A Better Mandeville

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas!

12/23/2025

🚨 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐊𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 🚨

If you're thinking about hiring Keith Ducre for your concrete work, here's what you should know! ⚠️

🛠️ He grabs and uses your tools without permission and leaves them dirty!
🚫 He takes your property for the project without asking!
❌ He ignores your instructions and sets concrete over items you told him not to!
🏗️ He does the job his way, completely disregarding your clear directions!
🔧 He won’t come back to fix the mess he creates, meaning you’ll have to pay someone else to fix it! 💸
💥 He splashes concrete all over your home, making extra cleanup necessary!

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! 🛑💔

11/14/2025

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞!

Under Mayor Clay Madden’s leadership, a $3.96M repair project is transforming our 2.5-mile Lake Pontchartrain seawall. The most vulnerable 1,200-ft stretch between Coffee & Carroll is 70% complete — stronger, higher, and built to last.

✅ Funded by FEMA, state grants & local bonds
✅ On time, on budget, with local contractor M&J Civil
✅ Part of Mandeville’s Resiliency Plan to fight flooding & storms

From Hurricane Francine to rising tides — we’re ready.

"𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬; 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞." – Mayor Madden

11/13/2025

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞’𝐬 $𝟏 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐔𝐩 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬

In 2016, then-Councilman 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 killed funding for Mandeville’s Lakefront Wetlands Berm, calling it a “nice-to-have” and voting to strip its $2.5 million budget line. The council compromised with half-funding ($1.25M), stalling the project for 8 years.
Result: The berm finally broke ground in 2025 at $𝟑.𝟓 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧—𝟒𝟎% 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.

Factor 2016 Estimate 2025 Actual Increase
Construction (base bid) $2.0M $2.04M +$40K
Marsh creation + stone lining Included in $2.5M +$1.0M (CPRA grant) +$1.0M
Inflation (materials/labor) — +50% since 2016 ~$1.0M
Engineering/permits (re-do) Minimal +$300K+ +$300K
Lost early grants $1.25M possible $0 secured +$1.25M local burden
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 $𝟐.𝟓𝐌 $𝟑.𝟓𝐌 +$𝟏.𝟎𝐌

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: Madden’s 2016 vote to defund delayed critical permits and grants. Inflation and re-engineering alone added $𝟏 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧+ to taxpayers—money that could have built the berm cheaper and faster when erosion was less severe.

Now, as mayor, Madden celebrates the groundbreaking. But Mandeville residents are paying the price for his earlier “no.”

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬: Mandeville Lakefront Wetlands Restoration Project details from Neel-Schaffer Engineering; 2025 groundbreaking and $1M CPRA grant from Dredging Today (Sept 24, 2025); Clay Madden’s 2012–2020 council tenure and 2016 re-election from WDSU and City of Mandeville records.

11/13/2025

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞’𝐬 $𝟏 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 “𝐍𝐨” 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬

In 2016, 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 voted to kill funding for the Lakefront Berm, calling it a “nice-to-have.” The council cut it in half ($1.25M), delaying the project 𝟖 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.

Now, as mayor, he’s building it — at 𝟒𝟎% 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 $𝟏𝐌+ 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞?

```
COST BREAKDOWN: 2016 vs 2025
─────────────────────────────
| Item | 2016 | 2025 | ↑ Cost |
|--------------------------|----------|----------|----------|
| Base Construction | $2.0M | $2.04M | +$40K |
| Marsh + Stone Lining | Included | +$1.0M | +$1.0M |
| Inflation (50% rise) | — | — | ~$1.0M |
| Re-Engineering/Permits | Minimal | +$300K | +$300K |
| Lost Early Grants | $1.25M | $0 | +$1.25M |
| | | | |
| TOTAL | $2.5M | $3.5M | +$𝟏𝐌+|
```

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞:
Madden’s 2016 vote 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝.
𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐲 $𝟏 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 — for the same berm, just later and weaker.

*Source: City bids, CPRA grants, NOLA.com archives*

11/13/2025

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐰𝐲 𝟐𝟐

𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲
Villere’s leadership established critical groundwork for enhancing regional flood resilience, especially around Hwy 22 and its adjacent developments.

𝐇𝐰𝐲 𝟐𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
Planning Phase (2018–2020): Under Villere, the Public Works Department began designs for improving traffic and stormwater management at the US 190/LA 22 junction. Early drainage assessments laid the groundwork for the 2025 project, which includes installing storm drain pipes from Dalwill Drive to Bayou Chinchuba. Preliminary plans were 90% developed during his tenure.

𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞
2016 Election: Villere opposed a $1.5 million proposal to upgrade flood-prone Dalwill Drive during his re-election campaign. He emphasized fiscal responsibility while his opponent argued for proactive drainage solutions to prevent disasters. This debate highlighted Hwy 22’s significance in flooding issues, influencing future city planning.

𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧
2012–2019: Villere's budgets allocated millions for flood control, including $1.7 million for Galvez Street drainage and $2 million for roadway maintenance. He emphasized infrastructure capital improvements in his 2016 inauguration, which led to a $14 million surplus by 2017, facilitating future initiatives like LA 22 upgrades.

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
2019 Proposal: Villere proposed a $2 million seawall reconstruction along Lakeshore Drive to address Lake Pontchartrain overflow and mitigate Hwy 22 flooding. Public hearings took place in September 2019 to discuss how these enhancements would help lower insurance premiums and improve stormwater management.

11/13/2025

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐰𝐲 𝟐𝟐

𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲
Villere’s leadership established critical groundwork for enhancing regional flood resilience, especially around Hwy 22 and its adjacent developments.

𝐇𝐰𝐲 𝟐𝟐 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
Planning Phase (2018–2020): Under Villere, the Public Works Department began designs for improving traffic and stormwater management at the US 190/LA 22 junction. Early drainage assessments laid the groundwork for the 2025 project, which includes installing storm drain pipes from Dalwill Drive to Bayou Chinchuba. Preliminary plans were 90% developed during his tenure.

𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞
2016 Election: Villere opposed a $1.5 million proposal to upgrade flood-prone Dalwill Drive during his re-election campaign. He emphasized fiscal responsibility while his opponent argued for proactive drainage solutions to prevent disasters. This debate highlighted Hwy 22’s significance in flooding issues, influencing future city planning.

𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧
2012–2019: Villere's budgets allocated millions for flood control, including $1.7 million for Galvez Street drainage and $2 million for roadway maintenance. He emphasized infrastructure capital improvements in his 2016 inauguration, which led to a $14 million surplus by 2017, facilitating future initiatives like LA 22 upgrades.

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
2019 Proposal: Villere proposed a $2 million seawall reconstruction along Lakeshore Drive to address Lake Pontchartrain overflow and mitigate Hwy 22 flooding. Public hearings took place in September 2019 to discuss how these enhancements would help lower insurance premiums and improve stormwater management.

10/14/2025