Photograph: Equine Center on Harry Guilbeau Road. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The Central St. Landry Economic Development District is continuing to move forward with a proposed $1.5 million purchase of The Equine Sales of Louisiana Events Center located on Harry Guilbeau Road.
CSLEDD appointed board members voted on Thursday to present their current purchase offer to stockholders of the facility which was first placed on the real estate market in 2021.
The final acceptance for the sale of the events center hinges on the acceptance by facility stockholders and the development during the next 90 days of a viable marketing strategy for the property by the CSLEDD membership.
CSLEDD chairman Buddy Helton also said during the meeting that the economic group has also finalized a purchase for 23 acres of adjoining property next to the equine center.
In addition to quarter horse and thoroughbred equine sales, the events center has recently hosted events such as weddings, receptions, graduation parties and other social functions, according to a facility-sponsored Facebook page.
CSLEDD members voted in June to submit a $1.5 million purchase offer for the facility, but Helton said stockholders who control the financial operation of the equine center had voted afterward to make a counter proposal that was discussed during the Thursday meeting.
The counter offer, Helton added, included the $7,500 purchase of equipment located on the equine center property in addition to asking CSLEDD to pay the liability policy owed for the facility.
Helton and board members agreed that paying for both counter offer requests was unacceptable and at this point would not be included in any purchase consideration.
“We (CSLEDD) will make our offer. If it’s not accepted, then we walk away,” Helton added.
Helton said in June that the proposed purchase for the equine center also includes the property and stable area.
Other CSLEDD Business
Helton told board members that at the end of June, CSLEDD, which is funded by an extra one-percent sales tax from businesses along the Interstate 49 corridor south of Opelousas, had a $2.7 fund balance.
CSLEDD had received $139,440 from the June sales tax, Helton said. CSLEDD has received $856,886 in sales taxes since Jan. 1. The overall 2023 sales tax collection from CSLEDD is up 10 percent over the same period last year
