Baldwin marked 2002 with progress and accomplishments.

A new water plant, near-completion of the first phase of newly incorporated Raintree Village development, a grant for improvements to the park, all these things and more made the year successful in the small town.

Mayor Wayne Breaux said the new water plant, recently completed and put online, will solve the town’s water needs for years to come.

It not only will serve existing residents with a high-quality water product, but will also serve the expansion of Baldwin including the Raintree Village subdivision of the Chitimacha Tribe, which has been incorporated into the town limits.

The water plant was funded through a $1.25 million municipal loan fund through the Department of Environmental Quality.

The town is also currently installing water and gas lines to both Raintree and areas of the municipality where they were needed.

Raintree Village has progressed much during the year. Breaux expects to see the first 33 homes built during the first part of 2003. He has good expectations that the development will go a long way toward solving the housing problems of the area.

Baldwin has been doing quite a bit of drainage work, completing T.J. Hatcherson and Rosebud streets.

Branch Street will be the next area where subsurface drainage will be installed, Breaux said.

"We should start that in a couple of weeks, we’re in the process of getting the materials," he said. "We have a priority list, and we’re going through it street by street for as long as the money holds out. Of course, it increases the value of the property for those people who front those streets, but it’s also a win-win situation for the town in that it’s a lot easier to maintain. Without the open ditches, litter doesn’t seem to get a chance to accumulate as much and it’s a lot easier for us to maintain. And of course the drainage is going to be better."

After much of the drainage work is done, some of the narrow streets will be widened and overlaid again.

Baldwin also was this year a recipient of an Atchafalaya Basin program grant to the tune of $300,000.

The grant will allow enhancements in the area of the town park and walking trail.

There are plans nearly finalized for a large pavilion, bulkheading, jogging track, wharf and fishing piers.

"We think it’s going to be a great addition to our recreation facilities," Breaux said.

Housing rehabilitations are focusing on Rod Lane and Collins Street. Five homes have been completed since the program began, Breaux said, with probably five more under way.

Those housing renovations are funded through a state capital outlay grant.

Elections were held late in the year, and Breaux was returned to his fourth term in office.

"It’s very rewarding that the people appreciate the job that I do," he said. "It’s a lot of hard work and responsibility, but I think my years of service to the town have been noticed by the community."

Four of the five council members will return to office as well.

"I’ve been fortunate through the years to have a council that works with me, and I don’t see any particular change in the future. I think that’s what has set Baldwin a little bit apart of some of communities, the fact that we do work together, and I think it’s shown in the progress we’ve made."

Baldwin won its sixth district cleanest city title in 2002, and placed as a runner-up in the state competition.

Breaux said the contest was a yearlong effort.

"I need to give credit to the Baldwin Beautification Club," he said. "Those ladies worked hard getting us ready for that contest. And also my city employees deserve thanks. We got a number of compliments."

For 2003, which Breaux says looks "to be something which will be great for the Town of Baldwin," a number of things are happening.

The mayor expects to start work on Martin Luther King Street, which will involve installation of subsurface drainage and nearly a complete rebuilding of the street to the railroad track. Along with the Atchafalaya project, Raintree Village and an agreement with a bank to locate in the subdivision to provide a financial institution again to the citizens of Baldwin, Breaux wished all residents a "prosperous and happy New Year."