News

Bayou Lacombe Drawbridge Remains Closed

The Bayou Lacombe drawbridge on the Tammany Trace remains in the down position and closed to marine traffic due to the mechanical failure noted one week ago. Crews have identified the issue, and the parts needed for repair are on order.

Parish Government anticipates the arrival of the necessary parts within the next 24 hours. When the part arrives, the bridge will be repaired as soon as possible.

We will continue to post changes and updates on the Tammany Trace website at www.tammanytrace.org, and on the Tammany Trace Facebook page.

Statement From St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper on Moving to Phase 3

Statement From St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper on Moving to Phase 3

Statement From St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper on Moving to Phase 3

“Moving to Phase 3 is the right thing to do for us at this time, and we appreciate the Governor’s decision. I want to thank him for his continued leadership and his consideration of my formal request, as well as the resolutions put forth by  the St. Tammany Parish Council and the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, requesting the ability to move forward. I have faith in our citizens that we will continue to take personal responsibility to do what is necessary to slow the spread and simultaneously support our local businesses. As I have said from the start of our emergency response to this pandemic, I want to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy,” Cooper said. “We, as a community, have risen to the call, to take personal responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health of our citizens — especially the most vulnerable. We want to begin to resume a sense of normalcy, and to strike the balance for the health of our economy.”

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St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Kicks off Key Initiative Through Comprehensive Plan Update

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Kicks off Key Initiative Through Comprehensive Plan Update

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper announced the start of the multi-phased process to update the current comprehensive development plan — one of the key initiatives of his administration — to achieve resilient, sustainable guidelines for future growth in St. Tammany. The current plan was adopted in 1999.

“My goal is to hear the desires and concerns of citizens and business owners, and work to achieve a vision that will guide our growth and shape our community,” Cooper said. “This plan will take a comprehensive, in-depth look at the way we are developing our community now, and how we — our citizens, builders, and Parish Government —ultimately want to see development evolve into the future. It is an opportunity for every citizen to have a stake in authorship of the plan and in our future.”

The multi-phased process will address numerous factors and rely heavily on public engagement and public input. The process is designed to address several key elements including: land use, transportation, housing, stormwater impact, flooding, impacts of development on natural resources, and the affordability and sustainability of future developments. The planned outcome will achieve several objectives it will provide a factual basis for land-use decision-making; educate and inform the public; resolve points of conflict; and reduce arbitrary decision-making through establishing plan parameters. In addition to public input, the plan will also be informed by a 21-member Steering Committee comprised of seven appointed members by St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper, and 14 members (one appointee each) appointed by the St. Tammany Parish Council. The entire process to finalize a draft of the plan for a public hearing, and final presentation of a draft for adoption to all Parish governing bodies, is expected to be complete in late 2021 to early 2022.

Citizens and interested parties will be made aware of upcoming opportunities for public input, expected to begin in the late fall of 2020. All means of connection to communication about the plan and the opportunities for public input will be disseminated through www.stpgov.org, St. Tammany Parish Government social media outlets, the news media, and email blasts from Parish Government.

Asakura-Robinson Consultants, as well as sub-consultants Digital Engineering and River Crossing Strategies, will spearhead and facilitate the phases of the plan, and provide a summary upon completion of the phases. To view the kick-off presentation containing the overview of the plan and a timeline, click here.

 

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St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Free of COVID-19 Test Shows

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Free of COVID-19 Test Shows

 

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Free of COVID-19 Test Shows

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper received negative results today, from his conventional COVID-19 test administered earlier this week, clearing him of a COVID-19 diagnosis. He plans to return to work in his office at Koop Drive next week.

“I want to thank everyone for their well-wishes while I was in quarantine. I am feeling much better and I am certainly looking forward to resuming my work routine and public activities,” Cooper said. “I feel strongly that quarantining — and following St. Tammany Parish Government COVID-19 protocol —was the responsible thing to do, and I appreciate the assistance of my staff while I worked from home during this period.”

Cooper self-quarantined — out of an abundance of caution — while he awaited medical clearance, after experiencing mild flu-like symptoms and a fever last weekend. He followed St. Tammany Parish Government COVID-19 protocols, as well as the advice of medical professionals.

