has both deep water and shallow draft port facilities and
provides access to mid-America through the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and
the upper Mississippi River system.
Town of Brusly
Fallen firefighters to be
honored at ceremony in B.R.
Firefighters from throughout the state will travel to Baton Rouge on
Saturday, March 31, to honor the state’s 85 firefighters who have been killed
in the line of duty over the years. Firefighters from the Brusly and Clinton
Fire Departments will escort the families of the fallen firefighters during the
ceremony, said Fire Chief Mike Alleman. The ceremony will take place at
the state firefighter memorial, located at the State Fire Marshal’s Office on
Independence Blvd.
“In 2005 we lost one firefighter, and in 2006 we lost another in the line of
duty in the state,” said Brusly Assistant Chief Kenny Hunts. “We honor them,
and all the firefighters who have died in the line of duty. The public is invited
to this ceremony, and it would be great to have local residents turn out to
show their support for firefighters.”
HONORING A COMMITMENT... Fire Chief Alleman said the fire department has
completed inspections of all public, retail and commercial buildings in the
Brusly fire district limits.
The inspections include making sure all facilities meet fire codes, have
the proper fire prevention and escape plans in place, and are practicing safe
fire prevention practices. “This is done in January and November,” he said.
“We made a commitment to the community that we would be sure these
facilities are safe and we are serious about that commitment.”
Alleman said the town will have three certified inspectors by the end of
April. Presently one firefighter is certified and two others are taking the course
at LSU to become certified.
VOLUNTEERS... The Brusly Fire Department is always looking for volunteers,
and Alleman noted that some of its present volunteers receive 50 percent of
their fire training at their workplaces. Volunteer firefighters are required to
have 120 hours a year of training. Alleman said many industrial workplaces in
the area provide extensive firefighter training for their emergency responders,
which qualifies for their volunteer fire fighting training hours.
Scenes from last year’s Firefighter Memorial Service.
Page 4 - Vision WEST - January 2007
West Baton Rouge School System
Questions and answers about
the May 5 school tax proposal
Why is the West Baton Rouge Parish School System asking parish citizens
to pass a tax?
Because we are not competitive with surrounding parishes in teacher pay,
as illustrated by the charts at right.
How has this affected West Baton Rouge Parish?
Since this gap has existed, it has been difficult to recruit the best and
brightest teachers to our parish. In addition, we have lost some good teachers
to our neighboring parishes.
Why is our salary scale below other parishes?
WBR contributes fewer mills and dollars locally toward education than do
most of our neighbors, as is illustrated in the third chart at right. In addition, the
present state formula for distributing money to districts for education includes
a “wealth factor” where those parishes that are considered wealthy receive
fewer dollars for teacher salaries than do those who are not considered wealthy.
The state considers WBR a wealthy parish. Both the state and the locals are
responsible for funding education within a parish. The result of less local and
state support is that we have fallen behind in teacher pay to the point of not
being competitive.
Since West Baton Rouge has experienced sales tax increases since Katrina,
why can’t those dollars fund the raises?
In order to fund the salary increases to make us competitive with our neighbors, we need an additional $2.7 million annually. The sales tax increases have
not been enough to fund those raises, and, it is risky to base permanent pay
raises on non-recurring revenue subject to fluctuations. For example, in October, November and December 2006, the percentage of increase in sales tax
revenue, when compared to the same months in 2005, has decreased. In addition, post-Katrina increases in the costs of insurance, electricity, maintenance,
etc... have eaten away at any sales tax gains for the school system.
Who will get raises?
All teachers and educators with a teaching certificate will receive the same
amount in a raise. All support employees (cafeteria workers, janitors, para professionals, secretaries, etc.) will receive a $2,500 raise.
What else will the tax proceeds be used for?
This tax proposition is written so that this tax revenue can only be used for
employee salaries.
How much will I pay if the tax passes?
