Pecan Island residents tell SpaceX their ‘Wish List’

What can SpaceX do to help Pecan Island residents living about four miles from Starbase, Louisiana, transition more smoothly after the company’s planned 2027 relocation south of Pecan Island?
SpaceX officials asked more than 100 Pecan Island residents who gathered in the historic Pecan Island High School cafeteria last week.
The Pecan Island natives were eager to share three top priorities for SpaceX’s wish list.
The first two things on the wish list were:
• Some permanent police presence and fire department in the Pecan Island area.
“We need some kind of permanent police department and fire department because of everything that is coming to the area,” said a Pecan Island resident to SpaceX officials.
Abbeville Fire Chief Doris Langlinais, who is also the parish’s fire coordinator, addressed the fire department issue last month at a police jury committee meeting. Langlinais advised the police jurors to begin considering putting an extra fire truck near the Pecan Island area, along with possibly hiring a full-time fireman and truck to be housed on La. 82 or on La. 35,
Regarding the full-time police department matter, Vermilion Parish Sheriff Eddie Langlinais attended the Pecan Island meeting, where he heard the request to establish a full-time police department near SpaceX.
Since Pecan Island is situated in a rural area, the Sheriff’s Department maintains responsibility for patrol operations and emergency response services throughout that region of the parish. Sheriff Langlinais is expected to recruit additional deputies and acquire additional vehicles to strengthen law enforcement presence in the southern section of Vermilion Parish.
Topping off the wish list, PI residents called for a much-needed upgrade to their water system.
“We could use an upgrade like a reverse osmosis unit,” said a PI resident.
Another resident asked SpaceX officials whether there will be another meeting in the Pecan Island area to keep up with the space company’s progress.
The answer was “yes,” but no timetable was given for when the next meeting would happen.
At the meeting, Senator Bob Hensgens proposed that SpaceX maintain consistent representation from established SpaceX personnel at all parish public forums. SpaceX officials agreed.