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Recent posts
#11
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Re: Magnolia Water
Last post by Lee Longstreet - June 12, 2024, 02:21:51 PMFox8 Filtration Upgrade, (click here) for interview with local resident
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(Audio of Ribbon cutting ceremony)
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(Audio of Ribbon cutting ceremony)
#12
(Click Here) to return to Topics / For Sale or Free
Last post by Administrator - May 23, 2024, 02:03:08 PMUse this category to list things for sale or for free
#13
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Re: Magnolia Water
Last post by Lee Longstreet - May 08, 2024, 10:28:39 PMMay 8, 2024 Apx. 9pm - Water out again and right at bath time.
Spoke to Steve Ernst, the local rep. for Magnolia 2 days ago because I wanted to know if the water tower had been disconnected. It did not make sense to me how water flow would stop unless there was a very prolonged power outage that depleted all of the reserve water in the tower. He gave me info on how the system is designed to work and assured me the water tower reservoir was still active. He also said they were going back to chloramine as soon as the new filtration system was fully operational because storage of chlorine on site was hazardous.
... Well, it looks like we need the whole story because something is not right.
Spoke to Steve Ernst, the local rep. for Magnolia 2 days ago because I wanted to know if the water tower had been disconnected. It did not make sense to me how water flow would stop unless there was a very prolonged power outage that depleted all of the reserve water in the tower. He gave me info on how the system is designed to work and assured me the water tower reservoir was still active. He also said they were going back to chloramine as soon as the new filtration system was fully operational because storage of chlorine on site was hazardous.
... Well, it looks like we need the whole story because something is not right.
#14
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Re: Magnolia Water
Last post by Lee Longstreet - May 06, 2024, 12:33:04 PMTo sign up with Magnolia for text message water system alerts ...
go to bit.ly/CustomerInfoUpdateForm
Magnolia Customer Support: 855-643-8152 https://www.centralstateswaterresources.com/magnolia-water
Not confirmed but understand from 3rd party that the following is contact info for Magnolia. Please post a reply if any of this is incorrect, thanks.
Central States Water Resources CEO: Josiah Cox
Magnolia local representative: Steve Ernst 985-640-1355
Magnolia Corporate customer rep: Chelsea Carter 314-380-8546
Magnolia V.P. Cheryl Watts 314-380-8466
Central States Water Resources: Todd Thomas, Senior V.P. & operations
Creation of Magnolia Water Utility Operating Company, LLC in Louisiana
(the link below includes the rate base calculations - note, Eden Isles is "Tier-2" rates)
https://lpscpubvalence.lpsc.louisiana.gov/portal/PSC/ViewFile?fileId=BUWXR02jwro%3D
Compare our rates with other water districts in Louisiana
https://lpsc.louisiana.gov/docs/utilities/Comparisons/Water/LPSC%20Jurisdictional%20WATER%20Rate%20&%20Fee%20Comparison%2012-08-2023.pdf
go to bit.ly/CustomerInfoUpdateForm
Magnolia Customer Support: 855-643-8152 https://www.centralstateswaterresources.com/magnolia-water
Not confirmed but understand from 3rd party that the following is contact info for Magnolia. Please post a reply if any of this is incorrect, thanks.
Central States Water Resources CEO: Josiah Cox
Magnolia local representative: Steve Ernst 985-640-1355
Magnolia Corporate customer rep: Chelsea Carter 314-380-8546
Magnolia V.P. Cheryl Watts 314-380-8466
Central States Water Resources: Todd Thomas, Senior V.P. & operations
Creation of Magnolia Water Utility Operating Company, LLC in Louisiana
(the link below includes the rate base calculations - note, Eden Isles is "Tier-2" rates)
https://lpscpubvalence.lpsc.louisiana.gov/portal/PSC/ViewFile?fileId=BUWXR02jwro%3D
Compare our rates with other water districts in Louisiana
https://lpsc.louisiana.gov/docs/utilities/Comparisons/Water/LPSC%20Jurisdictional%20WATER%20Rate%20&%20Fee%20Comparison%2012-08-2023.pdf
#15
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Magnolia Water
Last post by Lee Longstreet - April 21, 2024, 03:17:36 PMFebruary 14, 2024 Magnolia Water Expansion
https://www.centralstateswaterresources.com/Central-States-Water-Resources-Surpasses-150k-Connections-Served
Private companies buying up local water systems
> click here
https://www.centralstateswaterresources.com/Central-States-Water-Resources-Surpasses-150k-Connections-Served
Private companies buying up local water systems
> click here
#16
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Politics
Last post by Administrator - April 21, 2024, 03:10:51 PMThis area is for Local and national politics.
