Elmer’s Island owner protests state’s move

• By JOE MACALUSO
• Advocate Outdoors writer
• Published: Jul 3, 2009 - Page: 7C

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The attorney for the owner of Elmer’s Island has protested the state’s move to open the island’s beaches to vehicular access today for the Fourth of July holiday weekend and subsequent weekends.

Todd Slack said his client, Charlie Elmer, was unaware of the state’s intentions to allow the public access to lands his family has owned for decades.

“Mr. Elmer learned of the state’s plans when he read his daily newspaper,” Slack said.

Slack said Elmer does not plan legal action to stop the state’s plans.

“At this point, Charlie Elmer does not plan to block (access),” Slack said. “With the governor’s statement, blocking access would cause even more harm.

“He (Elmer) is concerned that the governor (Gov. Bobby Jindal) told all these people to come fishing at Elmer’s Island,” Slack continued. “Charlie is concerned that somebody will get hurt and he will get sued. That happened to his brother. People got hurt on his property and he was sued. That was the reason why, in 2002, he (Elmer) locked the gate.”

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Bo Boehringer said late Thursday the state agency will not back down from its plans to open road access off La. 1 to the expanse of beach that runs from Caminada Pass west to The Fourchon.

Boehringer said state attorneys used a state statute that prohibits private landowners from blocking road access to public lands.

In December, Gov. Jindal announced the state was laying claim to 250 acres of beaches that Elmer claimed was private property.

Jindal said research showed the disputed area was accreted beach, therefore state property. The move allowed access to the beach by boat only.

In recent weeks, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development have repaired the road and reworked culverts along the roadway that runs from La. 1 near Grand Isle to the Elmer’s Island beaches.

Slack said Charlie Elmer learned of that activity only last week.

When LDWF secretary Robert Barham announced Tuesday the reopening of road access to Elmer’s Island, he said state attorneys used the “quick take” statute to gain access for the work and for the sportsmen of the state.