Oak Grove Community

Washington Parish Reservoir opposed

Listen to Jalon Pittman Beech at Bond meeting on 10/20/05
10 Minute mp3 audio file http://oakgrovecommunity.tripod.com/bond10-20-05.mp3
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At the July 22^nd Bond Commission meeting, my father, Nevels Pittman and I testified before you regarding our objections to the funding of the proposed Washington Parish Reservoir.

My dad and I told you about our historic family home, the Oak Grove Community and cemeteries that would be taken and destroyed by the Washington Parish Reservoir Commission.

Yet you proceeded to approve funding that will wash away everything but my memory of where I grew up, and where I call home.

Again, I request that you reconsider your decision to fund pork barrel projects such as the Washington Parish Reservoir, especially when our state is overwhelmed with crisis and debt.

It is my understanding that you have the power to rescind any funds that are allocated to the reservoir projects. I respectfully ask that you rescind and void any funds for unneeded and unwanted reservoirs in our state, and in particular, Washington Parish.

The reservoir projects in this state have become clouded with controversy. The Washington Parish Reservoir is to be modeled after the Poverty Point Reservoir.

This week, it has been reported that the Poverty Point Reservoir Commission is under investigation, and the secretary for the commission was arrested.

The same people who have promoted the Poverty Point Reservoir are involved in the Washington Parish Reservoir project as well as every other reservoir project in Louisiana.

I ask you to please look into this matter before you proceed with allowing funds for the Washington Parish Reservoir.

I don’t believe that this commission fully understands what is involved with the reservoir projects that it is funding.

At present, there are approximately 14 reservoir projects that have been sanctioned by the governor’s office. Each parish has their own handpicked commission to oversee these projects.

Combined, these projects will cost the taxpayers of Louisiana over 1 billion dollars. These reservoirs are touted for economic development and recreation, and for potable water of which no proven need exists.

To obtain property for the reservoir, the reservoir commission has the authority to expropriate, or take without asking, the private property of the citizens who reside on the proposed reservoir site.

For the state of Louisiana to seize private property for economic and recreational development is the epitome of the abuse of the eminent domain law. Eminent Domain was put in place to obtain property for public use such as roads and bridges.

You are approving money for reservoirs that is designated for our Department of Transportation projects. I don’t believe that the average taxpaying citizen of this state would appreciate DOTD funds being diverted from our roads, bridges, and other much needed infrastructure to unneeded reservoirs so that a select few can make some huge deposits in their bank accounts.

This commission has the opportunity and obligation to rescind funding for controversial and unneeded reservoir projects that send our state spiraling into debt.

The state of Louisiana has to accept the charity of other states and the federal government just to pay our basic necessities.

If you tightened Louisiana’s purse strings and put a stop to the self-serving legislators who have been wooed by cunning real estate developers to go along with reservoir projects, our state could stand on its on.

You would at the very least, have another billion dollars to budget to worthwhile projects such as infrastructure, levee systems for our coast line, pay raises for state employees, hospitals, and I could go on and on.

Louisiana is wealthy with resources, but these resources are commonly exploited and misused. Louisiana consistently proves to the world that we are incapable of handling business without the appearance of impropriety.

The buck literally can be stopped here today, and what a proud day this would be for the citizens of Louisiana.

Again, I respectfully ask that you rescind any funds that have been designated for the Washington Parish Reservoir, and stop the waste of any future monies that would be allocated to this harmful and wasteful project.

Jalon Pittman Beech