Councilman wants to keep LDWF office in New Iberia

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Iberia Parish Councilman Warren Gachassin is proposing the Iberia Parish Council fight back against a state decision to close the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries office in New Iberia. 

According to state Wildlife and Fisheries officials, LDWF has examined repairs needed for field offices across the state and were given a combined estimate of costs that exceed $50 million. As a result, the state agency has tried to offset costs by purchasing new offices and consolidating other offices. 

A decision was made to consolidate New Iberia’s office, along with Opelousas’ and Lafayette’s, into a centralized location in Lafayette. There is a purchase agreement in place for a price of $7 million between the WLF Foundation and seller for a the John Chance building in Lafayette that’s owned by Fugro USA Marine Inc. 

According to a letter provided to The Daily Iberian, executive counsel for LDWF Cole Garrett said the construction of a similar facility would cost LDWF twice that amount, as would building new offices in Opelousas and New Iberia. 

Plans call for the buildings and property in New Iberia and Opelousas to be sold, according to Garrett. 

“We recognize that change is not always popular, especially to those members of our staff who will be affected, but this decision was made understanding the fiscal situation of the state, the current and future needs of the agency, and above all, with the goal of providing great service to our users,” Garrett said in the letter. 

At Wednesday evening’s IPC meeting, Gachassin is proposing a resolution during executive committee requesting support from Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Iberia Parish Legislative Delegation to consider not closing the office. 

Gachassin said that the traffic the LDWF office brings to Iberia Parish alone deserves consideration in keeping the office. 

“This is critical that we keep this office here,” Gachassin said Monday. “It’s urgent that the council be unanimous with this.”

An employee at the LDWF office said staffers there were told April 1 was the expected closing date of the office in New Iberia.