Harlan Kirgan
Citing safety concerns, Eunice aldermen approved a resolution Tuesday asking St. Landry Parish Government and the Parish Council to act on the abandoned Moosa Memorial Hospital.
The resolution requests St. Landry Parish Government remove the asbestos and demolish or secure the building.
The resolution also states the building is a safety hazard for the residents living and operating businesses in the area.
The building at 400 Moosa Boulevard has been abandoned for about 15 years, the resolution stated.
The action was taken at the Board of Aldermen meeting.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said, “This is has been a topic in Eunice since the hospital moved to the new building and I feel like at this point they some potential buyers for the property, but in the current condition that it is in no one is going to buy the hospital.”
There is a hospital board, but Fontenot said it does not have the resources to anything with the facility.
Recent audits have shown the board has about $300,000, but the estimate to demolish the building have been up to $1 million because of the asbestos.
The hospital was abandoned when the new facility, Acadian Medical Center, was opened on the east side of Eunice.
Parish Government has taken action on an empty hospital at Arnaudville, but Fontenot added that it was in better condition than the abandoned Eunice facility.
The hospital at Arnaudville, St. Luke, was in a hospital district that included portions of St. Landry and St. Martin parishes. The two parishes agreed in 2017 to divide the assets of the hospital district with St. Landry Parish retaining the building that has been appraised at about $300,000.
The Arnaudville hospital remains empty and the Parish Government is waiting on environmental assessments.
“We cannot continue to keep kicking this can down the road. We’ve got to figure something out. Right now we want to put the ball in their court to see where they are going to go with it,” Fontenot said.
Alderman Chad Andrepont said, “I live just a a few block from this, so this is something I feel is very important if we are able to get it resolved.”
Fontenot said the building’s condition is suppressing development in its area.
Alderwoman Germaine Simpson said she did not want to just see the facility secured, but wants the asbestos removed and the building torn down.
Other action included increasing fees for safety inspections and building construction, moving and demolition permits were approved.
Alderman Ernie Blanchard said the proposals are to bring the city in line with what is charged in Crowley and Opelousas.
The changes include:
— Raising the fee for a building safety inspection from $10 to $25.
— Raise building permit fees based on the valuation. The fees range from $20 for a building valued at $100 or less, up from $10; $320 for building valued at $100,001 to $200,000, up from $310; and over $200,000 value the permit fee escalates incrementally.
— The demolition fee is raised from $15 to $50.
— The fee to move a building would be raised from $20 to $50.
— An ordinance to allow Coburn’s to use an alternative material for a parking lot on East Magnolia was approved.
— The Board approved a subidivision plat change to allow a storage facility on Park Avenue in Bock 9 of the Suzanne Guillory subdivision.
— Approved a $700 monthy vehicle allowance for the mayor.
— Approved the purchase of a vehicle for Fire Chief Mike Arnold.
— Received an update from State Rep. Phillip DeVillier and Department of Transportation and Development regional administrator Bill Oliver on projects.
— Received an annul report from Donna Baltakis Keep Eunice Beautiful.