Mayor Jeff Collier hosted an informational meeting regarding the berm. Joyce Allen from the building inspection department and two members from the Corps of Engineers were on hand to answer questions.
As Mayor Collier stated, much of what he had to say had been said before. The only new news and the issue that people had been waiting for was the map showing where the footprint of the berm was to be located. (This map will be on the Town’s website as of Weds.- townofdauphinisland.org. ) Additionally, $100,000 was added to the original money allocated by FEMA for erosion control measures!
Please note that this is not a beach nourishment/replenishment project or an engineered beach. As Mayor Collier said, it was a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. It is actually called a flood mitigation effort designed to last approximately (hopefully) 5 years.
Berm Project Overview
The west end section of the berm would encompass approximately 4 miles of beach. The bench (an extension of the shoreline to the south) would run from the west end (where the gated private property stands) eastward to Pensacola Street. The berm would cover the same area but extend to the fishing pier. Audubon would also get a mini- berm (mini in linear feet, not in substance). It will follow the existing shoreline. The cost to be covered by the local site was covered by Bush/ Clinton Katrina Fund. The money originally set aside by the Town for that cost would remain untouched until it was determined if there were cost overruns or other funding necessary surrounding the berm.
The project will begin January of 07 and construction will last 4-6 months with crews working 24/7. Sand from the north side of the island (the borrow site) will be piped across Bienville Blvd.
The Town is requesting the right-of-entry letters to be returned if they have not already done so.
There will be a moratorium on new construction while the berm is being built. This will be specific to the berm site and 50 feet to the north. The moratorium will be lifted when the berm is completed or approximately June 30th. The fact that the berm is on your property will not in and of itself be a reason to deny a building permit if the land is otherwise build-able. However, other factors may preclude you from building.
The Bienville Blvd. road project is alive and well. It is also 100% funded. It will be going on approximately within the same time frame as the berm.