Industrial Authority extends AgriFuels’ purchase agreement By SANDRA STONE The Meade County-Brandenburg Industrial Development Authority met March 6 and went quickly into executive session along with Judge Executive Harry Craycroft and Magistrates Herbie Chism and Tony Staples to discuss the AgriFuels purchase agreement. When they returned to open session, Jeanna Turner moved to extend AgriFuels’ purchase agreement 90 days to allow AgriFuels to do due diligence work per the original purchase agreement. On a second by Rick Myers, the motion passed with Carl Austin abstaining. “We’re finalizing the equity drive,” said Don Martin of AgriFuels later that day. “There are a lot of things going on simultaneously,” said Martin. Delta-T Inc. is doing the technology and engineering of the ethanol plant. Malcolm Pirnie Inc. is the scientific engineering corporation doing the permitting and currently preparing to do a mussel study. Martin said he hopes they will break ground in August. In other business, the Industrial Authority discussed the farm lease currently held by Jerry Hardesty and Jamie Hardesty. Chairman David Pace advised Jerry Hardesty had stated it was his understanding the lease would automatically renew and they would not be required to rebid. Pace spoke with David T. Wilson II, attorney for the Authority, who advised the contract stipulates annual renewal. Pace said a rebid would give Hardesty the opportunity to adjust his cost per acre in consideration of the deer population, particularly since the Authority has decided to allow no hunting of any kind on the property. Pace and Craycroft will meet with Jerry Hardesty regarding the lease. Pace advised both AgriFuels and the Meade County Riverport Authority are in agreement with the roadway plan proposed by MSE. The only party yet to respond is the corporate office of Quicksilver. the new roadway design connects into KY 933 just as the original design did. Although additional environmental studies will have to be conducted, Pace said some of them had already been done by the riverport and AgriFuels. Additionally, said Pace, the revised roadway would require less earthwork and would be the best option for all parties with two 45-degree curves instead of the 90-degree turns originally designed. Pace and Craycroft will meet with Gary Valentine at the District 4 office of the Transportation Department to determine the next step. Pace distributed copies of the Lane Report’s Market Review for Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana and noted a profile of Meade County was included in the issue. With regard to the Bill Corum Commerce Park, Pace noted 12 to 13 acres remain for sale, and BuildMax is planning a groundbreaking in the near future.
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