Lease approved for business expansion

• By MARTEL ARDOIN
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: May 27, 2009 - Page: 3BA

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VILLE PLATTE — The Evangeline Parish Police Jury voted 6-1 in special session Tuesday to approve a 15-year lease agreement with Cameron Corp. that could translate into a $31 million boost to the local economy.

Juror Sidney Fontenot voted against the motion; Juror Richard Thomas was not present.

The motion also authorizes jury Vice President Eric Soileau to negotiate with Cameron over issues dealing with the building buy-back and warehouse building leases.

Fontenot said he could not vote on a major contract without having seen it. He said he still had some concerns that needed to be resolved before he could vote in favor of it.

Representing Cameron were plant manager Josh Stanford and company attorney Victor Frankowitz. A large group of Ville Platte residents and area businessmen also attended.

Negotiations have been going on between the parish and Cameron, which is preparing to begin a major expansion at its manufacturing facility in the Ward 1 Industrial Park.

Cameron is expected to build a 125,000-square-foot building costing $13 million.

It has also said it would employ an additional 110 workers at its facility that builds high pressure valves for pipelines.

Cameron employs about 500 workers. In exchange for the company’s assurance of employing the additional personnel, the state has agreed to pay $5 million of the construction cost.

Cameron plans to turn over ownership of the building to the parish in exchange for the $5 million, then lease the building back over a 15-year period.

The building and additional employees would mean a $31 million financial impact locally, Cameron officials said.

In other business, the Police Jury approved a cooperative endeavor agreement in connection with the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program.

The parish is expected to receive $1.2 million in the first round of funding to be distributed to municipalities and the parish.