Hurricane clean up and Politics

By Appalled
Published/Last Modified on Sunday, September 14, 2008 9:31 AM CDT

" Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country"

I am sure everyone has heard this slogan many times before and this is what is going on in our town now.  Mr. Gordan Doerle has been busy at work since 2:00pm teh day of the storm,removing downed trees and debree from our city streets so we could travel the devistated streets of our town safely.  Me. Doerle has been treated unfairly by not allowing him to use his landfill to get rid of debree.What ever happened to the use of common sense to make decisions for the good of our town and parish.  This is my opinion from what is being said on T.V. and around town and I hope everyone would agree with me and support Mr. Doerle. Senator Troy Hebert was wrong in pushing his bill to hurt someone who does such a great job of cleaning our city under normal times, but to allow politicians to interfere with a decision for the good of the people after a devistation is in no other words WRONG.  The Iberia Parish Council as I understand it, has never set foot on Mr. Doerles landfill or even talked to him personally about any of the problems. (Please let me know if I offened the council and let me know who you are and when you went.) I travel HWY 88 twice a day and have never once seen a bird in front of his landfill. There is very little trash and has been concelled from the road very tastefully. Why don't we take a ride to West end a do something about the trash there and let Mr. Doerle continue to run his business like he has in the past. I was told that he did have options to bring the debree out of town, should the city of New Iberia pay more to bring our debree further? Again lets worry about more important things in our city.  Mr. Ackal is doing a great job with violence maybe our great Senator and Council should worry about the trash and by that I do not mean the landfill. Common sense must prevail over the political vendeta against anyone who is working for a better and safer city.

I hope everyone agrees with this and this was not meant to offened anyone. Just to let everyone know why Mr. Doerle was not working on our streets for a couple of days.

Advertisement

Copyright © 2009 The Daily Iberian

Comments

    In response to Frank Rizzo wrote on Sep 17, 2008 9:33 AM:

    " Your credibility has diminished by your outlandish rhetoric against Senator Troy Hebert. Nothing in your thread has any validity. Your entitled to your opinion but at least have some substance.

    Quoting a previous poster, you are "misinformed". Stop being so liberal, do research, then make an informative comment. "

    Frank Rizzo wrote on Sep 15, 2008 8:52 PM:

    " I heard Troy today on KPEL whining about the Corp of Engineers not doing anything about the flooding in South Louisiana. Well what has Troy done about it? He's been a legislator for what 10 years now?
    Answer: nothing, probably because he is not personally involved. He only passes legislature which benefits him personally.

    And by the way Troy where is your construction company? Why aren't they picking up trash? You must have got out-bid. Another reason to shut down Gordon "

    To From Good Luck Getting Trucks wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:24 PM:

    " Fact is, the hurricane debris contract with the city was signed July 8, 2008. Fact is, 2 bills were passed through legislation unanimously prior to June 23, 2008. Fact is, the Governor signed both bills into law. Fact is, Mr. Doerle was not in compliance & operating illegally. Fact is, hard working taxpayers care when their tax dollars are abused.

    There is a possibility that FEMA will not reimburse the city due to such illegality. Question is, why would the city sign a contract with the city knowing this? "

    Trust but verify wrote on Sep 15, 2008 2:30 PM:

    " The WMI landfill (ATASCOCITA) is located 18,396.79 feet from the end of the runway at George Bush Intl Airport. Well beyond the 10,000' recommended by the FAA. The Hardy Road Landfill is 10,360.46' from the end of Bush Intl - still legal. Neither is directly off the ends of the runway. Go to Google Earth to check it out for yourself - I did. "

    Response to Troy Hebert wrote on Sep 15, 2008 12:28 PM:

    " In your normal political fashion, you have tried to give information that will make you look like less of a villain and falsify facts. Can you answer the following questions? If AirLogistics is so against Gordon's Disposal, why are the using his dumpsters? If landfills near airports are so dangerous, why does your bill apply only to Iberia Parish? Have you noticed there is no activity with hurricane debris removal in the Parish and the City of New Iberia is half completed. No local companies will for for the pennies the parish contract is offering. "

    More from Good Luck Getting Trucks wrote on Sep 15, 2008 11:41 AM:

    " The parish may be larger but the amount of debris estimated by FEMA is equal to the city. The estimate for the parish is 60,000 c/yard including Jeanerette, Delcambre, Loreauville, Lydia, Coteau and all other comunities in between. The city is est. @ 58,000 c/yards. The debris is calculated by house hold and the parish and city is almost split 50 /50 in house hold numbers. The parish may be larger but they will be pick equal amount of debris. I live in the parish and will be waiting form my debris to be picked up. "

