On January 28 Judge Alvin Turner signed the Expropriation Order whereby Louisiana DOTD takes possession of 1.445 acres in the southeast corner of the intersection formed by the junction of Hwy 44 and Hwy 941/Loosemore Road. At the southern city limits of Gonzales, the intersection has long been a chokepoint for motorists on one of Ascension’s more […]
DOTD expropriates property for Hwy 44 roundabout; property owner responds by obstructing view of roadway
03/03/2021 by
Ascension Parish/City of Gonzales secure Watershed Initiative funding/permits for drainage projects
12/07/2020 by
Last week US Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit to begin work on long-neglected Boyle Bayou, part of a more comprehensive effort to alleviate drainage/flooding concerns bedeviling residents of south Ascension Parish, east of the Mississippi River. It is only a start if a mix of officials (state legislators, elected parish and municipal figures, and […]
Taxpayers were not supposed pay for new courthouse (the $3 Million council resolution)
04/16/2020 by
Below you will find the resolution, unadulterated and in its entirety, whereby Ascension’s Parish Council seeks to offer up $3,000,000 for, in part, “Audio Visual Equipment for the Courtrooms at the New Courthouse.” This project was pitched from its inception under former President Kenny Matassa (recall Judge Jason Verdigets’ recusal in the criminal case because […]
DENIED: Antebellum Pointe fails in 4-3 Planning Commission vote
03/12/2020 by
“Old Prairieville is gone, and it’s not coming back,” lamented an impassioned owner of 86 acres off Hwy 73 where Antebellum Pointe’s 237-lot subdivision was intended. But Ascension’s Planning Commission, by the all too familiar 4-3 vote, denied the subdivision preliminary plat on Wednesday. It was opposed by dozens of citizens and one newly-elected parish president […]
Preferential treatment by Purchasing Department under Matassa administration
02/19/2020 by
Within weeks of assuming the parish presidency, Clint Cointment’s administration made personnel decisions which, if not overturned by the Parish Council, would result in over $1 million being pared from Ascension’s annual expenditure toward salary. Word has it that counter-revolutionary elements on the council are pushing to undo several terminations and four individuals have appealed. […]
The PEOPLE won on Friday; Sewer deal DENIED, rescheduled for January 23
12/21/2019 by
The power of THE PEOPLE was evidenced last night as their Parish Council postponed the momentous decision, whether or NOT to approve a controversial agreement with Bernhard Capital Partners-backed Ascension Sewer, LLC. The PEOPLE showed up in force, unhappy and unwilling to endure lectures or pontification from Ascension officials, elected or not. Anticipated to be an […]
Matassa adds 140 employees, $5.3 Million to Ascension’s payroll (and counting)
07/05/2019 by
President Kenny Matassa inherited a 403-man personnel roster from his predecessor, with a total payroll of $17,437,530 according to records produced by Ascension Parish Government on February 10, 2016. Matassa had been on the job 34 days, having already gotten rid of former lead engineer Bob Horner in a personnel move to belie the monumental […]
A Timeline of Incompetence: Parish has failed to address drainage/flooding since 2016 disaster
06/10/2019 by
On August 10, 2016 several dozen Ascension residents gathered at Frank’s Restaurant in Prairieville to discuss a possible recall of President Kenny Matassa (he would be indicted for bribery seven months later). As meeting attendees filtered into the parking lot that Wednesday evening they were greeted by a gathering storm, the leading edge of a […]
Why Stormwater Management matters: Oak Grove Townhouses
05/15/2019 by
Almost an afterthought, Ascension’s Infrastructure Division Director introduced new Stormwater Program Manager Malcolm Say (spelled phonetically) during April’s meeting of the Council Utilities meeting. The new manager had this to say about the state of affairs: My general assessment of the state of the union in terms of waterways in the parish is, we have a […]
Measure to place Parish Manager government on ballot rejected
07/19/2018 by
Moments ago Ascension’s Parish Council, by a 7-3 vote, rejected a proposal to amend the Home Rule Charter which would have eliminated the parish presidency in favor of Parish Manager governance. Three votes to in favor of the amendment were cast by Chairman Bill Dawson, Councilwoman Teri Casso, and Councilman Aaron Lawler. All three of […]
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