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New Iberia council debates taking Sugar Cane Festival building as parish offers transfer
Summary
Councilmembers debated whether the city should accept the Sugar Cane Festival building and about 15 acres of surrounding parkland from Iberia Parish; supporters argued the building is an asset that can be repaired and marketed, while some members warned the city could inherit a long-term maintenance burden if outside funding does not materialize.
The New Iberia City Council on Oct. 16 debated whether to accept transfer of the Sugar Cane Festival building and roughly 15 acres of surrounding City Park from Iberia Parish, a move supporters said would preserve a long-standing community asset but that at least one council member warned could saddle the city with maintenance costs if promised state funding does not arrive.
Councilwoman Deedee Johnson Reed, who warned repeatedly during the public debate, said she was uneasy about taking on the property while key state funds remained uncertain. “We’re not guaranteed the money from the state yet, which means that if they don’t give it to us, this becomes a burden on the citizens of New Iberia,” Reed said. She asked the council to think long term about whether the smaller tax base of the city could sustain the building the parish had been unable to maintain.
Mayor Freddie DeCour…
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