One aspect of developing a "Community of Innovators” is celebrating exemplary examples of creativity and successful innovation. One such success story immediately comes to mind. Actually, it is also at the center of a Lafayette Consolidated Council debate. That success story is the Lafayette Utility System.
The LUS operation is universally recognized as one of the best run utility systems in the nation ever. It began providing electricity to our community in 1897! It served as the catalyst for economic growth for the Hub City from day one. It pumps dollars into the city treasury by the millions. Year after year. Decade after decade. The citizens of Lafayette proudly own it.
Why is it so impressive? Because it has a proven history of being run by visionary leaders with names like Rodemacher, Hargis, Hebert, Richard, Hulin, Labbe, and Huval, men who loved their community and loved their system. Those leaders constantly looked down the road 10-15 years as they updated to ensure the citizens of reliable service. Citizens believed them, trusted them, and indeed, needed them. The results speak for themselves.
Today, the LUS leadership is asking the citizens through the consolidated council to again invest modestly to keep the system humming. It should be a no-brainer.
I urge everyone to give them the benefit of any doubt. Since 1897 we've never had any reason to do otherwise.
I urge the council to give the LUS request every consideration.
