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Drainage District 6 GM offers apology for using county workers, equipment to make personal repairs after Imelda

Richard LeBlanc says he recognizes the error in judgement in retirement letter obtained by 12News

BEAUMONT, Texas — Retiring Drainage District 6 general manager Richard LeBlanc is apologizing for using county workers and county equipment to make flood repairs at employees' homes, including his son's house, after Tropical Storm Imelda. 

In September, the Beaumont Enterprise published photos of DD6 workers on the clock drying boards from a barn that flooded at Stephen LeBlanc's home in Fannett. 

Stephen LeBlanc is Richard LeBlanc's son, and he is also an employee of the District. 

Crews were also photographed by the Enterprise at another flooded home of a district employee.

“Without consulting any of (the board of directors), I independently decided to deploy idle work crews from within our workforce to provide assistance to the 4 employees that needed assistance with the intention to pay for their time out of pocket to allow them to return to work as soon as possible not realizing they were using District trucks,” LeBlanc said in an October 6th retirement letter.

His retirement is effective October 31, 2019.

In the letter, LeBlanc says he recognizes the "error in judgment" and says he paid the employees out of his pocket and reimbursed Jefferson County for use of its equipment. 

"I know that the incident may have offended some sensibilities, yours especially and I wish to tell you that it was not intentional and it came from the heart. I am writing this letter as a sign of my good intention," said LeBlanc.

MORE | Read LeBlanc's complete October 6 retirement letter

LeBlanc has maintained that his intentions were only to help employees who had suffered damage at their homes and previously told 12News that he had asked workers to help out fellow employees.

“It is with deep sorrow that I now announce my retirement from the District as General Manager effective October 31, 2019. I hope the District can now put this matter behind it and continue its meteoric path to even greater success.”

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