Councilmen look to redirect funds from Eraste Landry project.  Plan would restore frontage road funds.

"I'm trying to get some equity and some economic development," Benjamin said.

                Benjamin                                       Williams    

Benjamin said he believes widening that section of Eraste Landry Road should be a lower priority than building frontage roads, which could spur economic development in north Lafayette. The $3 million from the Eraste Landry Road project would help get the job done, he said. "This is not retaliation," Benjamin said. "I'm trying to get money for the frontage roads. It has nothing to do with Bruce Conque."  Williams agreed.

"That couldn't be further from the truth," Williams said. "It's not retaliation. It's a matter of priorities."  The council practices parochialism in deciding which projects are priorities, he said.  "I think Bruce Conque's attempts to change the travel policy is an immediate way for him to come in and give an exorcism of the council's perceived bad practices," Williams said. "But this issue is a completely separate. We won't win it. What happens is, even though it's not a priority, even though it's fat, it's pork, they're going to continue to do it."  During 2004-05 budget hearings, staff recommended building Rue du Belier as two lanes, with plans to expand it to four lanes in the future as money becomes available, Logan said. Broussard successfully convinced the council to delay funding for Eraste Landry Road widening to 2005-06 so Rue du Belier can be built as four lanes, he said.