City council asks questions about the riverfront By SANDRA STONE Magistrate Theresa Padgett addressed a special called meeting of the Brandenburg City Council Sept. 19 to discuss her proposal for the Brandenburg Marina and Riverfront Development Project. Padgett presented a packet of information to each of the council members for their review. The packet included a pre-application for a grant for the first phase of the proposed project – $362,350 for a convenience store and gas pumps. The grant request reads, in part: “The Meade County Fiscal Court is requesting up to $370,000 for Phase I of our Riverfront Development and Marina Project. The enclosed exhibit (the rendering which appeared in last week’s Messenger) shows an aerial view of our Brandenburg Park with the drawing of a 35-slip marina, fishing pier, new boat ramps, the Phase I convenience store and gas pumps and a new riverwalk. A dock for larger boats such as the Delta Queen will be added. . . . The Riverfront Development Project is a much-needed project. Currently there is only one place for boats to stop and refuel between Owensboro and Louisville and that is a small point outside Owensboro on the Indiana side. . . .” Padgett reiterated her assertion of a considerable economic impact to the community and pointed out the letters of support and estimated economic impact statements from several fishing tournaments. She further stated this was the beginning of a project which would include development of downtown Brandenburg, including Renaissance on Main and tornado/Civil War museums. Padgett said she had presented everything to the Lincoln Trail Area Development District and had been advised that the grant was “very, very, very strong. This is the type of grant they’re looking for.” She further indicated she had support at both the state and federal level for the project. Councilmember Bradley Johnston asked about the maintenance of the store and gas pumps. “There’s different ways to handle that,” said Padgett, such as leasing out the operation. She further stated that boat slips could be $1,000 to $3,000 per year per slip. “If you have to, go in and clean it up a couple of times a year,” she said. “If you don’t lease, it could be revenue for the city.” Councilmember Patsy Lusk asked about the city’s liability, to which Mayor Ronnie Joyner replied the city would be liable. The councilmembers continued to voice their concerns. “These senators are not going to put their money on it if it’s going to be a disaster,” said Padgett. “It’s going to flood every winter,” said Councilmember Scotty Applegate, to which Padgett replied that the facilities would be designed to rise. Applegate countered that there was an acre of drift each year, with a portion of the riverfront breaking away and going downriver. Padgett requested a letter of recommendation from the city of Brandenburg to include in her grant application. Lusk said she didn’t want to commit herself without questions being answered. “This is the first we’ve heard of this,” said Councilmember Maggie Love. “You can’t expect us not to ask questions. What’s it going to cost the city? That’s what we have to be concerned about.” “If you put something like this together and tell the city it will cost $100,000 a year to run, that can’t happen,” said Johnston, who added that he would keep an open mind. Joyner, gesturing with another grant application, said, “Why is there $5 million for this and not $900,000 for a riverboat landing?” Lusk asked about the study UK is doing in the downtown area and was advised the two would work hand-in-hand. “If Phase I is for gas pumps and a convenience store,” asked Love, “why would you do this if you don’t have the docks done?” Padgett said she had been advised to apply for the project that could be completed for the smallest amount, and that was the convenience store/gas pumps. “The boat ramps are the best idea on there,” said Love. Then she continued with her questions. “If you apply for all the rest of it (total project cost) and only get part of it, how do you decide what’s next?” “I feel very confident we could have access to federal dollars as Meade County has had many federal funds,” responded Padgett. In response to the question of a time frame, Padgett indicated the project would be started in April 2006 and then they would have a year to complete it. “It’s a pretty picture,” said Johnston. “Keep us informed.” On a motion by Johnston to go with a letter of support for Padgett’s project, seconded by Applegate, the council approved the requested letter of recommendation. On second thought . . . A conversation with Mayor Ronnie Joyner on Sept. 23 revealed that the members of the Brandenburg City Council would withdraw their support because of misinformation. “It is a grant being sponsored by the Meade County Fiscal Court,” said Joyner. “The city of Brandenburg has absolutely no say in it whatsoever.” Joyner further added he’d been advised by a representative of the Lincoln Trail Area Development District that if the city gave Fiscal Court a letter of support, “they could come down and do anything they wanted to.” Joyner stated that when he spoke with Padgett two weeks ago, the project was all just an idea. “Now, two weeks later, we’re getting grant money for it. There was no input from the city.” He further stated that the architects and engineers Padgett contacted did not want to listen to anything he had to say. “I could not see us giving away all our authority on our riverfront,” said Joyner. “We’ve worked too hard to make it what it is. The planning for what we have right now took 18 months to two years. It wasn’t something that happened in one week or after one visit from an architect.”
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