Forty-three (43%) percent of the homeowners in West Baton Rouge who
are eligible for the Homestead Exemption will pay nothing for this tax. Seventytwo (72%) percent of homeowners in West Baton Rouge that are eligible for the
Homestead Exemption will pay $60 a year or less. See the chart at right titled
“What WBR Homeowners Will Pay.”
WBR TEACHER SALARY COMPARISON
Starting Teacher Salaries Now:
1. Zachary
$38,158
2. West Feliciana
$37,825
3. Ascension
$36,207
4. Livingston
$35,603
5. EBR
$35,225
6. Assumption
$32,907
7. Iberville
$32,805
8. Pointe Coupee $32,733
9. West Baton Rouge $31,827
10. Baker
$30,411
Estimated Starting Teacher Salaries IF the proposed tax passes:
1. Zachary
$38,158
2. West Feliciana
$37,825
3. West Baton Rouge
$36,827
4. Ascension
$36,207
5. Livingston
$35,603
6. EBR
$35,225
7. Assumption
$32,907
8. Iberville
$32,805
9. Pointe Coupee
$32,733
10. Baker
$30,411
Master Degree Teacher with 20
years experience present salary:
1. Zachary
$51,295
2. West Feliciana
$48,023
3. Ascension
$47,777
4. EBR
$46,105
5. Iberville
$45,600
6. Livingston
$45,534
7. Baker
$43,030
8. Assumption
$42,650
9. West Baton Rouge $41,957
10. Pointe Coupee
$41,802
Estimated Master Degree Teacher
w/ 20 years experience salary if
tax passes:
1. Zachary
$51,295
2. West Feliciana
$48,023
3. Ascension
$47,777
4. West Baton Rouge
$46,957
5. EBR
$46,105
6. Iberville
$45,600
7. Livingston
$45,534
8. Baker
$43,030
9. Assumption
$42,650
10. Pointe Coupee
$41,802
SCHOOL SYSTEM MILLAGES COMPARISON
Local School Board Millages:
School Millages if tax passes:
1. Zachary
79.2
2. Livingston
7 to 71 range*
3. Ascension
60
4. EBR
43.45
5. Baker
43.2
6. Assumption 42.09
7. Iberville
39.27
8. WBR
27.89
9. Pointe Coupee 16.5
10. West Feliciana 13.21**
1. Zachary
79.2
2. Livingston
7 to 71 range*
3. Ascension
60
4. EBR
43.45
5. Baker
43.2
6. Assumption 42.09
7. WBR
39.89
8. Iberville
39.27
9. Pointe Coupee 16.5
10. West Feliciana 13.21**
(* Livingston millages change in each of 10 districts)
(**West Feliciana receives significant financial benefits from River Bend nuclear plant)
WHAT WBR HOMEOWNERS WILL PAY:
The tax will cost owners different amounts based on the assessed value of
their property and the homestead exemption. Examples are:
If your property is assessed at $75,000 or less, the tax will cost you nothing.
If your property is assessed at $100,000, the tax will cost you $18 per year.
If your property is assessed at $125,000, the tax will cost you $60 per year.
If your property is assessed at $200,000, the tax will cost you $150 per year.
If your property is assessed at $250,000, the tax will cost you $210 per year.
If your property is assessed at $350,000, the tax will cost you $330 per year.
PRINCIPALS GET TECHNOLOGY TRAINING... Just as West Baton Rouge teachers have
a program to help them use technology in their classes, now prinicpals and administrators are learning how they can use technology to be more effective. They are
participating in a 12-week online course that will teach them how to use technology to analyze data, communicate with teachers and parents, and observe whether
teachers are effectively using technology in their classes. The photo above shows the
initial day-long training session. “Research shows that if principals don’t support the
use of technology, teachers won’t use it,” said Tammy Seneca, Supervisor of Information Systems & Education Techology. “This course will help them use technology to
improve student achievement.”
PRESENT STARTING SALARIES FOR
SUPPORT EMPLOYEES:
12-month Custodian I
$16,190
School Lunch Technician
$12,494
School Lunch Assistant Manager $14,788
Para Professional (aide)
$13,142
9-month School Secretary
$14,300
All support personnel will receive a $2,500 raise if the tax passes.
