As we previously reported in our last article Corruption with the Buy and Build Program, the Parish council introduced an ordinance involving the Buy and Build Program that had been closed for years. That program allegedly allowed lots to be purchased from the Parish at a 35% discount from fair market value. Since this article was first published, the Parish Attorney has disputed that any discount was given under this program. We have not received confirmation from Parish Government that such a discount was not applied to any sales under this program. Each buyer had to agree to build a single family house within one year from the sale.
On December 17, 2024, Councilman Everhardt introduced a resolution requesting Parish administration to compile a list of buyers who failed to comply with the requirements of the program. Everhardt’s efforts ultimately led to the discovery of several Parish employees being on the list and that these employees to comply with the program rules.
Faced with these non-compliance issues involving Parish employees, the new Council had a decision to make: either enforce the rules as written or cover up the employees’ non-compliance. Unfortunately, on March 5, 2025, the Council decided to allow these unlawful and unethical property sales by passing an ordinance attempting to extend the terms of the sale conditions. This ordinance stands to create a substantial financial benefit to public employees and elected officials.
What does Louisiana law have to say about these types of things? Let’s take a look at the Code of Governmental Ethics.
Section 1112. Participation in certain transactions involving the governmental entity
A. No public servant, except as provided in R.S. 42:1120, shall participate in a transaction in which he has a personal substantial economic interest of which he may be reasonably expected to know involving the governmental entity.
B. No public servant, except as provided in R.S. 42:1120, shall participate in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any of the following persons has a substantial economic interest:
(1) Any member of his immediate family.
(2) Any person in which he has a substantial economic interest of which he may reasonably be expected to know.
(3) Any person of which he is an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee.
(4) Any person with whom he is negotiating or has an arrangement concerning prospective employment.
(5) Any person who is a party to an existing contract with such public servant, or with any legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent, or who owes any thing of economic value to such public servant, or to any legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest in excess of twenty-five percent, and who by reason thereof is in a position to affect directly the economic interests of such public servant.
C. Every public employee, excluding an appointed member of any board or commission, shall disqualify himself from participating in a transaction involving the governmental entity when a violation of this Part would result. The procedures for such disqualification shall be established by regulations issued pursuant to R.S. 42:1134(A)(1).
...Did the Council do this without speaking to the Parish Attorney?
Did the Council do this without seeking an ethics opinion? Would you be surprised if they didn’t?
Would you be shocked if you learned that lots were removed from the list of properties to be auctioned and then sold to friends of politicians?
Would you be shocked if you learned that lots were removed from the list of properties to be auctioned and then sold to elected officials?
Would you be shocked if you learned that lots were removed from the list of properties to be auctioned and then sold to high-ranking employees of parish government in violation of the law?
Would you be shocked if this new council after having the list of names of people purchasing lots in violation of the law and passing an ordinance to help them keep those lots despite the purchase being against the law and despite their failure to build within one year as required?
Stay tuned! In the next series of articles, we will be providing you with more information for you to decide the answer to these questions.