Venting is therapeutic but try to keep it as positive as possible.
Venting is therapeutic but try to keep it as positive as possible.
#17
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Moonraker Island - Community
Last post by Administrator - June 29, 2022, 10:09:46 PMDear Moonraker Residents:
This is the section for you.
... First create your user account. After that you can
simply hit "reply" to post your thoughts, announcements, etc. that relate specifically to Mookraker.
To go to the main Eden Isles / Oak Harbor forum, click on the link "Click Here to go to Topics"
This is the section for you.
... First create your user account. After that you can
simply hit "reply" to post your thoughts, announcements, etc. that relate specifically to Mookraker.
To go to the main Eden Isles / Oak Harbor forum, click on the link "Click Here to go to Topics"
#18
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Re: Follow up - Short Term Ren...
Last post by Lee Longstreet - April 13, 2022, 07:56:49 PMApril 13, 2022
Attention everyone:
The aforementioned parties involved in Eden Isles STR's (in my opinion) are absolutely running an illegal operation and at the very least subject to civil lawsuit and per occurrence monetary damages.
I personally went to the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington and pulled copies of the covenants for Eden Isles many years ago because I did not receive a copy at the act of sale when we purchased our home in 2008. All residents should strive to adhere as much as possible to the covenants to preserve the quality of our neighborhood. You can review the covenants here:
http://www.datakik.com/eihoa/Documents/Covenants/covenant%20research.htm
While much has been said about the enforceability of our covenants let me clear up some of those misconceptions. As originally provided, the covenants designated the "Architectural Committee" (first appointed by the developer) as a stand alone governing authority to be independently elected by the property owners. This entity is separate and apart from any subsequent formation of an HOA or in our case Civic Association. Note, a true and legally binding HOA must be defined in the property's deed, or subsequently voted on by all of the property owners and entered into the legal courthouse records. No one can alter your deed without you agreeing to it.
Following Hurricane Katrina formalities were replaced by necessities and the Architectural Committee was allowed to disband. However, that did not cancel the enforceability of the covenants. To the credit and vision of the developers the covenants included the provision that any property owner had the right to enforce the covenants. Any property owner can sue an offending party relative to a breach of the covenants. Such a breach would especially include misuse of a home by running a commercial operation that disturbs the neighbors or the community.
At the final hearing on the STR issue before the council I entered a copy of the original covenants recorded in the courthouse as part of my statement. I wanted the council to know that not only did their ordinance clarify that STR's were commercial operations akin to an unsupervised micro hotel but that in Eden Isles that sort of property use was prohibited via deed of ownership since the inception of our neighborhood as of record filed on May 24, 1973.
In summary STR's are not only illegal but have always been so. You have the ability to stop this but the offended party must take action. Unfortunately, in the lack of parish enforcement, you must bring a civil suit against the offending party. I doubt that someone who's life has been damaged by a STR would have any problem attracting donations to support the expense of court action. I also think in the case of Eden Isles that a letter of condemnation from the HOA to the Louisiana State Bar Association is in order.
... Lee Longstreet
Notes:
- Reference material at www.eiohforum.com , "community", "STR"
- Links may not work from nextdoor. Copy them and enter them into your browser.
Attention everyone:
The aforementioned parties involved in Eden Isles STR's (in my opinion) are absolutely running an illegal operation and at the very least subject to civil lawsuit and per occurrence monetary damages.
I personally went to the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington and pulled copies of the covenants for Eden Isles many years ago because I did not receive a copy at the act of sale when we purchased our home in 2008. All residents should strive to adhere as much as possible to the covenants to preserve the quality of our neighborhood. You can review the covenants here:
http://www.datakik.com/eihoa/Documents/Covenants/covenant%20research.htm
While much has been said about the enforceability of our covenants let me clear up some of those misconceptions. As originally provided, the covenants designated the "Architectural Committee" (first appointed by the developer) as a stand alone governing authority to be independently elected by the property owners. This entity is separate and apart from any subsequent formation of an HOA or in our case Civic Association. Note, a true and legally binding HOA must be defined in the property's deed, or subsequently voted on by all of the property owners and entered into the legal courthouse records. No one can alter your deed without you agreeing to it.
