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Dear Mr. Brown:

Someone suggested that I send a copy of the following letter, which I sent to each state senator, Governor Jindal, the Louisiana State Banking Association, and the Louisiana State Insurance Commission earlier this morning. Having houses built like they were being built out of straw in Louisiana may be one reason insurance rates are going up. Anyway, enjoy the letter:

July 18, 2014

To the Senators of the State of Louisiana:

Hello. My name is Brenda Proctor. My family and I live in New Iberia, Louisiana. In April of 2012, we began construction on a new home. Neither my husband nor I ever built a home before. As construction progressed, my husband and I had concerns regarding the quality of construction in the house. We hired Michael LeBas, structural engineer, out of Baton Rouge to perform an evaluation of the construction. Mr. LeBas prepared three reports on our house. Because the construction documents, which the builder acquired, were so poor—my husband and I actually dismantled parts of the house for Mr. LeBas to conduct his assessments. The price for building the house was $450,000.00. The house is approximately 80% complete. We have been told by Mr. LeBas, as well as other licensed contractors that the house is going to have to be torn down, in its entirety, because NONE of the construction meets state and local building codes. From the roof framing to the slab foundation, nothing has been built to code. The windows throughout the house were installed with “finishing” nails. During the inspection by Mr. LeBas, he was able to pull the hurricane strap screws out with his bare fingers. Evidently, hurricane straps are not supposed to be attached from roof rafters to OSB supporting walls. We dug up the slab foundation and found that the builder used a smaller, cheaper sized rebar. Nevertheless, the Iberia Parish “third-party” building official and building inspectors passed each of their construction inspections.

In researching how third-party building officials and inspectors are credentialed by the State of Louisiana, I was shocked to learn that individuals merely have to visit the International Code Council’s website, pay approximately $90.00 for a video to watch, and then take some kind of test. If they pass the test, a certificate is printed out that must be sent to the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC). With proper insurance, the LSUCCC certifies and registers individuals as third-party building officials and third-party building inspectors (as well as municipally employed officials and inspectors). According to Attorney Crouch, Mark Joiner is the only individual employed by the LSUCCC who oversees certification, registration, and oversight of all Louisiana building officials and inspectors. I look forward to receiving your responses to how my interpretation of this process is incorrect. In the meantime, perhaps I will become a building official or building inspector . . . .

I have a letter from Mark Joiner of the LSUCCC stating that the inspector who did our electrical inspections was not registered or certified with the State of Louisiana to perform electrical inspections. When I asked for action to be taken against this inspector, I was told that the LSUCCC does not have enforcement authority. When the mechanical engineer, hired by me and my husband, came out to independently inspect our air-conditioning and electrical work—he told us that we (I have a 14-year-old daughter) could be electrocuted if we touched exposed wiring coming out of all of the exposed electrical sockets. Note: we had received final electrical inspection prior to this mechanical engineer’s evaluation. The mechanical engineer further told us that it was if the electrical inspector did not even go inside our house, the work was so bad. Did I mention that every single toggle switch has to be turned “DOWN” to get the lights to come on in our house? I will not tell you what that same mechanical engineer had to say about the air-conditioning; it is sickening to say the least.

My husband and I visited the LSUCCC in March of 2013 to present our story. We had between 20 and 30 people at our table after I spoke before the Council. Each of those individuals (all non-third-party building officials, contractors, and Council members) told me that it was unthinkable that: 1) our construction documents made it through the permitting office; and that 2) we had better get in touch with the District Attorney—which we have done. Additionally, the chairman of the LSUCCC told me that not one inspection could have been done on our house because the construction plans did not identify which of the four hurricane codes the builder used in constructing our house, which is located in a high-wind speed zone. When I kept asking how the LSUCCC was going to help us, I was told that the LSUCCC could do nothing to help my family.

We have a civil lawsuit pending against Iberia Parish, the builder, and the third-party inspectors who approved our construction documents, as well as inspected our house—despite gross residential building code violations. We have no way of knowing if our plumbing meets the plumbing code requirements because our construction plans, as approved by Iberia Parish’s building official, did not include a plumbing plan. You can imagine our glee when we discovered the plumber who worked on our house was neither licensed by the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board, nor was he working within the limitations of his plumber’s license. The Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board did fine the general contractor, as well as the unlicensed plumber and unlicensed air-conditioning subcontractors in this matter. However, it was a mere “slap on the hands” because the fines were less than $2,000.00 for all involved parties. Having read the Louisiana State Contractors Law listed on the Licensing Board’s website, my family and I were surprised at such lenient action against the contractor and unlicensed subcontractors involved in a $450,000 house having to be torn down in its entirety because of their failure to follow the Louisiana Contractors Law. Out of all the state and local regulatory agencies that my husband and I have contacted—the only agency that has really assisted my family in this matter has been the Louisiana State Plumbing Board.

