Lafayette To Sever Relationship With Broussard
City-Parish President Joey Durel wants to cut some ties with the City of Broussard. He made the announcement at Tuesday's City-Parish Council Meeting.
"...unlike the other municipalities in Lafayette Parish, the administration of the City of Broussard has chosen to engage in an ongoing battle with the City of Lafayette, attempting to frustrate Lafayette's growth and development in ways that are inconsistent with a mutually beneficial relationship," Durel said, citing recent lawsuits filed by the City of Broussard. Those lawsuits were over recent land annexations and the current water contract between Lafayette and Broussard.
As soon as lawfully possible, Durel says municipal services currently offered by Lafayette to Broussard will no longer be made available. Those services include water, fire-dispatch, and animal control.
"This will most immediately arise with regard to requests for new connections to the City of Lafayette's water system," said Durel.
The move will no longer allow Broussard to tap into new meter points on Lafayette's system and The City of Broussard will be responsible for extending its own lines to service new customers. Eventually Lafayette will end all wholesale water service to the city of Broussard.
"The termination of these relationships is no reflection on the citizens of Broussard," Durel said. "But the City of Lafayette has no control over the administration of the City of Broussard, only those citizens do. If the administration of that city chooses to declare itself an antagonist of the City of Lafayette, it is my intention to give that administration the independence it claims to want. The people of Broussard deserve better."
Charles Langlinais declined to comment on the news, but when asked for his reaction to Durel's statement, Langlinais said: "I will not stoop to his level."
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