October 27, 2022 | From City of New Orleans
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF $6 MILLION EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE DIVISION FACILITY
NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today was joined by Councilmember Eugene Green of District D, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, Equipment Maintenance Division (EMD) Fleet Manager J’hue Joseph and Capital Projects Administration Director Vincent Smith to celebrate the completion of the new $6 million state-of-the-art EMD facility at 3601 Chickasaw St. in District D. The construction of this nearly 12,000-square-foot central maintenance facility to replace the old facility that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina will provide adequate space for the City to be able to maintain and repair its vast vehicle fleet.
“New Orleans has a first-class public safety division, and it is vital to continue to make these crucial investments to continue to deliver for our residents,” said Mayor Cantrell. “My administration recognizes the importance of EMD and how critical our fleet is to every single City department and especially public safety. We will continue to work to ensure our public safety workforce has every tool in the toolbox necessary to protect and serve our people. This includes making sure that the infrastructure they have and use is efficient, effective and absolutely top-notch."
EMD maintains and repairs a wide range of the City’s public safety fleet, including fire apparatuses, vacuum trucks, dump trucks, police cars, light trucks and lawnmowers. On average, EMD completes 220 vehicle repairs a month, which is critical to the safety of both our officers and the community in ensuring City personnel can operate efficiently. One of the challenges Mayor Cantrell discovered while visiting each NOPD district station during roll calls was the need for consistent vehicle maintenance, and the City and EMD believe this new facility is part of the solution.
“From a public safety perspective, we are very excited about today,” said Chief Ferguson. “We are working around the clock, and the only way we can be effective and respond appropriately is if we have the vehicles to do so. EMD is ensuring that NOPD has the necessary resources to perform to the best of our abilities and ensure the safety of our City, and we appreciate their partnership in this effort.”
The EMD facility has new and enhanced features, including point of service lube delivery, an improved pneumatic system, a five-ton overhead crane, as well as a new office space and improved parking areas. There is also a natural gas emergency generator to allow continued operations during a major weather event or any other adverse conditions.
This project was funded using $5.4 million in FEMA dollars, with the remaining $600,000 coming from the use of City bond funds. Under the Cantrell Administration, there has been a total investment of $55.9 million in City and park facilities in District D.
“This is a celebration of the continuous rebuilding of New Orleans,” said Councilmember Green. “This facility is a place of opportunity in terms of workforce development. There are 27 mechanic positions available, and we encourage students to apply online at nola.gov/jobs for a chance to learn and work in their community. There is a lot going on in our City, and I am pleased to represent this district to leave a lasting legacy for our kids and grandkids.”
“The vision of Capital Projects is to deliver critical capital programs that improve the lives of the citizens of New Orleans, such as the support of services that this facility will provide,” said Director Smith. “The Capital Projects Administration is always excited to be a part of improving the City’s infrastructure and providing City employees with the enhanced, improved facilities they deserve to fully operate and properly function.”