I believe that our house is not an “isolated” incident. I believe that we just caught the crime as it was occurring before we finished and closed on our house. This presumption was strengthened when I read about three (3) houses in Lafayette that burned down two years ago when the homeowners of brand new homes decided to build fires in their fireplaces. All three homes caught fire. When the Lafayette Fire Chief came in to inspect the cause of the fires, he stated that it was because the fireplaces were built incorrectly. The framing wood was too close to the fireplace insert, which caused the fireplace framing wood to catch fire. Each of the houses were built by three different builders. When I called the reporter who wrote the story to tell him about our story, he said the whole reason he wrote the story was because he was aware that homes were being built cheaply and not in accordance with state and local building codes. When he pressed me to come forward with my family’s story, I told him that I did not want to do so until our civil lawsuit was complete.

In closing, I was greatly alarmed when I learned about the passage of HB 1048. Given the inability of the LSUCCC to enforce the International Residential Code at the local parish level—how in the world is the LSUCCC going to be able to enforce the International Plumbing Code? I can assure you from personal experience, parish District Attorneys do NOT know anything about enforcing building and plumbing codes. As a healthcare provider, I recognize the importance of maintaining water supplies and plumbing systems with stringent oversight. Risks associated with improper plumbing directly impacts morbidity and mortality within communities. History supports that argument. Certainly DHS—not the LSUCCC—is more concerned (and better staffed) to handle health-related issues associated with water and plumbing, is it not? The health of our communities’ water and plumbing demands much more oversight than the LSUCCC can provide.

I ask that each of you reconsider the long-term effects of HB 1048. The repercussions of HB 1048 could be catastrophic if they are not considered, in their entirety.

Thank you.

Brenda Proctor
337-577-6235

Cc: Senator Fred Mills
Mr. John Barker, Executive Director of the Louisiana State Plumbing Board
Mr. Henry Heier, Chairman, State Apprenticeship Council, Louisiana Workforce
Commission
Governor Jindal

Hello, Jim! Which will do the most for us, Hillary of Jeb? Looks like that’s who it will be. Any chance we can get Jindal to switch parties and run as Hillary’s V.P.? From you know whom in Lake Charles.
Keep up the good work! Talk atcha later, Frand!

JOHN BEL EDWARDS for Governor signs recently posted along in front of the mansional estate of the great Claude “Buddy” Leach in Lake Charles.

According to WIKIPEDIA neither Vitter, nor Angelle nor Dardenne has ever served in any branch of the U.S. Military; so it appears that should the run-off be between Democrat John Bel Edwards and any one of the other three strong contenders–all three strong Republicians–John Bell Edwards will surely have the military service draw and credit in his favor. Only time will tell.

New poll shows JBE leading in LA Governor’s race.

Whom are you supporting for Governor?

Jim, you mentioned Pennington and the fact that COKE sponsored a study about the relationship of soft drinks and obesity. Take a look at this film from 1952 and two things jumped out at me. One, none of the food prep. people were wearing gloves! Second, not a FAT PERSON IN THE WHOLE FILM.
We are eating the same burgers, fries, soft drinks and malts today. I doubt that it is these foods fault. Nope it is the person who eats them or I should say TOO MUCH OF THEM.
Thanks,
CCC

Beany’s Drive Thru – Long Beach , California -1952-53 https://vimeo.com/110260174B

Vote on the Graffiti Wall for governor. I’ll start it off by voting for John Bel Edwards, the only military veteran–and a paratrooper at that–in the race. s/X

Another vote for John Bel Edwards.

Be careful what you post on this graffiti wall, Pierre! Sincerely, Mr. B

well ok, but wat dat BOBBY BESE uh runnin for?

Once again, it’s not BOBBY BESSE, it’s BOFFY BESE; and I don’t know what he or she is running for. His or her polical signs don’t name the office he or she is running for. Got it, Pierre? s/Mr. B

VITTER AND EDWARDS? WHO?

me im votin for all de demcrats on sd balllots and id vote for dat BOFFY BESE is I knew what BESE RUNNIN for – got dem signs everwhure, but dey done say what offic runnin for, just vote for BOFFY BESE. Good luck vitter and Edwards. s/Pierre

Well we go anuder dem Edwardses as gobuernor.

Whom is Boustany running against for U.S. Senator? Angelle has an opponent…one for sure. And he’s a Republican too. Just can’t think of his name at the moment, but I do think he is a Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.

– a Medical Doctor from Ruston, LA, is running for U.S. Senate. Also, Dr. Boustany (M.D.) is running.

dat gus Rantz iz runin over dare in the 3d disrick he a repubcan. he also one dem lawer not a docteur

Keep up the good work, Jim Brown!

Let’s hear it about that U.S.Senate race in Louisiana. I know Boustany is running. He’s a Republican. Oh, yes! There’s Foster Campbell. He’s a Democrat, I am pretty sure. Who else is running for U.S.. Senator for Louisiana. We have one Republican U.S. Senator already serving in office. Senator Vitter is a Republican, but he’s not running for re-election. Looks like the race is between Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell and Congressman Charles Bousany.