Henderson banks on rise in Basin tourism

Henderson – This town along the levee is expecting a major change in attitudes about the Atchafalaya Basin. At the Aug. 8 town council meeting, Mayor Sherbin Collette struck a note of optimism about the future of Henderson.
A $925,000 sales tax bond for a sewer extension into the recently annexed area north of I-10 has been working its way through the approval process. Retirement of the bonds will be funded by taxes collected by businesses in the area where tourism is expected to spur growth.
The signs seem to indicate that the reasoning behind town government’s optimism is pretty sound. Cajun Palms and other “end of the road” businesses on La 347/Grand Point Hwy. north of I-10 are doing well, and further development is expected in the area when utilities are upgraded.
There is already a strip mall under construction along the highway and more hotels and restaurants are in the works according to Mayor Collette and Concilman Jody Meche.
Legal councel Jerry Mallet said procurement of the needed rights-of-way for the sewer expansion are proceeding and about two thirds are done. He said they should be complete within weeks.
The development anticipated in Henderson is nearly all based on growing interest in the Atchafalaya as a recreational asset. It could mark an evolution away from the dominance of petroleum interests and an increased priority for the recovery and preservation of Atchafalaya Basin as a natural attraction.
In other business, Collette said problems continue in preventing residents from filling the park dumpster with non-approved items like furniture, mattresses and household trash. He reiterated that the dumpster is intended only for branches and other yard debris.
Also, the mayor thanked St. Martin Parish government for the use of their equipment and operators for drainage work and culvert issues. He said the town has replaced several 24-inch culverts with about $7,000 worth of 36-inch pipes and the cost would have been in the $20,000 range without parish assistance.