A big thank you to our parish leadership for fighting to keep the local Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries office open.

This past Thursday a collection of leaders from Iberia Parish, and the Teche Area, traveled across the basin for a trip to the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. These civic leaders did not travel there for a tour of the grounds or to eat at the nearby Spanish Town Market. 

No, instead these individuals were there to sway Gov. John Bel Edwards from signing an agreement for a new $7 million facility for LDWF to be constructed in Lafayette. The proposed new facility would consolidate the offices of Lafayette, St. Landry and Iberia parishes — meaning that not only would our local LDWF office shut its doors but that nearly two dozens current staffers would have to relocate to Lafayette to keep their jobs.

LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet told many a concerned leaders at a meeting earlier last week that it came down to money — that it was essentially cheaper to build a new facility than to make repairs to the existing offices.

Local leadership though responded with unity and then developed an actual plan to save the office.

Iberia Parish Government, Iberia Industrial Development Foundation, the Port of Iberia and South Louisiana Community College joined forces to present a proposal to the governor on Thursday.

The crux of the plan is to relocate the existing Iberia Parish LDWF office to the a 58,000-square-foot building, equipped with loading docks, on SLCC’s campus adjacent to Acadiana Regional Airport which makes it ideal in case of emergencies. Port of Iberia Director Craig Romero even offered to give the office an enclosed boat slip at the port free of charge.

LDWF will make a decision on the proposal on April 5. Now there is no guarantee that the department or Edwards will accept the proposal. They could very well decide to still close the local LDWF office  but we will hope and pray that he doesn’t.

Regardless of what decision Edwards makes, the local leadership team ( Iberia Parish President Larry Richard, Iberia Parish Council Chairman Paul Landry, IPC Council members Warren Gachassin, Natalie Broussard and Michael Landry. Iberia Industrial Development Foundation Director Mike Tarantino and State Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks) that met with the governor on Thursday should be applauded for their combined efforts. 

So make sure to take a few minutes this week to personally thank the following individuals for fighting to keep our local LDWF office open.

RAYMOND PARTSCH III

MANAGING EDITOR