The Iberia Parish Council’s Executive Committee moved one step closer to the transfer of the Sugar Cane Festival Building to the City of New Iberia at Wednesday’s Executive Committee meeting.

Councilman Brock Pellerin, who introduced the item, said the issue has been discussed for the past several weeks. The agenda item approved the building as surplus property and authorized the transfer to the New Iberia city government.

“I really think it’s a great idea,” Pellerin said. “This is one of those buildings that cost us a lot of money with maintenance and upkeep. I hear the city has a plan for the building and the property around it. I’m very supportive of this.”

Parish President Larry Richard echoed the sentiment. Richard said transferring the building to New Iberia government will allow the city to move forward with a revitalization plan for the Sugar Cane Festival Building.

“For the city, they have a great opportunity to make this a functional place,” Richard said. “For us, we didn’t have the opportunity so hopefully we can do what we have to do to give this to the city.”

The deal has been discussed for several months, and several dance schools in the area especially have lamented the state of the Sugar Cane Festival Building, which brings in dance schools from all over Acadiana due to its unique ability to provide accommodations for those schools.

With Iberia Parish Government being more pressed on other matters, many on the parish council have said the city may be able to find more opportunities to revitalize the building.

The council also added $15,000 for a surveyor to look at the property at City Park to the agenda item.

The agenda item will go before the full council for final approval at a meeting in the near future.