A small coastal community that’s pursued its own flood protection for nearly two decades will fold its levee projects into the Southeast Flood Protection Authority-West after a year of financial turmoil.
The Lafitte Area Independent Levee District will consolidate into the West Bank levee authority starting Aug. 1 under a bill by state Sen. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero, that Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law on June 1.
The merger marks the end of an 18-year journey for both Lafitte and state Rep. Timothy Kerner, Sr., R-Jean Lafitte, who led the town for three decades and launched the levee district in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to secure flood protection after feeling neglected by the state and federal government…