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Town, parish fight over casino

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004 | 9:10 a.m.

OPELOUSAS, La. -- This city wants a much bigger share of the anticipated revenue from the new Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino.

Currently, 58 percent of 4 percent of Evangeline Downs' profits goes to the St. Landry Parish council.

"They were the governing authority at that time. Now we are the governing authority," said Mayor Anna Simmons, referring to Opelousas' annexation of Evangeline Downs.

"We remain the governing authority, not the city," Parish President Don Menard countered. "The racetrack was sold to the public with the understanding that the parish would get the funding to help us better our roads."

Menard pledged to "fight them as much as possible. We will go to the courts on this."

Opelousas officials said they need a share of Evangeline Downs' revenues for the city's sake.

"I'm tired of our city being poor. We have tremendous needs," said Joseph A. Guillory, an Opelousas alderman. "I haven't had a street sweeper in my district in I don't know when."

Dale Pefferkorn, another alderman, said having Evangeline Downs in the city will be costly.

"We have inherited a good industry be we have also inherited the costs," Pefferkorn said.

"Our roads, our wells, our sewer system will all need to be upgraded because of this (Evangeline Downs)," Simmons said.

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