Demolition of Metz Motel – Who Benefitted

Despite several requests by The Gazette to the Town of Farmerville – its Mayor and Council Members – no one is talking about the illegal demolition of the Metz Motel.
Illegal for failing to follow the town’s ordinances on demolition and removal of blighted property and in the process recovering that cost from the property demolished.
Illegal for failure to remediate asbestos prior to and during demolition even though Mayor Crow had certified to the Federal Government the presence of asbestos in the building and acknowledged the danger of asbestos fibers in the air. Those fibers are deadly and are well known to be a cause of mesothelioma, a fatal disease.
Illegal for using public funds equipment and labor on private property for the purpose of increasing the value of the private property.
Illegal for using public funds equipment and labor on private property to increase the value of the surrounding privately owned property.
Mayor John T. Crow is an owner of at least seven commercial properties lying from 60 feet to 500 feet from the scene of the Metz Motel “crime”.
So where is law enforcement in all of this? The District Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer for the Third Judicial District – so why hasn’t he investigated a well-publicized and undisputed violation of the law. More cronyism?
The problem is that the taxpayers have paid for this demolition which has improved the value of the property from which the Metz Motel was demolished and has also improved the value of Mayor John T. Crow’s surrounding seven or more commercial properties.
And what about the ethics of public officials using public funds to enhancer their own property values?
Inquiries of the Union Parish Police Jury to determine its participation in the transport and storage of the demolished asbestos contaminated structure have been met with less than satisfactory answers.

Until the voters get enough of politicians “helping themselves” to public funds for their personal enrichment, expect this to continue.