Riverport Authority holds first meeting of new year By SANDRA STONE The Meade County Riverport Authority met Jan. 2 for their first meeting of the new year. Greg Hager, Joe Wright, Clark Hardsaw, Edd Pike, authority chairman Don Bewley and David Pace, chairman of the Meade County/Brandenburg Industrial Development Authority, were present. Discussion on the road through the industrial park continues. Bewley, Pike, Pace and Judge Executive Harry Craycroft met recently to review the road which looks like it will be best for all parties. Pace showed a copy of the drawing to the commissioners, noting the proposed route is the most straightforward, is expected to require the least amount of earthwork, and will leave the largest portion of land (approximately 300 acres) that can be sold as a whole. “This gets us into the riverport,” said Bewley. “As long as it gets us to the port and doesn’t cost us any more money, we’re on board with it.” Bewley asked Pace what could go wrong. Pace replied that everyone who has looked at the plan sees no problem with it. “I won’t say nothing can go wrong,” said Pace, “but I’m 90 percent certain there is nothing to keep us from building the road.” “I feel the same way about this road as I felt about the other road,” said Pike. We need to move forward.” He then asked Pace about money from Agri Fuels to complete the road. Pace advised the purchase agreement between Agri Fuels and the Industrial Authority included a commitment to share a percentage of the costs incurred in road construction. In a previous meeting, the Industrial Authority had requested Bewley’s assistance with coordinating a meeting with Consolidated Grain & Barge, the Industrial Authority and Agri Fuels to discuss the riverport providing service to the ethanol plant. Bewley stated CGB was receptive to such discussions, and Don Smoltz of CGB will contact Don Martin of Agri Fuels. One issue, said Bewley, is the possibility of CGB acting as a procuring agent for the ethanol plant; the other is CGB handling the grain for the plant. Pike advised Grow Mark is now a part of the equation, but he did not know to what extent at this time. The commissioners discussed a letter of authorization and notice to proceed for Garver Engineering to finalize the design phase of the riverport in preparation for bid letting. Consultant Mike Flint said the geotechnical aspect of the project will need to be done before firm pricing from contractors can be obtained, something that is required of essentially any project on the water. He said he hoped to have pricing by the next meeting. On a motion by Wright, seconded by Hager, the commission was unanimous in authorizing Bewley to sign the letter of authorization and notice to proceed. USDA grant funds are in place for engineering work and can be utilized as needed. Flint asked for authorization to submit the Agricultural Development Fund application. No dollar amount will be specified at this time, said Flint, as the first phase of the application is getting through the technical phase. On a motion by Hardsaw, seconded by Wright, all were in favor of authorizing Flint to proceed with the application. These funds, said Flint, will enable the authority to move forward on construction of the riverport. Wright asked Flint for a proposed timetable with regard to the items discussed, where the riverport is now and where it should be at each step. “I’d like to know where we ought to be in April, July, etc. My concern is we’ll be meeting next January talking about the same thing as we did last January,” said Wright. “What we need is someone to line out a plan of action, so the authority can work on making it happen.” Flint said he would work on a timeline for the next meeting.
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