Vision WEST - January 2007 - Page 5
Town of Addis
Railroad park planned next to museum
Addis Mayor Carroll Bourgeois and the Addis
Town Council have big plans for the property next
to the town museum. Plans for an impressive park,
which will also serve as an outdoor festival space,
are almost complete, and Phase I of the project is
expected to get underway this year.
The town owns the property, which includes the
fire station, civic center, museum and the house in a
Landscape plan for the Addis Historical Railroad Park
Meetings:
All meetings start at 7 p.m.
Addis Mayor & Town Council - 1st Wednesday of each month - Town Hall
Addis Planning & Zoning - 3rd Tuesday of each month - Town Hall
Addis Historical Society - 3rd Wednesday of each month - Addis Museum
square area of the block. Plans call for adding a large
gazebo to serve as a bandstand or announcement
forum, small gazebos which would be used for
concessions at special events, a long covering over
the existing caboose that would protect the
historic railroad car and also provide covered
space, and a facade on the rear exterior wall of
the museum that would include a reproduction
of the old Addis Train Station. The Addis
Historical Society also received a grant for a
street clock for the park.
The site would also include picnic tables,
benches, a patio garden around the house for
special events and a paved plaza between
the house and the gazebo and covered area,
along with extensive landscaping.
“This project will enhance the entire
museum area and provide us with a place to
have events, such as the celebration after the
Addis Firemen’s Mardi Gras Parade, arts and
crafts shows, and other events,” said Mayor
Bourgeois.
The town purchased the old house at
the site two years ago. It will be used as an
extension of the Museum, which is operated
by the Addis Historical Society.
The park will be completed in phases.
“We’re going to start on it later this year,
and it will probably take about three years to
complete it,” Bourgeois said.
The plan was designed by landscape
architect Helen Peebles.
Civic League of Addis - 2nd Monday of each month - Town Hall
WBR Water District #1 - 1st Thursday of each month - Town Hall
Fire Sub-district #1 - Last Tuesday of each month - Fire Station #3
Town of Port Allen
Fire prevention education paying off in Port Allen
A relentless fire prevention education program
by the firefighters of West Baton Rouge Fire Sub
District #3 (commonly known as the Port Allen Fire
Department) is paying off in a big drop in the number
of home fires in the city, said Fire Chief Rick Bou-
dreaux and Assistant Chief Charles Stephens, who
is head of fire prevention. “We have seen a 5 percent
drop in fires every year since 2000, when we started
this program,” Boudreaux said. “That drop is really
showing now. Winter is the time we usually see a lot
of house fires, and we’ve seen a significant drop.”
The education program includes training children in both fire prevention and what to do in a fire or
emergency from age 2 to age 14. “Thanks to the cooperation of the West Baton Rouge School System,
we provide all the kids in this parish with fire prevention and safety training every year, and those kids are
taking that information home,” said Stephens.
The department also provides free home fire
prevention and safety inspections. It also does required code inspections of every business in the district annually. Those inspections are designed to be
sure businesses are complying with state and local
fire codes, and have fire prevention and escape plans
in place.
“We’ll talk to any group that will hear us - Boy
Scouts, civic groups, business groups,” said Boudreaux. “We also sponsor an annual fire safety poster
contest for school children, providing awards for the
winners.
“We’re convinced education is the key and we
work on it daily,” Boudreaux said.
NEW FIRE STATION
Plans are now being drawn for a new fire station
to be located at the corner of Oregon Street and La.
Hwy. 1, to replace the present station located in the
Page 6 - Vision WEST - January 2007
old City Hall building. “The city has received some
inquiries by people wanting to purchase the building. The plan to build a new station has been in the
works for some time,” Boudreaux explained. “We’re
stepping it up now.”
The Fire Sub District, which is governed by the
Port Allen mayor and council, will have to issue approximately $1.2 million in bonds for the new station.