    From Good Luck Getting Trucks wrote on Sep 15, 2008 11:18 AM:

    " In Defense of the City they don't care where Gordon brings the Debris & neither do I. The Contract that was signed for Emergency Debris clean up was signed several months ago, publically bid earlier this year with 3 bids turned in & Gordon's price was the lowest bid. Thats the facts. The reason this was done because of the debocle of paperwork and FEMA reimeburstment from Hurricane Rita & unless you were involved within the government you don't now what you are talking about. You need check your facts before you spew what you don't know as fact. "

    Citizen wrote on Sep 15, 2008 10:30 AM:

    " I don't care by whom it's picked up. I just want my trash picked up and keep the politics out of it for now. It's causing problems for citizens the longer it stays in the streets and clogs drains. I have not seen one trash truck since Gustav in any area of the parish or city that I've been to so let's just get the job done A S A P. "

    Hey Sputnik wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:52 AM:

    " Mr. Gordon Doerle is the only "spoiled brat" whining. Senator Hebert needs no justification, law is on his side. Mr. Doerle was breaking the law by operating illegally.

    Enough voters did get upset that is why two bills were passed into law & signed by the Governor. We finally have a Senator who represents his District.

    Hold on to your two-cents, the city may need to borrow to pay the astronomical price being charged by Mr. Doerle. "

    To Good Luck Getting Trucks wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:33 AM:

    " The parish has contracts in place, clean up will be done in a timely fashion and @ a very much lower price. Of course it will take the parish longer to clean up, it's LARGER!

    The contract for the city was not signed 6 months ago. This same scenario with Mr. Doerle occured with Hurricane Rita. He has been operating on temporary permits which finally expired. He was operating illegally. DEQ gave him a 90 day extension for these two storms without opposition from our legislative delegation. "

    In response to the Honorable Sen. Hebert wrote on Sep 15, 2008 7:19 AM:

    " The parish and surrounding cities are being fiscally responsible by only paying $11 per cubic yard. If the City of New Iberia had the best interest of its taxpayers, the administration would not be wasting tax dollars. Mr. Doerle was not in compliance with the law, he was operating illegally. Pretty clear.

    Interesting you bring up insurance, former Senator Craig Romero insures Mr. Doerle. Senator Hebert is not in the
    insurance business. "

    myomy wrote on Sep 15, 2008 6:08 AM:

    " I too have travled Hwy. 88 pretty often in my daily routes. I have never, I repeat NEVER seen any birds on Gordan's landfill like I see, when the surrounding area farmers till their land or cut their sugarcane crops. How come the ARA(Acadian Regional Airport) dosen't file suit against those area farmers? Or try to shut down the farming in those areas? Not picking sides. Just common sense questions. "

    Good Luck Getting Trucks wrote on Sep 14, 2008 11:19 PM:

    " The parish is going to take months to clean up w/ the $11 p/yd price. Especially now that Ike blew threw Western La and Tx. With the low p/yard price they are paying the subcontract truckers they will be leaving for Tx & we will have 1/2 of what was promised. Gordon's price is higher but the contract was done 6 mths ago, & he was low bidder. The city was prepared w/ crews working hrs after the storm passed. The parish didn't award a contract until 5 days after the storm & they have barely started. "

    to the Honorable Sen. Hebert wrote on Sep 14, 2008 8:07 PM:

    " The parish should have hired Gordon Doerle because the $11 per cubic yard price has not seen the first sign of being picked up yet, while the city of New Iberia is almost completely cleaned.

    Sen. Hebert, please tell the truth, which is that you are simply upset because you couldn't write Mr. Doerle's insurance through your Brown and Brown Agency. "

    to the Honorable Sen. Hebert wrote on Sep 14, 2008 8:05 PM:

    " It is amazing that you have time to write things on the forum while part of your district is completely submerged in water. The fact is, most landfills are located near airports; reason being, because of noise pollution, there is little resistance for the permits. Additionally the largest landfill in Texas is in the approach way of the largest garbage dump in Texas. Not a C&D landfill, but a complete solid waste landfill. Where is it located? In Houston, the owner Waste Management and the airport is George Bush International Airport. "

    Responding to Frank Rizzo wrote on Sep 14, 2008 5:41 PM:

    " Mr. Doerle runs a good operation; he is just in the wrong location. His only mistake was allegedly making the "sweet" deal with former Senator Craig Romero and former Parish President Will Langlinais in 1993-1994 when he swapped his orginal land location, next to SugArena, for his current location.

