LSU Extension Office in Abbeville is in need of a new building

The Vermilion Extension Service of the LSU Ag Center Office in Abbeville has outgrown its building and were hoping the Police Jury could build them a new building in the near future.
LSU Ag County Agents, 4-H supporters and farmers attended Wednesday’s night Police Jury Committee Meeting to show their support in trying to convince the Police Jury to help build a new 7,300 square foot metal building.
The estimated cost would be around $1.3 million.
The Police Jury oversees the buildings and the maintenance of the buildings for the LSU Ag Center on Port Street.
The present building the Extension office is in today was funded by a 1978 Sales Tax that also funds the parish jail, the health unit, and roads.
LSU County Agent Andrew Granger made a video presentation to the Police Jury explaining to the jurors how a new building would be helpful.
He pointed out the meeting room in the present Ag building is too small to hold meetings for farmers, 4-H members and voting precincts.
The parish has one of the biggest 4-H programs in the state.
Also, the School Board is holding Dual Enrollment classes in the Extension Office.
Granger explained to the jurors the dream building would be around 7,300 square feet; it would have a large kitchen to teach 4-H students how to cook; a meeting room that could easily hold 250 people, and sizable storage.
“I am not going to tell you (Police Jury) what to do,” Granger said. “I am not sure what you can afford, what you can’t afford. We need more space to do things right.”
The state LSU Ag Program committed $100,000 to help build a building.
The Police Jury agreed with everything Granger said, but it comes down to cost.
Police Juror Wayne Touchet explained to Andrew Granger and others that the Police Jury is also having a space issue. He said the parish jail is another building that has become too small and could use extra space.
“We want to help ya’ll, but the Police Jury has to come up with a plan to pay for it,” Touchet said.
Police Juror Nathan Granger said his biggest concern was maintaining the new building over the next 20 or 30 years.
Police Juror Paul Bourgeois asked School Superintendent Jerome Puyau if the School Board could contribute funds to building a new building? Puyau said he would ask the School Board members.
Wayne Touchet threw out a curve ball to Andrew Granger. Wayne offered the old health unit building in Abbeville to the LSU Ag Center. He said it had a new roof and brand new AC units. The Police Jury owns the building, and it sits empty today.
Wayne said for $500,000 the LSU Ag Center could have a newly remodeled 6,200 square foot building. He explained the Police Jury would chip in $200,000, and hopefully the School Board could add another $200,000 and the LSU Ag Center its $100,000 to help pay for the remodeling cost.
Andrew Granger said, after the meeting, he would have to check with the LSU Ag Center’s Building Committee before a decision is made about the old health unit building.
At the end of the meeting, the Police Jury agreed to apply for $1.5 million in funds from the state to help pay for the construction of a new building.