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Opelousas mayoral candidates have questions about proposed multibillion dollar projects

Posted at 10:58 PM, Nov 19, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-19 23:58:34-05

There are more unanswered questions about the 3.2 billion dollar project promised to the city of Opelousas. Last month, Ahart Solutions International, led by Opelousas native Haley Ahart Keiffer, held a news conference. Her team announced a potential deal to renovate the St. Landry Parish Airport, the city jail and parks, and recreation, among a list of others. As The Advocate first reported this weekend, Ahart Keiffer has had personal financial troubles.

She says she’s been working on this deal with the current Mayor Reggie Tatum and current Police Chief Donald Thompson. Both of whom lose their re-election bids. With a new administration coming in and concerning reports about the proposal… where does it stand?

KATC spoke with Keiffer earlier this month. At the time we had questions about the project and we were told letters of intent have been signed. When asked for those documents, we were told no and our phone calls haven’t been returned since. Now, candidates for Mayor, Julius Alsandor, and Tyrone Glover, have questions about the proposal.

“A lot of constituents are asking me about it. Is it real? Is it a real company coming? Will we create more jobs? Glover said.”

“It would be premature on my part to respond to an endeavor that I’m not aware of and don’t have any information to give back to them,” Alsandor said.

Both Alsandor and Glover weren’t invited to the news conference last month. They say there weren’t made aware of the proposed multi-billion project by the current mayor or anyone affiliated with the company. Both men say they would be happy to listen to proposals.

“Yes I would entertain it because it would help the economy in the city of Opelousas if it was real,” Glover said.

“Myself and the council, we will work diligently to review this in detail as the governing authority and if we find it benefits the citizens of Opelousas. Then, we will sit down and move forward with these discussions,” Alsandor said.