By KAREN LAGRANGE COX
At tonight’s Broussard City Council meeting, the council approved Ordinance 23-779 for introduction amending the 2023/2024 Operating Budget of Revenues and Expenditure to increase authorized expenditures for purchasing property on Highway 90 in Broussard, Louisiana.
The property includes four buildings that will be used for the Broussard Police Department, the Broussard Fire Department administration and a fire station, the Public Works Department, and possibly use one of the buildings as a training/meeting facility.
The building to house the police station is located at 5801 Highway 90 East at the former Superior Oil location, with the other facilities at 102, 106, and 110 Bercegeay Road.
The building for the new police station consists of 23,227 square feet on 1.41 acres. The total square feet of all of the buildings is 60,647. The combined acreage of the four buildings is 11.65 acres.
The purchase price of the buildings and property is $5.3 million. According to Broussard Mayor Ray Bourque, the city was advised if the city built a new police department, the cost would be $9 million, which would have only given the city a new police department.
Along with the purchase price, the ordinance allows for up to $50,000 to fund expenses associated with the acquisition of said property, including without limitation inspections, appraisals, legal fees, and other acquisition expenses.
