Riverport Authority looks at changing scenario By SANDRA STONE When the Meade County Riverport Authority met March 6, Commissioner Edd Pike reported on his attendance at the Kentucky Association of Riverports (KAR) meeting held earlier in Elizabethtown. Pike noted a study is currently underway to determine how best to help emerging and established riverports in Kentucky. The hope, he said, is to establish an office for riverports either under the transportation or economic development, thereby establishing a pool of grant money for which riverports can apply. In speaking with port operators, Pike said he found that Meade County’s situation is not unique. All ports have challenges, especially in getting started. He said the average for riverports is 15 years from planning stages to operation. Another possibility for the Meade County Riverport is in cargo handling. The Pacific Rim is overwhelmed by cargo ships, and the Gulf Coast is currently trying to gear up to handle containers. With the Ohio River being the northernmost river that doesn’t freeze in winter, they’re looking at riverports along the Ohio to handle containers. Pike said the Ohio River transports one-third of the United States’ inland commerce and is being used to only 30 percent of its capacity. In light of the possibility of an expanded port facility and cargo handling operations in addition to grain handling, the Riverport Authority had previously decided to revisit their stevedoring contract with Consolidated Grain & Barge. Deanna Sandefur with the Fling Group presented a draft of a Request for Proposal for stevedoring services. The RFP, she said, is essentially the same except for the addition of general cargo added to the agricultural stevedoring services originally called for. Pike moved to put the RFP out to bid. On a second by Commissioner Greg Hager, the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Joe Wright requested guidance from Sandefur with regard to Agricultural Development Fund requests to be made of the Agricultural Development Boards of Meade and surrounding counties. Pike stated the funds had previously been committed, and the counties will now be asked to recommit these funds. Sandefur reminded the commissioners the funds need to go toward equipment for the grain facility as these funds are for agricultural development. Sandefur advised letters had been sent to Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Jim Bunning and Rep. Ron Lewis requesting $1 million in federal dollars for construction of the cargo dock. Additionally, she advised the $200,000 grant awarded last year for the access road is nearing expiration. Pike moved to file for an extension. On a second by Commissioner Clark Hardsaw, the motion passed unanimously. Before the close of the meeting, Pike added one more comment about the KAR meeting. “It became very evident in this meeting that a riverport is not a stand-alone operation,” he said. What the riverport itself does, continued Pike, is not very impressive. The benefits, however, are farther reaching as the riverport becomes an important part of the infrastructure and the surrounding community’s economy.
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