Lejeune to head Port of Krotz Springs

Former Eunice mayor and St. Landry Chamber of Commerce president Lynn Lejeune is poised to become CEO of the Port of Krotz Springs on Friday.
Lejeune will succeed Gary Soileau, who has served as the port’s chief executive officer since 1989.
“I’m ever so appreciative to have the opportunity to work out there with them,” Lejeune said.
Soileau said, “We are really happy and excited to have her. I think she is going to do a great job. She is going to bring a lot to the job. She has a lot of administrative experience and government experience. We are kind of going through a transition period right.”
The transition period it not only the change in administrators, but the port is gaining a major new tenant, Hazelwood Energy Hub, which was announced last year.
In a $400 million project, Hazelwood is developing a crude oil storage site near Port Barre. Part of the project is a a $140 million site at the port.
Hazelwood Energy Hub will store, blend and distribute crude oil across the Gulf Coast region.
The company has indicated it will create 130 jobs with and average salary of $63,500. About 150 indirect jobs will be created plus about 200 jobs in the construction phase, the company has said.
Hazelwood will operate a barge loading and unloading facility on the Atchafalaya River at the Krotz Springs port.
Lejeune served one four-year term as Eunice mayor. For the past two and half years, she has been president of the St. Landry Cahmber of Commerce.
Soileau, who said he is retiring, said the major tenant at the port is Alon Refinery. other major tenants include Cabot Corporation and Acadian Shell & Limestone.
The port’s website states the port includes 334 acres.
The port’s primary inbound cargo is crude oil and outbound is refined petroleum products and aggregate.
Overall annual tonnage is reported at 3.1 and gross revenues are $350,000.
The governing authority is the Greater Krotz Springs Port Commission with 11 members with two each from the cities of Opelousas, Eunice, Krotz Springs; two from the St. Landry Parish Municipal Association; and three from St. Landry Parish Government.
Commission members are listed as Senic Batiste, Joseph Diesi, Dallas Leger, Monita Reed, Kirt Soileau, Bill Thompson, Cheryl Carter, Vernon Hayes, Tommy McMillan, James Soileau and Michael Thibodeaux.