TPCG Coronavirus Daily Update for March 25, 2020

03/25/2020 07:44 PM

From the Office of the Parish President Gordon Dove:

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government Coronavirus Daily Update for March 25, 2020

 (all new information is marked with an asterisk * and bolded)

*Number of Coronavirus Cases in Terrebonne Parish:  15 (Increase of 1 from March 24, 2020)

Terrebonne Economic Development Authority

The Terrebonne Economic Development Authority has activated a centralized call system for business questions related to the coronavirus event. The phone number is 985-633-1887 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Businesses can email questions to bizresponse@tpeda.org.

Terrebonne Parish Library Information:

All Terrebonne Parish Library system branches are closed to the public. All curbside services are suspended until Monday, April 6, 2020.

All fines will be waived while the library facilities are closed. Please do not return checked out items until the libraries reopen.

The Terrebonne Parish Library offers many e-services to cardholders that can be accessed from home. This includes eBooks, online magazines, Hoopla, streaming services, and various databases such as TumbleBooks, Homework Louisiana, Learning Express, and World Book Online. During this time, patrons are allowed to check out up to 10 eBooks at a time versus the standard 5.

For patrons who do not yet have a library card, there is now an online sign-up option that can be found on the home page at mytpl.org. Patrons are encouraged to follow the Terrebonne Parish Library System Facebook page for updates and may also leave messages to the page for any questions they may have.

Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission

  • The airport remains open as published in FAA form 5010 and per applicable NOTAMS.
  • Airport Commission Offices are closed to public visitors, who are being directed to telephone and email means of contact.
  • Lessees desiring to pay rent in-person can deposit payments and correspondence in an outside drop box at the office.
  • An airport manager (rotating) + one office assistant (rotating) will be available at the office Monday – Thursday during normal business hours.  Remaining staff will remain available via telephone and email.
  • The office will be closed each Friday (weekly) for a thorough disinfecting, and on April 9 due to Holiday on Friday, April 10.  All staff is also available during disinfecting for normal business via telephone and email.
  • All airfield maintenance (grass, concrete, lighting, electronics, instrument landing systems, AWOS/ATIS etc.) will continue as normal.
  • The control tower has been reduced to one controller in the tower + one team member in the tower office. Assuming no decline in the number of fit-for-duty tower controllers, normal published tower hours of operation can be sustained.
  • If controller illness eventually results in absences, reduced tower hours of operation (if necessary) will be published in NOTAMS.

Unless otherwise changed or extended, this posture will be maintained through Sunday April 12, 2020 

Terrebonne Council on Aging (TCOA) Information

Economically needy and disadvantage senor residents of Terrebonne Parish (60 and over), who are not currently receiving home-delivered meals, may call the Terrebonne Council on Aging to find out if they qualify to receive a meal. Please call the Council on Aging at (985) 868-8411 then dial 0 for assistance. Because of a large number of calls, seniors may be asked to leave their name and phone number and a Council on Aging staff member will return their call as soon as possible.

The Terrebonne Council on Aging (TCOA) has implemented the following measures:

  • All local senior centers and lunch centers have been closed until further notice.
  • All home visits by TCOA have been cancelled.
  • Senior citizens who receive home delivered meals will continue to receive home delivered meals and all senior citizens who utilized the senior centers and lunch centers for meals and are in need of meals will be added to the home delivery list to receive meals.
  • All senior center and lunch center managers will conduct check-up calls to registered senior citizens every other day.
  • All information and assistance request will be conducted via telephone. If a senior citizen needs information or assistance, they should call the Council on Aging office at 985-868-8411.
  • All assessments for senior citizens will be conducted by telephone.
  • No changes to the Council on Aging transportation system have been implemented at this time. 

Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office

State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, in collaboration with Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain have issues a statewide cease and desist order for all private burning, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1602. Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government. This order was effective as of 8 a.m., March 25, 2020 and shall remain in effect until rescinded. 

Terrebonne Parish Government Information

On Monday, March 23, 2020, Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove closed the Terrebonne Parish Government Tower to the public until further notice. The Government Tower’s drive thru lanes located on Gabasse Street are open for public use to drop off documents, applications, and utility payments Monday thru Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Beginning Friday, March 26, 2020, Government Tower, including the drive thru lanes will be closed on Fridays, until further notice, to all Parish employees and the public. This will allow for the Government Tower to be disinfected on a weekly basis. The public is requested to utilize the utility drop off box located in the drive thru area of the Gabasse Street parking lot on Fridays to drop off utility payments, documents, and applications. 

The Terrebonne Parish switchboard is operating with normal business hours, Monday thru Thursday. The Parish’s answering service will receive calls on Friday during the closure of the Government Tower and direct calls to the appropriate department. After-hours calls and weekend calls will continue to be answered by the Parish’s answering service.

All Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government services will continue to be provided during this event.

Trade and building permits can be applied for by using he Gabasse Street parking garage, Lane #4. You can also apply online at http://www.tpcg.org/permits/apply

The Good Earth Transit System will begin operating their fixed route service on the weekend/holiday schedule, seven days a week until further notice.  The City of Thibodaux will begin its first route from NSU at 8:06 a.m. and the last route will be at 4:06 a.m. Good Earth Transit office hours will remain from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call Good Earth Transit at 985-850-4616 for further information or questions.

All Terrebonne Parish departments and facilities are limiting visitor access. Terrebonne Parish Government Tower is closed to all visitors. Citizens are advised to use online services at tpcg.org or call the particular department you need to access. Citizens needing to make utility payments or drop off other items and document are asked to please use the drive-thru lanes on Gabasse Street parking lot. Before visiting any Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government facility, please call to confirm visitation requirements.

The Terrebonne Wildlife Museum and Folklife Museum are closed until further notice.

  • All Terrebonne Parish sponsored events have been cancelled that may exceed 10 people
  • All Terrebonne Parish Recreation (TPR) events have been postponed until further notice
  • The Live after 5 event scheduled for Downtown Houma in March has been cancelled.

Terrebonne Economic Development Authority

The Terrebonne Economic Development Authority has activated a centralized call system for business questions related to the coronavirus event. The phone number is 985-633-1887 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Businesses can email questions to bizresponse@tpeda.org.

City Court of Houma Information

Per the Louisiana Supreme Court’s order, City Court of Houma has suspended all civil trials, hearings and court appearances through April 13, 2020.  Civil filings are still allowed inside the courthouse; however access to the hallway will be limited to two people.

Juvenile and Adult Criminal matters are still being heard on a very selective basis. The number of individuals allowed in the courtroom is limited to ten.  Everyone else must wait outside the courthouse and wait to be called inside for their hearing.

Payments for traffic tickets, fines, etc. inside the courthouse have been suspended until at least April 13, 2020. People are encouraged to go to www.houmatix.com to see if they can pay their traffic ticket online. Payment can also be made over the phone with a credit/debit card by calling the Misdemeanor/Traffic Department at 868-4361. Phone payments for juvenile matters may be made to the Juvenile Department at 873-6338.  Individuals on a payment plan who have questions can call the Court Compliance Department at 873-6332/6335

State of Louisiana

Gov. John Bel Edwards’ statewide Stay at Home order went into effect Monday, March 23, 2020 at 5 p.m. For more information on what businesses can continue to remain open regarding the statewide Stay at Home order can be found by clicking on the Coronavirus information button on the Terrebonne Parish Government website: www.tpcg.org or the Terrebonne Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness website at www.tohsep.com. 

32nd Judicial Court System Information

All 32nd Judicial Courts are closed and will reopen on April 13, 2020.

All juries for the 32nd Judicial Court System in Terrebonne Parish have been cancelled for the month of March. An update will be provided for juries in April.

32nd Judicial District traffic tickets can be paid online at www.tpda.org

Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court Information

The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court office hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Visitor restrictions are in place at the Clerk of Courts office. For more information call 985- 872-0466 or visit www.terrebonneclerk.org

Anyone needing mental health assistance can call the South Central Louisiana Human Health Services Crisis Assist Link Line (CALL) 24-hours a day. and speak to a licensed social worker at 877-500-9997. The Louisiana Department of Health has the “Keep Calm thru COVID” hotline open 24-hours of day and can be reached at 866-310-7977. All calls are confidential.

Small Business Assistance

The U. S. Small Business Administration has declared that all small businesses in Louisiana are eligible for COVID-19 business assistance. To get started immediately, visit www.SBA.gov/disaster.  SBA offers a three-step process for disaster loans at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Documents/Three_Step_Process_SBA_Disaster_Loans.pdf. The Louisiana Economic Development is also offering COVID-19 Business Resources at https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/covid-19-assistance, an online guide to assistance available for impacted businesses. Look for updates to the guide at OpportunityLouisiana.com

Terrebonne Parish School District Feeding Program

The Terrebonne Parish School District will continue to provide free “Grab and Go” lunches during the “Stay at Home” order, from Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All Pre-K to 12th grade students (public and private school students) and any student with disabilities up to age 22, can receive a meal. Students must be present to be served a meal. No student ID is required.

Meals can be picked up at the closest Terrebonne Parish School District high school located to your home. For schools where it is safe, students may walk up to the school to receive a meal. Students arriving by a vehicle should remain in their vehicle.

Ellender Memorial High School – Meal distribution will be in the front of the school /main entrance.

H.L. Bourgeois High School – Meal distribution will be in the front parking lot/main entrance

South Terrebonne High School – Meal distribution will be in the front of the school.

Terrebonne High School – Meal distribution will be in the bus circle. Enter on St. Charles Street.

Terrebonne United Churches Food Bank Information

The Terrebonne Churches United Food Bank in Houma is open and distributing food to those in need. The food bank is open from 8:30 a.m to Noon on Monday and Saturday and from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Service to the homeless is provided on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to Noon. The TCU Food Bank office hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 a.m., Monday thru Friday. For more information or assistance, please call the TCU Food Bank at 985-851-5523 or visit their website at www.tcufoodbank.org.

Terrebonne ARC

Terrebonne ARC (TARC) has closed ALL operations, including stores until further notice.

Registrar of Voters Information

The Terrebonne Parish Registrar of Voters office is closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Registrar of Voters gray mailbox can be used to drop off paperwork and blank voter registration forms will be on a clipboard on top of the gray mailbox. Filled voter registration forms can be placed in the gray mailbox. Citizens can register to vote online at www.sos.la.gov or www.geauxvote.com. The Registrar of Voters can be reached via email at terrebonnerov@sos.la.gov.

La. Workforce Commission Office of Worker’s Compensation Information

The La. Workforce Commission Office of Worker’s Compensation Office located in Government Towers will remain open but with visitation restrictions. All persons needing access to the Worker’s Compensation office should speak to the security guards located on the first floor of the Government Tower’s Gabasse Street location and the security guards will contact the Worker’s Compensation office for someone to come meet you in the lobby of Government Towers. Citizens can call the Worker’s Compensation office at 985-857-3775 for assistance.

Louisiana Workforce Commission Information

Residents needing information regarding unemployment compensation should contact the Louisiana Workforce Commission at 876-8990, 800-351-4378, 866-783-5567 or visit the local office at 807 Barrow Street (Town Hall Building) in Houma.

Consolidated Waterworks District No. 1 – Terrebonne Parish Information:

The Consolidated Waterworks District No. 1 office lobby at 8814 Main Street will be closed to the general public. Drive-thru windows will be open normal hours, 8 a.m. to 5 a.m. Monday thru Friday, for paying your water bill or conducting other business. You may contact the office at 985-879-2495 or via their website at www.tpcw.org. Please follow their Facebook page for up to date information.

For the most updated information regarding COVID-19, residents can do the following:

  • Dial 211 and ask a question •Text LACOVID to 898-211 •Visit LA211help.org

 

 

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