MILTON, La. — A public meeting was held in Milton to address key concerns from local residents, with a focus on the long-delayed Homewood Detention Ponds project, a vital flood control initiative for the area. Originally launched in 2022 under the previous administration, the project encountered legal challenges that hindered its progress. Despite setbacks, the Blanco-Boulet administration remains optimistic about completing the project.
Mayor-President Blanco-Boulet, who took office after the project’s delay, reassured the community that significant milestones have been achieved and that the work is steadily moving forward. “The project is moving. We have some significant milestones hit, we still have several to go but we are making progress and we are getting closer to completion of connecting both Coulee Ile Des Cannes and Homewood to the Vermilion River, which is the primary focus and purpose,” she said.
The Homewood Detention Ponds project, part of a broader flood control strategy, was temporarily halted last year. However, with the hiring of two engineering firms to oversee the remaining work, the Blanco-Boulet administration is committed to finishing the project. The goal is to ensure the ponds are functional and able to help mitigate flooding in the region.
For residents like Monique Veillon, who lives near the ponds, the public meeting provided much-needed reassurance. “I’m just glad that they are addressing it. That they are bringing attention to the project and that they are pushing forward with new engineers to try and get some activity. We have been sitting here for almost four years with nothing but a big mound of dirt,” Veillon said.
Veillon also expressed concern over the construction debris left behind, which has been causing erosion into drainage ditches. “The biggest thing is that the dirt erodes into the drainage ditches and then the ditches overflow and go onto the road and it covers the road every time it rains. I think they are talking about addressing those issues, so I’m glad about that,” she added.
In January, the Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) secured a federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to resume work on the project. The permit specifically allows for the construction of intake structures at Homewood leading to Bayou Vermilion.
While the Homewood Detention Ponds are not expected to be a complete solution to flooding in the area, Mayor-President Blanco-Boulet emphasized that they are an important piece of a larger flood control strategy. “I think they will [help with flooding]. I don’t think they are the end-all answer. You have to really have a comprehensive approach from many different directions, so they are a piece to the biggest puzzle,” she explained.
To keep the community informed about ongoing progress, LCG officials announced that additional public meetings will be scheduled in the future.
As the project continues, local residents are hopeful that the long-awaited flood control measures will help mitigate the flooding risks that have impacted the area for years.