MANDEVILLE, LA – The Mandeville City Council unanimously approved a budget adjustment offered by At-Large Councilman Rick Danielson that will fund construction of two public bathroom facilities in the Historic District of Old Mandeville, and place Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at five additional locations in the City.
The Council approved $100,000 each to be spent on the construction of public restrooms, with one to be installed in an existing building across from the Dew Drop Inn and a second to be constructed near the historic Lang House. Danielson also requested approval for an $8,000 adjustment to place AEDs at the City's Department of Public Works on West Causeway Approach, in the Paul Spitzfaden Community Center, at the Tammany Trace Trailhead on Girod Street, and at the Dew Drop Inn and Lang House.
"AEDs are amazing tools that even an untrained person can use to save a life," Danielson said. "Currently, the city only has two – one at City Hall and one at the Police Department – but medical emergencies can happen anywhere. Deploying five additional AED units around the City could have immeasurable impact in an emergency and is certainly within our financial means."
Danielson, who is an active member of the Mandeville Kiwanis Club, also worked on the initial effort to place AEDs in all St. Tammany Public Schools. Partnered with the School System, that effort took off and was completed several years ago. The Kiwanis Club is now working to ensure there is at least one AED in all private schools, as well.
"When it comes to saving lives and protecting both residents and visitors, I think the approach is simple," Danielson said. "What we can do, we should do."