Boudreaux said the new station will be comparable
in size to the station on Court Street, with three fire
vehicle bays, an 8-bed dormitory, conference room,
training room, fitness room, day/dining room, offices
for the chief and assistant chief, storage, bathrooms,
laundry and kitchen.
Eventually the training and fitness rooms at the
Court Street location will be converted to sleeping
quarters. “We work 24-hour shifts, so we have to
provide sleeping quarters,” Boudreaux said. “As demands for service and training requirements increase,
the number of volunteers decreases; therefore we
are considering moving toward career firefighters
and need the facilities to accommodate this.”
“When I first joined the fire department as a volunteer about 20 years ago, we had 8 career firefighters and 30 volunteers. Today we have 10 career firefighters and 18 volunteers,” Boudreaux said. “This
is the trend across the country with less volunteerism.”
Boudreaux said it would take at least six months
to go through the legal steps of the bond issue, but
he is hoping construction of the new station will begin by the end of this year.
West Baton Rouge Assessor
What does an assessor do, anyway?
Most people think that the parish assessor taxes
people’s property. Actually, the assessor has nothing
to do with taxes, but a lot to do with property.
“People think my office taxes their property,” said
Assessor Barney “Frog” Altazan. “That is not the case.
We are required by state law to determine the fair
market value of all residential and commercial property
in the parish. Locally, voters approve all property taxes.
The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Department is
required, by state law, to issue property tax notices
based on the taxes approved by voters and assessed
values of property determined by my office.”
West Baton Rouge Assessor Barney “Frog” Altazan
Assessors follow strict guidelines in
assessing property values. Those guidelines
have been set by the Louisiana Legislature
and are administered by the Louisiana Tax
Commission, which also audits assessors on a
regular basis to make sure assessments are fair
and equitable. “We have received clean audits
since I took office in 2001,” said Altazan.
Altazan said the assessed value of
residential property (i.e. homes) is determined
by first making an inspection of the home
and measuring size and amenities, and then
analyzing sales information of similar homes in
the area. The value of the home and property is
calculated from this appraisal.
The entire property then receives an
assessed valuation of 10 percent of its fair market
value. For example, a property with a value
of $100,000 would calcuate into an assessed
value of $10,000. Tax millages are applied to
this assessed value. However, property owners
living in a home on the property are entitled to
the state’s $75,000 homestead exemption. For
example, in the case of a $100,000 property
used as the owner’s primary residence, the
value would be reduced to $25,000 because of
the homestead exemption, and the 10 percent
applied to that to establish assessed value.
Assessors are required by law to re-appraise
property every four years. The last re-appraisal
was in 2003, and property will be re-appraised
in 2007, but the new property values will not go
into effect until 2008.
The assessor’s office gets its list of new
property owners and improvements from the West
Baton Rouge Parish Planning and Zoning Office
because building permits must be filed for these
activities. In addition, the assessor also obtains a
list of property transactions from the West Baton
Rouge Clerk of Court’s Office.
Besides valuing property and improvements
(homes and commercial buildings), the assessor
is also required to value personal (movable)
property of businesses, including machinery and
equipment, fixtures, furniture and other tangible
items used to operate a business.
“The business personal property and square
footage of homes is confidential information that
we do not release to the public,” Altazan said.
“But everything else, including the assessed
value of property is public record. It is available
on our website: www.wbrassessor.org.”
“Those who do not agree with their property
assessment can initiate an appeal process
established and administered by the Louisiana
Tax Commission,” Altazan said. “We have not
had any property owner go through the appeal
process in many years. We work hard at providing
fair and equitable property assessments.”
THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
The Assessor’s Office is located on the first floor
of the West Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse in
Port Allen. For more information on its services,
call 344-6777 or check out its website:
www.wbrassessor.org.
West Baton Rouge Library
Library launches LIVE Homework Help for students
Upper elementary, middle, and high school students can now get free
online homework help in math, science, English and social studies through LIVE
HOMEWORK HELP.