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Bayou Lacombe Drawbridge Closed Due to Mechanical Failure

Bayou Lacombe Drawbridge Closed Due to Mechanical Failure

Mechanical Failure has caused the Bayou Lacombe drawbridge on the Tammany Trace to remain in the down position and closed to marine traffic for what is expected to be approximately one week. Crews have identified the issue, and the parts needed for repair are on order. Changes and updates will be shared on the Tammany Trace website at www.tammanytrace.org, and on the Tammany Trace Facebook page.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Offers Support for Regional Recovery Phases

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Offers Support for Regional Recovery Phases

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper has penned a personal letter to Governor John Bel Edwards asking him to consider regional implementation of COVID-19 recovery phases, in lieu of the current statewide implementation model. In addition, Cooper’s letter asks that the Governor make the criteria for any Parish to enter Phase 3 available to Parish leaders state-wide so that each region can base their decisions on phased re-openings using these criteria. This letter supports similar appeals to the Governor by the St. Tammany Parish Council as well as the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce.

“As I have said from the start of our emergency response to this pandemic, I want to balance the health of our community with the health of our economy. St. Tammany has risen to the call, as a community, to take personal responsibility to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health of our citizens — especially the most vulnerable. We want to use this momentum to move into the next phase, to increase capacity in our small businesses and our restaurants, while keeping precautions in place so that our economy can begin to robustly recover. I have faith in our citizens that we will continue to take personal responsibility to do what is necessary to slow the spread and simultaneously support our local businesses. We want to begin to resume a sense of normalcy, and to strike the balance for the health of our economy.”

Cooper stresses that he wants safety protocols — wearing a mask in public, physically distancing, and practicing personal hygiene — to remain in place going forward. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 90,230 tests have been administered in St. Tammany, with 6,220 total positive cases reported. This is a 6.89% positivity rate.

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St. Tammany Parish Government non-emergency Offices Closed for Labor Day

Non-emergency offices of St. Tammany Parish Government are closed Monday, September 7, 2020 in observance of Labor Day.

In addition, the St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services will close Saturday, September 5, 2020. Business hours resume Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 8 a.m.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Self-Quarantines After Experiencing Flu-like Symptoms

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Self-Quarantines After Experiencing Flu-like Symptoms

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper Self-Quarantines After Experiencing Flu-like Symptoms

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper is leading by example as he has self-quarantined — out of an abundance of caution — after experiencing mild flu-like symptoms and a fever last weekend. He is following St. Tammany Parish Government COVID-19 protocols, as well as the advice of medical professionals.

He has had a rapid COVID-19 test, which was negative, and is currently awaiting the results of a conventional test, expected in the next five to seven days.

He is currently working from home where he is in constant contact with staff, attending meetings via zoom and over the phone, and isolating so as not to come in contact with others. He is expected to return to work on the Koop Drive campus when he is cleared to do so by a physician.

 

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St. Tammany Demonstrates Innovative Floodgate Design – First of its Kind in the State in a Residential Area

St. Tammany Demonstrates Innovative Floodgate Design – First of its Kind in the State in a Residential Area

St. Tammany Demonstrates Innovative Floodgate Design – First of its Kind in the State in a Residential Area

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper announced today, the completion of the installation of a FloodBreak Automatic Floodgate Mitigation System — in the Fox Hollow subdivision in the Slidell area. This gate is the first of its kind in the State of Louisiana installed in a residential neighborhood. With the installation of this gate, the gap in the levee system will now be closed during a flood event. This system requires no man power to operate, and is automatically activated by flood waters which cause the gate to rise and protect the area where the gate is installed. As the flood waters recede, the gate recedes as well. No man power is required to operate the system. When not activated, the gate lies underground, flush with the roadway, and residents simply drive over it. It is touted as a “passive, automatic flood barrier system that provides permanent and virtually invisible flood protection without human intervention or power.”

“This completion of this project will give the residents of Fox Hollow additional flood protection with the most innovative technology available, as well as additional peace of mind,” said Mike Cooper, St. Tammany Parish President. “We appreciate the help of all who advocated for this project — Councilman T.J. Smith and members of Drainage District #4. The protection of life and property during a weather event is our goal with every flood mitigation measure we put into place.”

“Water knows no boundaries and because of that we have found it necessary to protect the 1500-plus residents to help prevent them from flooding,” said T.J. Smith, St. Tammany Parish Councilman, District 14. “With the leadership of Drainage District #4, we have been able to provide an additional resource that supplements the additional five miles of levees and the pumps for this district.”