Following Hurricane Katrina formalities were replaced by necessities and the Architectural Committee was allowed to disband. However, that did not cancel the enforceability of the covenants. To the credit and vision of the developers the covenants included the provision that any property owner had the right to enforce the covenants. Any property owner can sue an offending party relative to a breach of the covenants. Such a breach would especially include misuse of a home by running a commercial operation that disturbs the neighbors or the community.
At the final hearing on the STR issue before the council I entered a copy of the original covenants recorded in the courthouse as part of my statement. I wanted the council to know that not only did their ordinance clarify that STR's were commercial operations akin to an unsupervised micro hotel but that in Eden Isles that sort of property use was prohibited via deed of ownership since the inception of our neighborhood as of record filed on May 24, 1973.
In summary STR's are not only illegal but have always been so. You have the ability to stop this but the offended party must take action. Unfortunately, in the lack of parish enforcement, you must bring a civil suit against the offending party. I doubt that someone who's life has been damaged by a STR would have any problem attracting donations to support the expense of court action. I also think in the case of Eden Isles that a letter of condemnation from the HOA to the Louisiana State Bar Association is in order.
... Lee Longstreet
Notes:
- Reference material at www.eiohforum.com , "community", "STR"
- Links may not work from nextdoor. Copy them and enter them into your browser.
#19
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Re: Fire District Tax - Vote N...
Last post by Thomas Thompson - March 10, 2022, 02:48:37 PMVOTE NO on March 26, 2022
On March 26th you will be asked to continue a 35 mil Fire District One tax for ten years. This tax is in addition to the yearly $39 Fire District parcel tax that we also pay. The fire tax is our second highest property tax. The fire tax equates to approximately $700 per year for a home assessed at $260K.
Before you vote on March 26, please look at your property tax assessment, and ask yourself why are you paying the fire district three times more than you paying the sheriff's department? Both agencies provide community protection at high personal risk to the dedicated men and women who serve and protect. The difference is in the agencies' structure and management.
We have one sheriff for all of St. Tammany Parish, but 13 fire districts, each with its own Chief and administrative staff and overhead. We need a fire department that is fiscally responsible and recognizes the need to balance good protection with affordability.
It's time to slowdown the fire district's extravagant spending and demand a tax reduction before renewing the fire tax. Vote "NO" on March 26!
=================================================
The fire district's rating is a bogus argument to justify their high budget cost.
The fire district has stated many times, their fire rating is saving us money on our homeowner's insurance. So I called my homeowner's insurance company and asked them how much value they place on fire department ratings and how much money does it save me?
My insurance company said a fire rating is just one of dozens of parameters used in determining cost, and the fire department ratings have little impact on the cost of home insurance. Fire damage is low risk (unless you live in the California Mountains). Wind, hail and flood damage claims are a much higher risk in Louisiana, and insurance companies are more concerned about, the type of construction and age of structure when pricing their insurance risk verses cost.
Even if the fire department rating was lowered, my homeowner's insurance increase would not be a tenth of the $700/year* I'm paying the fire department.
Do the math. Call your insurance company and ask them how much the fire department's rating is saving you; then look at your tax bill and see how much it is costing you.
Vote "NO" and force the fire district to come back with a reasonable, affordable and justifiable tax.
*Tax + the parcel fee
#20
(Click Here) to return to Topics / Taxes
Last post by Lee Longstreet - March 10, 2022, 10:45:19 AM... letters to the editor - published, Slidell Independent Feb. 2020
Why won't voters approve additional taxes?
I think business minded voters realize that both St. Tammany and the State of Louisiana have the same problem. The parish and the state both enjoyed the slush of unexpected sales tax revenue following Hurricane Katrina restoration and simply found ways to spend it. Results were new office space, higher salaries, additional employees and expanded benefits packages. Then when sales tax hit 10% it was "game over". Blame that on Governor Edwards. Voters had enough and now won't vote for any taxes.
In recent years the influx of new residents less impacted by homestead exemption have contributed to a permanent increase in the tax base. They have more expendable income and pay more in property taxes. Again, business minded voters know the parish is receiving more in taxes these days because of population growth.
St. Tammany is one of the highest taxed parishes in one of the highest taxed states in the nation and yet the money is consumed within it's overhead with too little left over for doing work for the tax payers. Until recently the St. Tammany parish public works department was rarely seen doing anything in the unincorporated eastern part of the parish. That contributed to voter apathy.
