Photo Credit: Thibodaux Recreation Department
What does a new administration of an agency do when it inherits poorly maintained facilities? That was exactly the position I found myself in when I accepted the position as recreation director in Thibodaux, La. Countless issues needed to be addressed, from inadequate sewer treatment facilities to outdated parks and obsolete recreation infrastructure. Kirk Chiasson was appointed parks director at the same time, so we immediately went to work evaluating departments, programs, and infrastructure. With the assistance of a local engineering and design firm, a comprehensive assessment was completed, and the results were startling.
A total of $13,686,310 in renovations and upgrades were required. Even a “second opinion” produced similar results. So the administration considered options for funding. Since grant opportunities had become extremely scarce and those that were available would not begin to meet the city’s needs, Mayor Tommy Eschete took the issue to the voters in the form of a proposed tax. Unfortunately, the tax narrowly failed, and the administration had to devise a plan to handle the problems with extremely limited funding.
Money Down The Drain
The administration immediately assumed a “stop the bleeding” mentality and prioritized the city’s issues. One of the real concerns was the Thibodaux Municipal Pool. Originally built in the late 1960s, the pool was a money pit. It had significant water leaks that cost the city approximately $80,000 annually. Leaking along with the water were expensive chemicals at a price tag of $34,000. That was simply unacceptable.