Mayor Addresses Issues
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor said voters will determine the immediate future of the city when they cast ballots in an Aug. 16 special 1-cent sales tax election.
“You can either stand up and allow us to go forward, or whether we have to revamp the (city) operation entirely,” Alsandor told the Opelousas Noon Rotary Club on Tuesday.
Alsandor, who plans to run for a third term as mayor in 2026, covered a wide range of municipal topics that included infrastructure issues, the upcoming tax election and the Donald Gardner Stadium project which began Feb. 24.
It is unclear at this point, Alsandor said during questions posed by the Rotarians, how much it will cost the city to hold the special election, which had to be approved by the both legislative houses, the Stand Bond Commission, Secretary of State and Gov. Jeff Landry.
Alandor said the city administration did not intentionally plan to let the previous 1-cent sales tax expire on May 31.
However Alsandor noted that during the March 29 statewide election, voters rejected a number of tax renewal propositions in other parishes and municipalities as well as the Fire District 3 renewal ballot in St. Landry.
Although some polling places identified on the Aug. 16 tax proposition are located outside the city and other municipalities, Alsandor said only individuals who qualify in precincts for Opelousas municipal elections will be allowed to vote.
Donald Gardner Stadium
Alsandor said the Opelousas Downtown Development District, which is financing the major part of the stadium project, is seeking sponsorships and businesses that will pay to advertise at Donald Gardner.
Funding has already been committed for a stadium scoreboard, Alsandor said.
The $500,000 committed to the stadium project with COVID revenues received by St. Landry Parish could have helped fund other projects within the city, Alsandor agreed.
Alsandor said he supports the overall scope of the park project.
“When you look at enhancing the quality of life in the city and bringing in people from outside the city, I think that it’s the right thing to do,” said Alsandor
Working In The Streets
The city will soon spend approximately $3 million on street improvements for roadways that are essential for Opelousas businesses and residential areas, said Alsandor.
Underground water and sewer lines issues will also be addressed for the Board of Aldermen-approved projects that affect West Grolee, Abdalla and Beverly boulevards and Waillor Street, according to Alsandor.
While Alsandor acknowledged the city-wide, overall street conditions, Alsandor explained that what lies underneath the roads is more important.
Rehabilitating Water And Sewerage
The city will soon begin multiple projects that affect municipal water and sewerage, Alsandor pointed out.
A low interest $25 million Department of Environmental Quality loan will enable the city to make sewer repairs, while separate projects include upgrading aspects of the water system and a new design for the Opelousas water plant, said Alsandor.
“There was so much work that needed to be done through years of neglect and we needed to start somewhere,” Alsandor added.
