How many Lake Charles households received the standard incentive award from the Ike housing recovery program, and how many received the supplement assistance award?

How much is the city paying the consulting firm it hired to handle the program paperwork?

City officials said 124 people applied for program assistance — 44 for the standardized award and 80 for supplementary aid. Of those, 24 were deemed eligible for the first and 76 for the second, officials said.

The city established the program, called the Ike Housing Recovery Initiative, last year using more than $2.5 million from a grant awarded to help areas rebound from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which struck the Gulf Coast in 2008.

It was designed to aid homeowners in low-lying areas — principally near Contraband Bayou and Griffith and Pithon coulees — who suffered flood damage when the one storm followed on the heels of the other, said Russ Adams, the city’s planning director.

“This was a unique program in the state, so it had to be developed and administered by someone knowledgeable of state and federal regulations, processes and procedures, and with an understanding of awards that had been granted under other programs such as Road Home,” he wrote in a statement forwarded to The Informer.

He said the consulting firm CDM was paid $264,322 — using money from the grant, not the city — to design a program “that would grant awards equitably for up to 200 applicants.”

The initiative’s Standardized Incentive Program was set up for homeowners who suffered flood damage but had no flood insurance. The Supplementary Assistance Program was set up to span coverage gaps for those who suffered damage but were insured.

The initiative awarded $1.9 million less than officials expected, and the state is reviewing CDM’s contract fee to see if it needs adjusting, Adams said. Any money left over will go toward capital projects, he said.

Online: http://cdmsmith.com.

Right-of-way issue cut sidewalk short

Why does the sidewalk in the 1500 block of West McNeese Street across from S.J. Welsh Middle School abruptly end at the Stine Lumber Co. property?

Shouldn’t the sidewalk continue on and intersect the sidewalk on Nelson Road so that the middle school students and other pedestrians have a clear, dry and, most importantly, safe walking path?

The walkway ended at the parking lot — which was once owned by Walmart — because of “right-of-way issues and the future reconstruction of Nelson Road and the intersection of McNeese Street and Nelson Road,” said John Cardone, city administrator.

He said the city is looking into acquiring the right of way so it can extend the sidewalk.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

A boat rest in the driveway of this home in Old Settlement following Hurricane Ike. (American Press archives)

Brad Puckett