City Council opts to keep flood maps

The city will have more time to improve its levees as the City Council approved Tuesday a new FEMA process that will allow the city to keep using its existing flood maps for flood insurance purposes.
Tuesday’s approval lets the city participate in FEMA’s seclusion process for its Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which will allow St. Mary Parish to adopt the new maps while the incorporated areas of the parish stick with the old maps.
The seclusion process would allow Morgan City more time to get levees built, at which time FEMA officials could come back to recertify the city’s levees for flood protection, Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said.
The city has protested against the 2008 FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps for several years, which has not allowed the parish to sign on to the new maps. The 2008 maps would benefit people in areas such as Cypremort Point, Grizzaffi said.
While FEMA examines the remapping process of the parish, the agency has come up with a plan to allow the municipalities within the parish to stay with the old maps while all the unincorporated parts of the parish will adopt the new maps, Grizzaffi said.
“Right now, you would have a six-foot difference (in elevation) if we were to go with the new mapping program,” Grizzaffi said. “It would hinder growth, development.”
This opportunity would also let the city begin to plan for the development of a possible subdivision, Grizzaffi said. “Morgan City’s in pretty good shape because we do have a plan, and we do have money to build levees,” the mayor said. “That’s going to come in short order.” All municipalities in the parish must agree to the seclusion process in order for FEMA to allow the process to take place, Grizzaffi said.
Among the capital outlay requests the council approved submitting to the state for funding was $2 million to extend Brashear Avenue. “We just put that on today,” the mayor said. “I’m proud to announce I’ve been working very hard on getting a new subdivision in Morgan City.”
Grizzaffi has met with Hellenic Inc. officials about starting a new residential development in the city. City officials are set to meet with the developers again on Nov. 18, and city leaders are trying to get a rough draft, final print and commitment from Hellenic for the new development, he said.
“Hellenic has been very gracious in working with us,” the mayor said. “They’re eager to get that development started.” The seclusion process and new levees being built are part of what is needed to bring that subdivision to the city, he said.
Also at the meeting, the council approved a resolution to allow the city to eventually close the Joseph J. Cefalu Sr. Municipal Steam Plant. The Louisiana Energy and Power Authority has estimated it can save $16 million over a four-year period by not operating steam plants, which includes plants in Morgan City, Plaquemine, Houma, New Roads and Rayne, Grizzaffi said.
The city would have an opportunity to operate its steam plant at a cost of $2.9 million annually, the mayor said. “That seems like a little much,” he said. “Without the building of the new plant, the City of Morgan City might be in a different thought pattern.” The steam plant has been helpful when the city has lost its Cleco tie-in, Grizzaffi said.
But with the new 64-megawatt power plant being built in Morgan City, keeping the steam plant in operation does not appear to be in the best interest of the city, the mayor said.
If the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, accepts the city giving up the power generation for LEPA at the steam plant, LEPA would stop using the plant, he said. LEPA officials would then determine what items at the plant are sellable, and the building would be turned over to the city, the mayor said.
In other business, the council:
—Approved a resolution for the Save Historic Morgan City Cooperative Endeavor Agreement.
—Approved the city attorney’s contract.
—Deferred approving the 2015 budget until after the Nov. 6 budget workshop.
—Went through first readings of a 2014 budget amendment ordinance and an ordinance to create the Morgan City Development District Commission.
—Approved the finance committee’s recommendation to allow up to $90,000 to be spent out of the pollution abatement fund to seek a consultant to inspect residential and commercial properties to determine if installation of a backflow preventer is needed and to prepare a program for the city to implement.