Jury OKs IGA and agrees to cash‑flow North Cameron levee, asks drainage district for 20% up front

Cameron Parish officials voted on Oct. 14 to authorize an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Cameron Drainage District and to request that district provide 20% of the upfront cash‑flow needed for reconstruction work on the North Cameron Flood Protection Levee. Staff said the project was originally estimated by FEMA at $625,000 but a contractor’s bid came in at $1.6 million; FEMA re‑reviewed and approved the higher construction cost, and the parish must front costs because FEMA now generally reimburses after expenses are incurred.

In a sequence of motions the jury:

• Authorized the president to sign an IGA that will spell out responsibilities and repayment terms between the parish and the drainage board (motion moved and seconded; chair declared the motion carried).

• Voted to request 20% from the gravity drainage district to assist with cash flow; staff recommended 20% as a minimum because FEMA’s 90% reimbursement practice can leave jurisdictions waiting on the final 10% until closeout (closeout can take years). The motion passed on a voice vote with jurors recorded as voting 'Aye.'

• Authorized the treasurer to use settlement interest funds to cash‑flow the project while the parish awaits FEMA and insurance reimbursements; jurors approved the motion.

Staff and jurors emphasized the project’s urgency, saying some sections of the seven‑mile levee have severe erosion and failing water‑control structures that protect the town of Cameron. Because FEMA no longer provides large upfront advances in most cases, the parish will use internal settlement interest funds to proceed and will seek reimbursement through FEMA’s public assistance process.

Next steps: staff will draft and circulate the IGA, present it for signature, and pursue the drainage‑district contribution and reimbursements from FEMA; the board recorded the three motions and carried them during the Oct. 14 meeting.