They can connect to the LIVE HOMEWORK HELP tutors daily from 4
p.m. to 10 p.m. through the Library’s website (wbr.lib.la.us) from any home
Internet enabled PC. The service is also available at the library. Using
instant messaging and a two-way whiteboard, students and tutors chat
and use text and drawing tools to work through homework problems.
The thirteen hundred tutors providing LIVE HOMEWORK HELP are carefully
screened experts, and include teachers, college professors, graduate students,
and professional tutors. Each tutor completes an extensive application process
and must pass a thorough background check. Every online tutoring session is
completely anonymous and is monitored by tutor mentors.
A current West Baton Rouge Parish Library card is needed to connect to a tutor.
A community grant from the Port Allen Wal-Mart Supercenter made the tutoring
service possible. Throughout the United States and Canada, 1500 public libraries
offer LHH to their patrons. The West Baton Rouge Parish Library is currently the
only public library in Louisiana to provide in-home access to this tutoring service for
its parish residents.
Spring Art Show opens March 31
Kites will be flying at the Opening Reception of the West Baton Rouge Parish
Library’s annual Spring Art Show on Saturday, March 31. The Opening Reception
will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the library with awards announced at 3 p.m. The exhibit
will continue through Saturday, April 28. Attending the reception and viewing the
exhibit during library hours are free and open to the public.
Residents of Iberville Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish and West Baton Rouge
Parish who are 18 years and older are invited to participate in the art show. For
guidelines and more information, call Fannie Easterly at 225-342-7920.
A NEW READING SPOT... Dow
Chemical Company selected
a library proposal for an
outdoor reading gazebo as
one of its 50th Anniversary
grants. Constructed from a kit
by Amish Country Gazebos by
parish employees, the Victorian
style gazebo rests among
three mature Crepe Myrtle
trees on the library’s north
lawn, adjacent to Heroes Plaza. The gazebo will provide park
visitors and library patrons with
a place to read and will also
serve as an outdoor stage for
library natural science, music,
and storytelling programs.
Library participates in “Big Read”
The Big Read: One Book/One Community program, sponsored by the East
Baton Rouge Parish Library and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, is a communitywide reading program in a nine parish area. People will read and then discuss
important issues raised by the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.
The West Baton Rouge Parish Library will have reading and discussion
group meetings beginning in February 2007. Call the Library at 342-7920 to sign
up for the Big Read. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for
the Arts.
Vision WEST - January, 2007 - Page 7
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber welcomes new
executive director
Following a national search, the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
(WBRCC) has named Deborah Biggs of Newport News, Virginia as their new
executive director.
The Search Committee, comprised of officers and members of the Chamber
Board of Directors, reviewed candidates from around the nation and conducted
several rounds of interviews. In December, the Committee narrowed the field to 3
candidates and the final recommendation
was approved by the Chamber’s Board of
Directors during their monthly meeting.
“We performed an exhaustive search
and are certain we have a great choice
in Deborah,” said Jeff Hendrickson,
WBRCC chairman. “We were fortunate
to have had many excellent candidates
in the running, but in the end, Deborah’s
enthusiasm,
leadership
experience
and qualifications made her the clear
choice.”
Ms. Biggs, who has participated
in chambers of commerce since 1987,
draws upon 28 years of non-profit and
government experience in key areas
such as strategic planning, financial
management, program development and
Deborah Biggs
implementation, fundraising and grant
writing, and non-profit governance. Ms.
Biggs most recently served as the executive director for the Peninsula SPCA in
Newport News, Virginia.
Lucius Boudreaux, immediate past chairman of the Chamber’s board of
directors, said Ms. Biggs’ background makes her the ideal selection.
“Deborah has vast experience with non-profit organizations like the Chamber
and a passion for ‘community’. She has a proven track record with large boards
of directors and great enthusiasm for the mission of the Chamber,” Boudreaux
said. “She will take this organization to the next level.”
“I am excited to be a part of this organization,” said Ms. Biggs. “Chamber
members are not only a force in the business life of this community, but also
contribute significantly to the general success and economic growth of the
parish. I look forward to working closely with the Board, the membership, the
West Baton Rouge Parish officials, and the community to encourage future
growth that is viable and sustainable.”