Warner Trucking is the contractor for this project, and Mike Riviere of Infinity Engineering is the engineer.  The cost of the project is $369,797.00.

 

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St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Update – Tuesday, August 25, 2020

St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Update – Tuesday, August 25, 2020

St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Update – Tuesday, August 25, 2020

St. Tammany Parish Officials continue to monitor Hurricane Laura and the potential impacts on St. Tammany Parish. Hurricane Laura is currently forecast by the National Hurricane Center to reach the northwestern Gulf Coast at or near major hurricane intensity Wednesday night, August 26, 2020. Potential impacts to St. Tammany Parish forecast by the National Weather Service include: possible heavy rain from 1-4 inches; storm surge of up to 2-4 feet. St. Tammany Parish Government announced the following Emergency Operations updates at a news briefing earlier today.

-St. Tammany Parish Government is partially activated at the St. Tammany Emergency Operations Center. They will remain activated throughout the duration of this storm. Members of the Critical Response Team will activate beginning at 7 a.m., Wednesday, August 26, 2020.

- Citizens who need to report storm-related issues should call 985-898-2323 or the non-emergency number of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office: 985-898-2338, or the non-emergency number of their local police departments.

 - All Parish Government offices will resume operations, Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 8 a.m.

- The following St. Tammany Parish Council meetings scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2020 will go on as planned in St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers, 21490 Koop Drive:

  • Agenda Review Committee Meeting: Wednesday, AUGUST 26, 2020 AT 6 p.m.
  • Council Finance Committee Meeting: Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Following Agenda Review Meeting
  • Special Council Meeting: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 7:00p.m.  (Zoning and Planning Appeal items)

-These facilities will remain closed until further advised:

  • Camp Salmen Nature Park, located at 35122 Parish Pkwy, Slidell, LA 70460
  • The Tammany Trace
  • The St. Tammany Fishing Pier located at 54001 East Howze Beach Rd, Slidell, LA 70461
  • Kids Konnection Playground located at 21410 Koop Dr, Mandeville
  • Northshore Beach located at 267 Debbie Dr, Slidell, LA 70458
  • Bayou Lacombe Bridge. No Marine traffic.

 

-The St. Tammany Parish Department of Public Works has opened six self-serve sandbag locations Tuesday, August 25, 2020, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., weather permitting. There will be someone to assist the elderly and the disabled at each location.

  • St. Tammany Parish Government- Building - 21410 Koop Dr., Mandeville
  • St. Tammany Parish Public Works- Airport Road Barn -34583 Grantham College Rd, Slidell, La
  • The Old Levee District Site - 61134 Military Road (Hwy 190) Slidell, La.
  • St. Tammany Parish Public Works- Fritchie Barn - 63119 Highway 1090 in Pearl River
  • St. Tammany Parish Public Works Barn- Keller Barn - 63131 Fish Hatchery Road, Lacombe
  • St. Tammany Parish Public Works Barn- Covington Barn - 1305 N. Florida Street, Covington

 

  • -STAR TRANSIT will resume operations Wednesday, August 26, 2020.
  • -The St. Tammany Clerk of Court, Judges and District Attorney’s offices are closed through Wednesday, August 26, 2020.
  • - St. Tammany Parish libraries are closed August 25, 2020.
  • -Coastal Environmental is suspending recycling this week. Garbage pickup is expected however, the schedule may change.
  • -Public Works and Tammany Utilities personnel remain on call, if needed, out of an abundance of caution.
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-Citizens can call 985-809-2300 or 1-800-809-2300 for storm updates, or visit www.stpgov.org/storm for information.

-Continuous updates will be posted at www.stpgov.org, on STPG-TV; Channel 710 Spectrum; Channel 99 AT &T U-Verse, as well as on Social Media.

Residents are asked to clear any debris from culverts and drainage pathways, and to monitor the weather forecasts in the coming days through your local media outlets. Prepare your enhanced plan to accommodate COVID-19 precautions.

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Sign up now for ALERT St. Tammany, here. This is the Parish-wide emergency notification system for St. Tammany Parish Government. If we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you.

  • Watch the August 25, 2020 Press Conference here.
  • Watch the August 24, 2020 Press Conference here.
  • View Emergency Declaration here
  • Watch the August 23, 2020 Press Conference here

 

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Contact Us

  • Administrative Complex
    21490 Koop Dr.
    Mandeville, LA 70471
    985.898.2700

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday through Friday
    8:00am to 4:30pm