Streets had embarrassing potholes and striping had faded away. They did not bother to change the lights on the interstate and even just let the light fixtures fall off the poles. It is still a rare occasion to see a public works vehicle, much less doing anything. And neighborhoods are intimated into maintaining the medians on public streets. You just don't see that level of neglect elsewhere. In Jefferson, Kenner and the Mississippi gulf coast you will always see public works vehicles maintaining and repairing whatever is needed to keep public property in good shape.
Several things need to be done to fix the revenue problem.
The first step is comparing yourself to other areas and realizing there is a problem.
A lot of the problem is with dedicated taxes. "We" foolishly seem to vote that way. We need an unbiased, non-political, office of independent inspector general. The inspectors general's primary mission would be to review the allocation and funding appropriateness of the various parish agencies. The end goal would be a ballot proposal to reallocate dedicated taxes based upon a needs and appropriateness basis.
In today's political environment it's flabbergasting that so many people do not understand how money is created. Business creates the jobs and the money. More business equals more money. One ignored opportunity would be to develop the Slidell lakefront.
Maybe it's time to put back on the ballot the issue of a Lakefront Casino as a tax revenue generator. All too many St. Tammany residents go to Mississippi to spend their excess income. Let's think about why they go to Mississippi and fix that. Our residents should be given the opportunity of spending their money at home where it benefits us instead of taking it out of state. The permit for a casino could be linked to the requirement that they build a beachfront barrier island for public recreation which would also help with storm surge.
Submitted by:
Lee Longstreet
-------------------------------------------------
2022 notes:
Casino proposal failed
Former State Senator Crowe still pushing for Slidell Lakefront development - see www.datakik.com/marinepark
Maintenance issues have improved due to public awareness and push from the Moonraker Island Civic Organization
Why won't voters approve additional taxes?
I think business minded voters realize that both St. Tammany and the State of Louisiana have the same problem. The parish and the state both enjoyed the slush of unexpected sales tax revenue following Hurricane Katrina restoration and simply found ways to spend it. Results were new office space, higher salaries, additional employees and expanded benefits packages. Then when sales tax hit 10% it was "game over". Blame that on Governor Edwards. Voters had enough and now won't vote for any taxes.
In recent years the influx of new residents less impacted by homestead exemption have contributed to a permanent increase in the tax base. They have more expendable income and pay more in property taxes. Again, business minded voters know the parish is receiving more in taxes these days because of population growth.
St. Tammany is one of the highest taxed parishes in one of the highest taxed states in the nation and yet the money is consumed within it's overhead with too little left over for doing work for the tax payers. Until recently the St. Tammany parish public works department was rarely seen doing anything in the unincorporated eastern part of the parish. That contributed to voter apathy.
Streets had embarrassing potholes and striping had faded away. They did not bother to change the lights on the interstate and even just let the light fixtures fall off the poles. It is still a rare occasion to see a public works vehicle, much less doing anything. And neighborhoods are intimated into maintaining the medians on public streets. You just don't see that level of neglect elsewhere. In Jefferson, Kenner and the Mississippi gulf coast you will always see public works vehicles maintaining and repairing whatever is needed to keep public property in good shape.
Several things need to be done to fix the revenue problem.
The first step is comparing yourself to other areas and realizing there is a problem.
A lot of the problem is with dedicated taxes. "We" foolishly seem to vote that way. We need an unbiased, non-political, office of independent inspector general. The inspectors general's primary mission would be to review the allocation and funding appropriateness of the various parish agencies. The end goal would be a ballot proposal to reallocate dedicated taxes based upon a needs and appropriateness basis.
In today's political environment it's flabbergasting that so many people do not understand how money is created. Business creates the jobs and the money. More business equals more money. One ignored opportunity would be to develop the Slidell lakefront.
Maybe it's time to put back on the ballot the issue of a Lakefront Casino as a tax revenue generator. All too many St. Tammany residents go to Mississippi to spend their excess income. Let's think about why they go to Mississippi and fix that. Our residents should be given the opportunity of spending their money at home where it benefits us instead of taking it out of state. The permit for a casino could be linked to the requirement that they build a beachfront barrier island for public recreation which would also help with storm surge.
Submitted by:
Lee Longstreet
-------------------------------------------------
2022 notes:
Casino proposal failed
Former State Senator Crowe still pushing for Slidell Lakefront development - see www.datakik.com/marinepark
Maintenance issues have improved due to public awareness and push from the Moonraker Island Civic Organization