Chief Caraway Asks Voters to Support Property Tax Millages
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VOL. 20, NO. 3 KENNER’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1991 MARCh 2011 Chief Caraway asks voters to support property tax Since 2006, Kenner’s Fire Department has saved 27 lives millages dedicated to Kenner Police Department BY ALLAN KATZ KFD Chief Hellmers says city Kenner Police Chief budget is funded by any property tax millages. needs property tax proposals Steve Caraway is an all- For one thing, he says, it was a mistake by a BY ALLAN KATZ out supporter of Mayor previous administration over six years ago to make When Kenner Michael S. Yenni’s the police department’s funding dependent on sales Firefighter Joe Sunseri proposed April 2 tax tax revenues. As it has turned out, he says, sales taxes arrived at the medical package that includes a are too volatile, unpredictable and subject to sudden emergency, the two-year- new eight-mill property swings to allow for planning in regards to personnel or old girl had been pulled tax to fund operating equipment. Property taxes by contrast are predictable from the swimming pool costs and a new four-mill and measurable. Caraway said an additional change and was stretched out in property tax for capital in police funding made by the previous administration the kitchen. costs. in 2004 compounded financial budget issues when The child had eluded Both of these already dedicated revenues to the police department her adult supervisors for proposed 10 year were reduced by $1.5 million annually. He said every just a moment and jumped property tax millages year since then has been a struggle financially. into the pool. In a flash, she had inhaled too much are dedicated to the “It’s impossible to properly plan for equipment water and lost consciousness. Her mother called police department and replacement, hiring and efficient operations when you 911 and a three-man unit of the Kenner Fire the revenues they produce cannot be used for any other don’t know what your budget is going to be from year Department responded, arriving at the front door purpose without a vote of the people. to year,” says Chief Caraway. “Over the past few years in less than four minutes, 15 minutes sooner than The chief says the eight-mills will be used solely the Kenner City Council has scrambled to patch our an East Jefferson ambulance that was also on the for operating costs such as hiring, fuel, utilities and for budget with non-recurring revenue and rededicated way. maintaining the jail and police headquarters. The four- capital money, which left the city with no capital Sunseri, following what he learned in CPR and mills will fund capital costs including new cars, bullet funds. Unfortunately there is nothing left to raid to first aid classes, checked the child’s pulse. She had proof vests, guns, etc. help the police department meet its obligations this a pulse but it was weak. Her heart was still beating. Chief Caraway says he is supporting Mayor Yenni’s year. A change in funding is absolutely necessary,” said Reaching into his kit, he connected the child to the tax proposal because the Kenner Police Department is Caraway. “One example of our budgetary problems oxygen and turned it up. After a long moment, damaged every day by unstable and inadequate funding. is that presently our police department is spending the child started coughing and spitting up water. Presently no part of the Kenner Police Department’s continued on page 25 By the time the ambulance arrived, her eyes were open and she was able to sit up as the emergency Renewed effort to put airport 100-year hurricane protection medical technicians placed her in a gurney and buy-out land in commerce system taking shape in Kenner prepared to take her to the hospital. BY ALLAN KATZ Today, the child has made a full recovery BY ALLAN KATZ without any brain damage that might have occurred The residential land near during the time when she was unconscious. Her the Louis Armstrong New continued on page 26 Orleans International Airport bought from residential homeowners over a decade Kenner administration seeking ago is the object of a renewed grants to improve infrastructure, joint effort to prepare it for fund improvements for Rivertown sale. “It is in the interest of the BY ALLAN KATZ city of Kenner to get this 160- The city of Kenner acre tract back in commerce, has a grants administrator preferably as soon as possible,” said Mike Quigley, who is intensively Kenner’s Chief Administrative Officer. The terms of trying to attract grants the FAA buyout are that the land could be used for for a wide variety of commercial purposes, if a buyer can be found. projects, ranging from the East Jefferson Levee District Executive Director Quigley said credit for the renewed effort is the development of the old Fran Campbell says the city of Kenner benefits from emphasis given by Mayor Yenni to put the property Kenner High School to a vastly improved hurricane protection system than in commerce and to Iftikhar Ahmad, the new airport funding for roadway and existed when Hurricane Katrina came howling toward aviation director, who has brought representatives drainage improvements. Kenner in 2005. Mike Ince, a of Kenner, New Orleans, the New Orleans Aviation planning, who is working She points particularly to the Williams Boulevard graduate of Florida State Board and the FAA to the table. on a master’s degree in flood gates which have been completed and the $120 University, with degrees public administration at “Our research found that there is so much million levee-building project at the North and South in economics and urban the University of New bureaucracy involved that a sale would take 16 continued on page 26 continued on page 25 continued on page 27 2 March 2011 - KENNER STR your life. your health. Alice Ford Olympic Hopeful and tyleHealthy. Lifestyles Host your s Get On Your Bikes And Ride! Saturday, March 5 • 9am Pontchartrain Center Boat Launch Join Healthy Lifestyles host, Alice Ford for a bike ride on the levee. Then get great information on fitness, nutrition and other healthy events throughout March, like these: Whole Foods Grocery Tour: Lowering Sugar Intake Wednesday, March 9, 5:30-6:30pm Learn to make healthier choices, understand food labels and shop for good health. Whole Foods, 3420 Veterans Blvd. Healthy Lifestyles Book Club Wednesday, March 16, 5:30-6:30pm Discount pricing for selected books and all Barnes and Noble products. Barnes and Noble, 3721 Veterans Blvd. Living Well With Diabetes Wednesday, March 30, 11:30am-4pm Join medical experts, EJGH’s Wound and Diabetes Management Center and Healthy Lifestyles staff for an all-day fair on diabetes management. EJGH Conference Center Domino Pavilion. Events are free to Healthy Lifestyles members. Fees apply to non-members. For more information on events, fees, and how to join Healthy Lifestyles, call EJGH HealthFinder at: 504-456-5000 East Jefferson General Hospital www.ejgh.org Get updates and health tips on Facebook and Twitter! 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