Parish drainage study to widen canal, town officials say work should not worsen local flooding

Mayor Rhodes said parish drainage crews will begin work in Orleans Quarters the next day and described a parish-conducted drainage study that proposes digging a ditch across a cane field and running it to the Stonewall Canal. "They just gave us the drainage study and showed how it's not gonna affect anybody in the town of Brusly, negatively," Mayor Rhodes said, adding the work should move more water away from low areas.

The study would include a swale in the back corner of Live Oak and larger drainage capacity under the railroad crossing near McDonald's, officials said. Rhodes said the improvements are intended to route water from Gleeson Apartments and nearby commercial and residential areas into a new canal that will run to the Stonewall Canal and help relieve chronic ponding.

Council members asked whether the town's own drainage work had been shared with parish engineers; Rhodes said the parish had not requested the town's data and he did not know if it influenced the study. A council member asked whether the canal enlargement would increase water flow toward Live Oak; Rhodes responded the study showed only a small rise and that the design includes a buffer (a swale) to prevent increased flooding on adjacent lots.

The mayor also reported a pump failure at "Benzo" and said staff were evaluating whether to repair the pump or replace internal components. He praised a utility representative for prompt power restoration following a recent storm and noted parish officials are rolling back millage reductions this year, which he described as tax relief affecting local budgets.

Next steps: the parish will begin the planned ditch work and the town will monitor impacts; no formal town action or vote was recorded at the meeting.