City hears flood project plan

Franklin City Council members heard preliminary conceptual plans Tuesday for protection against storm surges that make their way up Bayou Teche into the city.
Tim Matte, executive director of the St. Mary Levee District, and Vice President of Operations Jeffery Pena of CBI in Baton Rouge, explained the district’s early proposals for flood control on Bayou Teche at the Charenton Navigation and Drainage Canal.
Pena’s firm studied the problem and presented two options in the area of Victory Island where the Charenton Canal intersects Bayou Teche, just northeast of the Baldwin Bridge.
Both options involve flood control structures utilizing a sinkable barge similar to the design of the Franklin Canal structure.
Two locations were proposed. The first would be a structure on the east side of Victory Island across to the canal shoreline. The north side of Victory Island would be closed by an earthen levee, closing it off to both the upstream flow of the bayou and any surge coming through the Charenton Canal.
The second would be on Bayou Teche itself, a mile east of the island, spanning across the entire bayou. Levees would be installed in either case to provide protection up to the 10-foot average elevation in that area.
Pena and Matte said they studied the impact of either control structure on surge upstream toward Baldwin and Charenton, and found only a one-tenth of a foot increase.
The first structure — from the east bank of Victory Island to the canal shore — is the preferred option.
The presentation was informational and the council was not required to take any action.
Also Tuesday, Reid Miller, Miller Engineers & Associates, presented the council with the results of a study on the Center Theater as requested by the mayor.
Miller said the old theater building is in worse condition than the last time his firm was asked to look at it several years ago. The building’s iron beam structure is badly deteriorating. He pointed out that stabilizing the structure is possible but likely expensive.
Mayor Raymond Harris and council members said the building has become a safety hazard. Though no formal action was taken, there was discussion regarding complete demolition, then rebuilding later when funds are available.
Also Tuesday, Police Chief Sabria McGuire announced that the city will observe Trick or Treat on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 6-8 p.m.