One woman battle

Pending litigation, questions over money and a library closure that some East Bank residents never saw coming, marks the start of a battle for one St. Charles Parish resident.

So far that’s just the beginning of the events surrounding a library construction project slated to be built in Destrehan.  Many taxpayers don’t really understand the issues that long-time activist and Bayou Gauche resident Gwen Dufrene has been standing up and speaking about at many of the council meetings. 

Some thought of her as just trying to make something out of nothing. Maybe she is, but that’s up to the public to decide now.

Here’s what she’s done so far.  In lieu of her concerns over the library, she’s kept records dating back to 2003. She has also written the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor and spoken to any and every council member that will listen.

But how far is too far?  No one can say for sure. But she has been a standard fixture at supporting various causes she believes in for the residents of the community since 1994, when she fought a battle with the parish to get sewage service for the Bayou Gauche community and won. 

Despite all she’s endured - the rumors, a lawsuit and the doubts at her ability to win the library battle - the one-woman activist plans to continue speaking at the council meetings until she’s heard. 

Everything is pretty much up in the air right now when it comes to the library project. 

Although the newly appointed council has already approved the $8.5 million to construct the facility, the one woman activist says it’s not too late to stop progress, so maybe residents should keep an eye on this one.