Panel votes to take offer for Armory property

After getting no responses to three different bid advertisements, a St. Landry Parish School Board committee recommends taking a $34,000 offer for the old National Guard Armory and land at 9th & Maple.

The assessment-laced building and land is appraised at $95,000, but none but the most optimistic would have suggested any bids would be even close to that.

To properly clean and restore the property will cost tens of thousands of dollars, observers think.

Board President Harry Fruge of Eunice, during discussion of R.P. Fontenot’s offer, said the property is a hazard and an eyesore, and is getting worse every day. He recommended accepting the offer. 

Board member Donnie Perron agreed, urging the Building, Lands and Sites Committee “to jump on it.”

Huey Wyble noted there is not timetable for development of the property, but after hearing discussion of materials previously stored there, moved to take Fontenot’s offer.

Seconding the motion, board member Roger Young of Eunice noted that while there is no schedule for Fontenot to do something with the property he feels it will be done sooner rather than later.