MAMOU, La. (KLFY)-- Allegations were brought up at Wednesday's Mamou city council meeting of a city councilman using city property for half the rent price.

Rufus Searile alleged that Councilman Derrell Thomas rented Mamou properties for parties for $750 per night with a cleaning fee of $300, but the cost for other public events is $2,000.

"The mayor is the one that let them rent the facility for $750. Now, she voted on this," Searile said. "She was a part of this ordinance, and she should have known that."

Searile referenced a city ordinance from 2016 that states, "The Rental Rate for public functions/events shall be $2,000.00 per day, with a Damage Deposit of $700.00, said Damage Deposit due and payable in full to Town at the time of the execution/signing of the Rental Agreement, along with full payment of said Rental Fee."

The agreement also says, "The Rental rate for private functions/ events shall be $750.00 per day, with a Damage Deposit of $300.00, said Damage Deposit due and payable in full to Town at the time of the execution/signing of the Rental Agreement."

Searile said the mayor allows Thomas to host large events for profit while renting the building for the lower cost.

"When you got an event that's coming, you're selling tickets for this event. This turns the whole scope around. You've renting this facility, but you're making money," Searile said. "So a $25 a person, and if you've got 1,000 or 1,500 people, you're making well over $25,000 to $30,000 a day by renting this. It's not fair."

Rufus also sent in a public records request to see if liquor permits were obtained for events hosted on April 7, 2023; July 14, 2023; Nov. 22, 2023; Dec. 9, 2023 and March 29. The records show no liquor permits were issued to anyone that rented the Mamou Recreational Center for those dates.

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