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Tensions rise between St. Landry Parish president, church over old country club property
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OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- Days after a deal was finalized for the St. Landry Parish Government to purchase the old Indian Hills Country Club from Opelousas Life Church, tensions brewed when the church tried to hold a service in the building that is now owned by the parish government.
The deal was finalized on Dec. 23, which came with a written agreement that the church had 30 days to vacate the property. The church tried to hold a service at the facility on Dec. 29.
St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard said when the church attempted to hold the service, a deputy from the sheriff's office went to the building with the intent of having everyone leave the property since it now belongs to the parish.
Kerney Thomas, church pastor, has since hired attorney Elbert Guillory. The church's position is that the written agreement states they have 30 days to vacate, meaning they still have time to hold a service on the property.
Tension grew when Guillory and Thomas approached the property on Monday and was met by Bellard, saying they needed to reach out to his office and make an appointment to remove their belongings.
At Thursday night's parish council meeting, Guillory and Thomas sought action from the council because of the alleged threats from Bellard, since he approached them while wearing his licensed firearm on his hip.
"There may be some question not in my mind about whether they were there appropriately or not, but if they were not there appropriately, there was no reason, no appropriateness in the gun in the sanctuary and chasing the people out," Guillory said.
Bellard said there wasn't a threat of violence, the council cannot investigate into the parish president's office, and he will act appropriately and according to the law to ensure the government owned building is vacated.
"So it's a simple thing. This is a government building under my authority so that those actions are taken by me as parish president. The council has nothing to do with this, with this transition. It was done legally, and we are following the law to the letter. So, it's going to be handled through my office like it started and is going to continue there," Bellard said.
Since those discussions at the council meeting, Bellard held a live Q&A on his social media regarding questions surrounding the property.
In his Q&A, Bellard said the church will have one last service in the facility on Sunday before prioritizing the construction of a new sports complex on the property.