Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 40	October 3, 2007

Farm lease renewed, Industrial Authority splits on Arch proposals

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

The Meade County/Brandenburg Industrial Development Authority split on two Arch proposals during a Sept. 28 meeting.

Members approved a request from the firm to place a 50-foot long, 4-foot wide gravel path from the plant to the Buttermilk Trail area.

“They have numerous runners who run every day at lunch,” chairman David Pace said. “And they leave from the plant and go along the highway to the Buttermilk Trail area.”

By creating the path, runners can move right from the plant along the path, Pace said, bypassing the highway traffic.

The second request, to create a barrier between the IDA acreage and the firm’s sludge pit, wasn’t as well-received by the authority.

Pace suggested the firm work with Agri Fuels to see if they would agree to the modifications.

Currently, according to Pace, the property line is right along the plant’s water line, causing plant officials to express concern about what would happen if the line needed repairs.

Pace said if the fence were installed, that might lead people to believe that is the property line.

He suggested the IDA approach the plant with a suggestion they trade acreage.

In other business, members:

• Renewed the farm lease for one year with the Hager Brothers. Pace said the crop yield was very good this year, considering the weather conditions.

The contract will be renewed at the previous amount, $110 per acre. He said it was a good price and recommended the IDA enter into a one-year renewal.

• Approved $3,000 toward improvements and modifications for the new office, located on Broadway Street in the former Picture Place retail store. In addition to the IDA, other tenants will include the Meade County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Authority.

“Right now we are heavily in the destruction phase and we have done a lot of work in the building,” Pace said.

• Entered into closed session under KRS 61.810. No action was taken following the 50-minute session.

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