    Mr. Doerle needs to accept personal responsibility for his actions and not blame others.

    Thank you Senator Troy Hebert, Representative Fred Mills and Representative Simone Champagne for representing the "will of the people". Representative Taylor Barras was "absent" @ the time of the vote. "

    Sputnik wrote on Sep 14, 2008 5:18 PM:

    " Pretty Boy Troy Hebert's response is like a spoiled brat trying to justify his actions. If enough voters get upset enough just maybe re-call. Just thought I would add my two-cents. "

    Responding to Frank Rizzo wrote on Sep 14, 2008 5:02 PM:

    " When law is on one's side, one quotes law. When law is not on one's side, one gets desperate and emotions get involved. That is exactly what is happening in this particular situation.

    Former Senator Craig Romero protected Mr. Doerle once his permit expired in 2004 and he continued that effort during this storm to no avail. Citizens have been fighting this issue since 1994, finally they have legislative representation that heard them and represented them.

    (continued...) "

    Responding to Frank Rizzo wrote on Sep 14, 2008 4:47 PM:

    " It seems the only benefit Senator Hebert has received from "doing his job as elected" has been accusations & innuendo's from individuals who are misinformed.

    Senator Hebert while serving as Representative of Dist. 49 had long been representing his constituents, the airport authority and the parish council, per request, before Mr. Landry ever decided to run against him for Senator. That is pure indication Mr. Doerle, who was a supporter of then Representative Hebert, held a personal vendetta against Representative Hebert & chose to support Mr. Landry. Such irony?

    (continued...) "

    Frank Rizzo wrote on Sep 14, 2008 2:42 PM:

    " This is just further proof that Troy Hebert runs for office, and is in office only to benefit himself. He was term limited out of the House of Representatives so he finds a loop hole and runs for the Senate, then goes after people who publicly supported his opponent, such as Gordon Doerle. Let's please remember this come election time. "

    Senator Troy Hebert wrote on Sep 14, 2008 11:14 AM:

    " 4. No other state permits landfills at the end of major runways.
    5. I requested DEQ to help with speeding up the cleanup effort, including permitting additional sites, which they did.
    6. The Parish President offered New Iberia to do like the other cities and join their contract at $11 per cubic-yard instead of paying Gordon $16 per cubic-yard, thereby saving taxpayers thousands.
    7. If there was any delay in cleaning up, it's because some people think they are above the law and didn't want to cooperate.
    Thanks for reading the Facts. "

    Senator Troy Hebert wrote on Sep 14, 2008 10:46 AM:

    " As your senator, it is my job to make decisions based on the big picture. Please consider the following facts:
    1. I passed this bill at the unanimous request of the Airport Comm. & Parish Council.
    2. The request was made because the FAA, Air-Logistics and others said that Gordon's proposed expansion from a 10 arce landfill to over 80 arces directly at the end of the runway would threaten air-traffic safety and attractiveness to other aviation companies wanting to locate there.
    3. COMNON SENSE says that landfills shouldn't be located at the end of a runway. "

WRITE A COMMENT

Use the form below to post a brief comment related to this story. Use the word count tool to assist you in keeping your remarks to 100 words or fewer.

•Comments must be approved by an editor or the publisher before appearing on the Web site but are not verified for accuracy nor have we verified the identity of any person supposedly posting an comment. Please consider this as you consider any statement made. A thoughtful contribution to the online discussion is appreciated.

• Please note your comments must attempt to follow basic rules of grammar and punctuation or they will not be posted. Do not use unfamiliar abbreviations or text-like short cuts, like ur for your. Please keep your tone civil. You can say someone's idea is stupid but you cannot say someone is stupid.

• Comments should deal with matters of public concern. Problems with private individuals or private companies are not likely to get posted.

• Questions or comments about items posted should be e-mailed to dailyiberian@bellsouth.net.

(optional)
Current Word Count:
   

Classifieds

Jobs

Jobs

View All Jobs

Homes

Homes

View All Homes

Autos

Autos

View All Autos


Contact Us

Subscribe
Vacation Hold
General Email

Mailing Address:
The Daily Iberian
P.O. Box 9290
New Iberia, LA
70562-9290

Street Address:
926 East Main St.
New Iberia, LA 70560

Phone:
(337) 365-6773

Fax:
(337)-367-9640

Inside Louisiana:
800-365-6773

Local Weather