Ms. Biggs is expected to start February 5, 2007. She may be reached
through the Chamber office at 383-3140 or Deborah@wbrchamber.org.
B.R. Mayor ‘Kip’ Holden to speak at
Membership Banquet on March 8
The Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Membership Banquet
on March 8 at the West Baton Rouge Tourism and Conference Center in
Port Allen. Baton Rouge Mayor Melvin L. “Kip” Holden will speak on how
Est Baton Rouge fits into regional economic development plans and the
gains in West Baton Rouge over the past two years. Cocktail hour begins
at 6 p.m., with dinner and the program beginning at 7 p.m. The outgoing
Chamber Board members will be honored and the event will include a
guest speaker. Tickets are $35 each, or $500 for a table for eight. To reserve your place at the banquet call the Chamber at 383-3140.
Breakfast Before Hours set Feb. 1
The Chamber will hold a membership Breakfast Before Hours event
at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1 at the West Baton Rouge Tourism and
Conference Center. West Baton Rouge Superintendent of Schools David
Corona will speak on the proposed school property tax election, which is
on the ballot on May 5. The event is open to the public. Call the Chamber
for reservations at 383-3140.
Board retreat set for February 9
The Chamber’s Board of Directors will gather for a day of goal setting
and planning at the Chamber office on February 9. The board will review
activities of 2006, set goals for 2007 and plan strategies to reach those
goals. The retreat is considered a critical part of the board’s activities by
setting the agenda for the year.
Ramp up your business at
the Business Expo on April 4
Businesses will have the opportunity to showcase their products
and services to parish residents and other businesses at the Chamber’s
popular Business Expo, set April 4 at the West Baton Rouge Tourism and
Conference Center.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., with a Business
After Hours event for Chamber members after the Expo with heavy hors’
douerves and drinks.
Entergy is the gold sponsor for the expo. Silver sponsorships are still
being sought. Booths are $100 each and can be reserved by calling the
Chamber at 383-3140. Non-Chamber members can rent booths, but will
pay a higher booth fee than Chamber members.
From the chairman of the board...
To our Parish Residents,
Baton Rouge metropolitan area.
We are preparing for another busy year at the WBR Chamber of
Commerce as we look forward to 2007. Our new Executive Director,
Deborah Biggs, is in place, and we have many events and planning
sessions already scheduled for the 1st quarter. Most importantly, we are
continuously looking to partner with our local community and business
members in order to forge a better future for our Parish.
Lastly, we continue to work closely with our Parish government to find inroads for further economic development that makes sense for us all. Blaine
Rabalais, who is spearheading our Economic Development group, has been
doing a tremendous job in terms of advertising the benefits of moving to West
Baton Rouge new residents and businesses. You can see his handiwork on the
west bound billboard close to the Acadian Exit on 1-10 in Baton Rouge.
I would like to thank Lucius Boudreaux for all the work he did as the
Chairman for the WBR Chamber in 2006. Countless hours were spent to
help with a new project prioritization system, and then much time was also
spent looking for a new Executive Director at the end of his term. Although
he was only there for 9 months, his leadership during 2006 had a definite
impact on us all. Also, a special thanks to Tootsie Comeaux for all her help
in managing the day-to-day affairs of the Chamber while we searched for a
new Director.
Thank you to all the Chamber members, business owners, parish officials,
Board members, residents, volunteers, and Chamber staff that continue to help
keep the WBR Chamber thriving. I’m looking forward to a successful year for
WBR Parish, and you can rest assured the WBR Chamber will be doing its part
to keep encouraging the tremendous growth we’ve enjoyed the past couple of
years.
Our continued partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber is
having a positive impact as we work together to form a stronger, regional
economic alliance. We look to continue to capitalize on this in 2007 as we
work together to secure new business growth throughout our Parish and the
Page 8 - Vision WEST - January 2007
Best regards,
Jeffrey B. Hendrickson
Chairman
West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce