Items filtered by date: December 2015

St. Tammany Parish Government and Recreation District #1, Pelican Park in Mandeville signed the final closing documents today on the $1 million purchase of a 100.387 acre portion of land from St. Tammany Parish Government. This land, which is part of the 293.86 acres the Parish purchased in March of this year, was purchased for future use by the Recreation District.

“When St. Tammany Parish Government purchased this property earlier this year, we envisioned its use for many reasons, not the least of which is to enhance the quality of life for our residents,” Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President said. “Of course it will benefit the residents we have now, but it is also for the future generations of St. Tammany — our children, and their children’s children. Pelican Park has been a good steward of this community and has enhanced the lives of both children and families through recreation and community service. This collaboration brings with it the possibility for many great things. We look forward to seeing their plans for this additional acreage.”

“We were very happy to get this property, especially with the growth we are experiencing in this community,” said Nixon Adams, Chairman, Pelican Park Board of Commissioners. “This gives us the opportunity to secure property which happens to be right next to us, and in the future we will be able to accomplish many other things. This is a perfect fit for us.”

“We definitely meet the needs of our community now, but this purchase allows us to secure green space for future generations,” said Kathy Foley, Director, Pelican Park. “This will ensure that we meet the needs of our community for years to come. This is what is most important because really, it is all about the children.”

The Recreation District will begin master planning for the property once the route for the Mandeville Bypass Road is finalized. The District will hold numerous public input meetings to determine what the community wants the property used for in years to come.

Restrictive covenants on the final contract include the use of this property for
“..youth/adult sports (whether organized or recreational); sports tournaments; athletic facilities; youth camps; public/private entertainment and events; meeting and recreational facilities; food and beverage service; trails; dog parks; skate parks; education, craft and leisure programs (whether credit and/or non-credit); hiking and recreation; shooting sports; bicycling trails and parks…” St. Tammany Parish Government has the right of First Refusal, should Pelican Park choose to sell the property in the future.

Other uses for the remainder of the parish-owned property include, the newly proposed Safe Haven, a partnership with community stakeholders and local service providers to create a coordinated behavioral health system to serve St. Tammany Parish and the surrounding region, the St. Tammany Parish mitigation bank, and the Mandeville Bypass road, a joint endeavor with the St. Tammany Parish, the City of Mandeville and Pelican Park.

On the same day that the Act of Sale for the purchase of Southeast Louisiana State Hospital and surrounding acreage to St. Tammany Parish Government, was officially recorded by the Clerk of Court, Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President, Kathy Kleibert, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), and representatives from State Government, Northlake Behavioral Health and Pelican Park gathered for a ceremonial signing to mark the occasion.

“Behavioral health care should not be seen as a luxury for any community — it should be available when people need it,” Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President said. “This purchase is one step toward ensuring that we have an open avenue of care here in St. Tammany, and we have worked very hard to keep this avenue open.”

The $15,480,000 purchase encompasses 293.86 acres which includes the Southeast Louisiana Hospital site. A portion of the acreage will be used for the Parish’s mitigation bank, and part of the land will be used for the Mandeville bypass road, a joint endeavor with St. Tammany Parish Government, the City of Mandeville and Pelican Park, announced in July of 2014.

“Taking ownership of this land will also give us some say in the development and use of the remaining acreage,” Brister said. “One of our main goals on this front is to assist Pelican Park with a long-term plan for the expansion of their park.”

In 2012, the State of Louisiana announced the closure of Southeast Hospital, and Parish Government as well as the St. Tammany State legislative delegation began work to make sure the facility remained open. In December of 2012, St. Tammany Parish Government (STPG) executed a cooperative endeavor Agreement (CEA) with DHH for STPG’s operation of the hospital site for mental health services. Parish Government then concurrently executed a CEA with Northlake Behavioral Health (formerly Meridian Behavioral Health) for Northlake’s mental health treatment services at the hospital site. In 2013 Senator Jack Donahue and Senator A.G. Crowe authored final legislation for the sale of Southeast Hospital to St. Tammany Parish Government.

“The acquisition of this property and the surrounding land is a win for the entirety of St. Tammany Parish. I am certain that it signifies a lasting and positive future for behavioral health care services here in our community,” Brister noted. “I want to thank all parties involved for their efforts — the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Northlake Behavioral Health and all of our legislators who recognized the significance of this effort and joined with us into make it happen.”

Southeast Hospital Statement
Parish President Pat Brister
Thursday, August 16, 2012
4:00 PM

After meeting with DHH Secretary Bruce Greenstein today, I am encouraged that LaDHH will work with us to find a private entity to maintain most of the services now available at Southeast Hospital. Senator Donahue and Representatives Burns and Simon joined me in this meeting with the Secretary and his staff.

Given the interest that has already been demonstrated by the private sector, I am confident that a solution will be found to continue providing these critical services. Secretary Greenstein feels there will be time to accomplish this before the end of June. The state will continue to maintain the facility in the interim period.

The state will move 94 intermediate care beds for patients as previously announced.

The impact on mental health care and jobs related to losing the intermediate care beds is not clear at this time. Over the coming weeks and months, St. Tammany Parish will continue to work to preserve as many related services and jobs as possible.