PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

MESSAGE FROM SHERIFF CHARLES R. GUILLORY

January 26, 2024

As we enter a new year, I wanted to keep the citizens of Evangeline Parish updated on the progress of the Evangeline Parish Detention Center Prison Complex.

First of all, as you know the Evangeline Parish Law Enforcement District was approved, and received a bond for almost 25 million dollars. These monies allocated can only be spent and used for purchasing of an existing prison, construction of a new prison and for building a new law enforcement facility with funds available. The bond is specific in that it cannot be spent or used on anything else but what's in the language as stated above.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR BOND MONEY?

First of all, it was received in mid-June 2023 in its entirety. Our Bond attorneys along with Hancock Whitney Bank,( who acquired the Bond allocation), secured a fair market interest rate on the money borrowed. At the same time, the money borrowed is earning an interest rate greater than what was borrowed. In other words, its earning money while sitting in the bank.

Of course, the Law Enforcement District was mandated to pay the note immediately upon receipt of the bond which was in June 2023. Thus far, we have paid seven months even though the construction of the Detention Center hasn't begun.

RECAPPING THE BIDDING PROCESS IN 2023, (LAST YEAR).

As previously stated in September 2023, I rejected the Construction bids given as it was elevated by millions of dollars above funds available. Our plans in September of 2023 were to RE-BID again at the beginning of 2024 which will occur.

Then one month later, in October 2023, I was contacted by GEO, (owners of both Pine Prairie and Basile Detention Center Prisons), requesting if I was interested in purchasing the Pine Prairie Detention Center Prison as they were closing effective January 01, 2024. My response was that am very interested in purchasing the Pine Prairie facility. So, negotiations began but were only short lived on their part. After several attempts to continue negotiations, ail contacts stopped.

As December approached and without my knowledge, GEO was independently negotiating with both ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and US Congress to keep the Pine Prairie Facility open and running. As a result of those efforts, ICE withdrew closing the Pine Prairie Detention until further notice. I found out later that that maybe for several more months.

 

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

The process for the construction of a new prison was always moving forward as I did not contact our Architect about GEO's offer to sell the Pine Prairie Facility.

New bid offers for the construction of the Evangeline Parish Detention Center Prison Complex will take effect as scheduled at the end of February provided there are no changes or problems. These bids are open to the public. The bidding process with instructions were advertised in the Ville Platte Gazette, and both the Alexandria and Lafayette newspapers. If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

SHERIFF CHARLES R. GUILLORY