GRETNA, La. — To Jefferson Parish Inspector General Kim Raines Chatelain, her office is being targeted by most of the parish council.
“I think ultimately the parish council hopes to quietly eliminate oversight in Jefferson Parish,” said Chatelain.
Her office, which is independent from the council, provides oversight on parish government.
“Inspector Generals are invariably going to have to deliver information that politicians don’t want to hear, and we’re supposed to be able to deliver that information without fear of retaliation, termination, or reprisal,” said Chatelain.
Chatelain says that’s exactly what’s happening after her office recently issued a public letter criticizing a brewpub project in Gretna. The letter questions whether the investment of $10 million dollars is the best use of parish money.
“I think the public letter that was released certainly put a light on the parish council that they did not want to be shown on them and that is now their excuse to come after the office,” said Chatelain.
“I’m sorry that it’s come to this and I’m sorry that’s where we are,” said District 5 Councilman Hans Liljeberg.
Liljeberg believes the inspector general’s public letter about the project was a targeted political agenda. He questions the relationship between Chatelain and Division ‘A’ At-Large council member Jennifer Van Vranken, the only council member who supports Chatelain’s position.
“There’s no issue with them being colleagues, contemporaries, even friends. The issue is when that friendship bleeds into your work,” said Liljeberg.
Liljeberg says he started requesting meetings with members of the Ethics and Compliance Commission, which oversees the Inspector General, to express his concerns. Those meetings didn’t happen.
“Oversight is important,” said Liljeberg. “We need oversight, but we need to stand that office up and make sure that that office is independent and apolitical.”
Liljeberg worries the inspector general’s office is operating without guardrails. The inspector general says it’s an attack on accountability.
“The public letter is the excuse,” said Chatelain. “The reason is let’s quiet oversight in Jefferson Parish.”
It’s oversight both entities agree is important but disagree on how the other views it.
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