Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais isn't exactly saying "pretty please," but he has sent a letter to City-Parish President Joey Durel accusing Durel of jeopardizing life and property by refusing to authorize Lafayette Consolidated Government to renew a $20,000 contract to provide fire protection in unincorporated parts of the parish adjacent to and within the city limits of Broussard.
Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais isn't exactly saying "pretty please," but he has sent a letter to City-Parish President Joey Durel accusing Durel of jeopardizing life and property by refusing to authorize Lafayette Consolidated Government to renew a $20,000 contract to provide fire protection in unincorporated parts of the parish adjacent to and within the city limits of Broussard. LCG has historically entered into such contracts annually with the smaller municipalities, some of which rely on volunteer firefighters, and in LCG has signed new contracts will all the small towns save for Broussard.
"Withholding signature on the contract to release the $20,000 in funds for these public safety services is putting the lives and property of Lafayette Parish citizens at risk," Langlinais writes on behalf of Broussard's "entire city government," adding in closing that Broussard, "regardless of the presence of a contract, will continue to respond to every call and provide fire protection services to people in unincorporated areas."
Durel's refusal to allow LCG to sign the contract is just latest in an escalating battle with Langlinais, whom Durel has long accused of attempting to stymie the city of Lafayette's growth through both aggressive annexations in south Lafayette Parish and by filing lawsuits challenging Lafayette's annexations in the area. Litigation between the two municipalities is currently pending, and Durel announced last month his desire to severe all ties, especially Broussard's wholesale water contract with Lafayette Utilities System, between Lafayette and Broussard.
Durel was unavailable for comment Tuesday.