Shreveport Mayor Tom Arcneneaux is proposing a 2% water bill charge to pay for demolition of abandoned Shreveport apartment complexes. These have become very troublesome for law enforcement and the Shreveport Fire Department (SFD). At least one fire fighter has been injured putting out the countless fires at these complexes. The budgets of the Shreveport Police Department and SFD are being taxed with these repeated calls for service that seemingly will have no end until total demolition of these complexes.
Governor Jeff Landry has proposed sending the Louisiana National Guard (Guard) to New Orleans and other Louisiana cities which presumably includes Shreveport. The role of the Guard has not been defined and Arceneaux and Shreveport Council President Tabatha Taylor have issued a press release outlining some of their concerns over the deployment of the Guard to Shreveport.
Louisiana law, specifically Louisiana Revised Statutes 33:1236.28, authorizes cities to file liens for the removal and securing of dangerous structures. These complexes certainly fall within this category. However, funding the demolition costs is substantial and the filing of a lien behind a priority mortgage(s) will not result in payment upon mortgage foreclosure which wipes out inferior liens filed after the mortgage.
This stature provides for assistance of the Guard Lo "assist in the removal and demolition of condemned buildings, structures, or public nuisances." The statute mandates reimbursement of the state for activation of the Guard and for the expenses of the Guard for demolition, etc. Any activation expenses should not be charged if the Governor has on his own activated the Guard. Additionally, the reimbursement expenses would probably be less than the cost of private contractors.
The statute provides that the city and its personnel along with the Guard will not be liable to the owner of the building, structure, or public nuisance for any damages sustained from the demolition.
The Mayor has correctly identified a growing problem for Shreveport that most likely is present in other Louisiana cities. How to skin the cat is the real issue when it comes to money from taxpayers and water consumers. All options need to be pursued for funding the needed demolitions and this statute may be one of them.