Lt. Fred Essure introduced as town's new liaison with St. Tammany Sheriff's Office

The Abita Springs Board of Aldermen wants all FEMA trailers removed from the town.

"It is time for us to move forward," Mayor Pro Tem Sheri Sable Campbell said.   She said Hurricane Katrina was nearly three years ago, and she feels that is long enough for the people who lost their homes to have found new living arrangements.

"I don't believe there are still people out there in Abita that need housing assistance," Campbell said, adding that if there are still people needing housing assistance, travel trailers are not the answer.

The board approved a resolution Tuesday night requesting FEMA remove all of its travel trailers from the town and to provide other alternative housing for those people still needing it.

Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said immediately after Hurricane Katrina, Abita Springs residents "opened their hearts and homes" to people displaced from other areas.

"Most of the trailers after Katrina were in front of homes that weren't damaged.  They were for friends and family primarily from St. Bernard," Fitzmorris said.

He said it was the right thing to do for the town to open its hearts to these people who lost their homes elsewhere, but it has come time for the trailers to go.

"The end has to come eventually," he said.

The town has asked FEMA to deny any future request for extensions and to promptly remove all of the travel trailers in Abita Springs.

Planning Clerk Cindy Chatelain said many of the trailers still left in town are not being used, and the property owners want them removed.

Fitzmorris said if there is still a need for a trailer, the town will work with that individual. However, he does not believe that is the case.

Fitzmorris also took the opportunity Tuesday night to introduce the new liaison between the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and the town of Abita Springs.

Lt. Fred Essure has replaced Lt. Bob Cardinale, who retired March 10.

Essure lives just outside of town off Harrison Avenue. His wife teaches at Abita Springs Elementary, and one of his two children goes to school there.

"I have a strong connection to the community, and I am happy to be here," Essure told those present Tuesday evening.

He has lived in St. Tammany Parish for eight and a half years and has worked for the Sheriff's Office for that whole time.

Prior to being assigned to Abita Springs, he worked mainly on the east side of the parish, handling crime prevention and neighborhood watch.

He is a crime prevention specialist, and prior to coming to St. Tammany, he worked with Wildlife and Fisheries.

In other business:

• Brad Nobles, engineer with Kyle and Associates, announced that work will begin on the sidewalks along Main Street and Level Street as well as along Louisiana Highway 36 leading from the Tammany Trace to the Finn ballpark on March 31.  

He also announced that Capco Diversified has been awarded the project to extended sewer and water services to the corner of Harrison Avenue and Louisiana Highway 59.  They presented the low bid of $195,590, and work will begin on that project next week.

• Campbell announced the town's new Web site will be up and running in approximately one week.

The Web site will list current events as well as minutes from town meetings. It will be used to communicate emergency messages and important announcements to residents, and eventually the town's code of ordinances will be available for view via the Web site.  The address is www.townofabitasprings.com.

•  The All Town Garage Sale and flea market will be held March 29 and will benefit the Abita Recreation Center.