No, this is what happens when one thinks they and "their people" are smarter than the regulations written in federal grants.
If you can cut thru the politics of both sides of the article linked below and get to the basic message, there lies the number one reason the City of Lafayette needs an autonomous mayor and council. As a CoL taxpayer, I am disgusted with the lack of leadership on all fronts. The 19 million dollar "loan" to a basically soon bankrupt entity (the parish) is inexcusable. Why is there red tap in government, this is a sterling example why.
This is worse than the prior admin wanting to sell LUS. That is the city's golden goose, the CoL should never throw away the savior of the CoL thru the years. "In lieu of taxes" revenue goes away if LUS is ever sold.
You would think an attorney would understand just because you own 2/3's of a tract of land does not constitute decision making rights.
Being the money was spent outside the geographic boundaries of the parish of Lafayette, and local interpretations of federal rules and regulations do not trump the federal government's, this is a cluster duck of epic proportions.
Whoever is elected will have to clean this up, at the expense of the taxpayers. Let the parish go bankrupt may be the move. Whoever new is elected, they will be a one termer simply because unpopular decisions will be required. The days of the CoL bailing out the unincorporated areas with everything from fire protection to recreation are about to be over. I'm done ranting.
https://thecurrentla.com/2023/column...a-horror-show/