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OPINIONS
Don Saunders: Corps should deny barge permits along city riverfront
The very idea of riverfront and economic development along the beautiful Ohio River should excite folks from here to there. This is a tremendous undertaking not only in time and work, but money as well. It should not be done piecemeal, but with careful planning to assure that we receive the maximum potential.
Recent articles of wonderful development along the river -- Ashland, Ironton and Point Pleasant -- make me wonder what the KYOVA "planners" have in store for those of us on the Ohio side of the "West Virginia River." Of course, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must evaluate and issue permits for projects along the river.
The Herald-Dispatch and WSAZ NewsChannel 3 hosted a public forum Oct. 25, 2007, on Huntington's riverfront development. The first panel was primarily about Harris Riverfront Park. The second panel had some basic discussion about future areas beyond. I am hopeful that development includes walking trails along the floodwall.
Directly across the river in Burlington, Ohio, is a small but beautiful park known as "The Commons." Here stood the Lawrence County Courthouse, post office, churches, hotels, stores, etc. The jail (1846) is being restored to be used as an Underground Railroad museum. Nearby is the 37 Cemetery. Former slaves emancipated by James Twyman settled in Burlington. Many are buried here. A small log cabin has been recently donated and moved to the park and also will house a museum.
The park serves as a playground for our children, family gatherings, as well as "homecoming" celebrations, etc. A recently established Veterans Memorial Basketball Tournament is held each year. Monies raised during this event will be used to erect a memorial to our fallen veterans. A small boat dock, planned and built by the Corps with federal funds, would allow boaters to picnic in our park.
I believe the part of the Ohio River from the mouth of TwelvePole Creek to beyond the Guyandotte River should be part of the ongoing riverfront development.
Since the early 1990s, Huntington Marine Services Inc. of South Point, Ohio, has repeatedly sought to obtain a permit to established a 200-barge fleeting and topside cleaning/repair facility. The application is pending. This is a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation. Constant noise, pollution, bank erosion (come look and see) and devaluation of property have been cited as reasons for opposing this facility. Hundreds of letters have been written. The Westmoreland Neighborhood Association and the Neighborhood Institute of Huntington oppose this project.
Campbell Transportation has an application pending to fleet 90 standard barges or 60 jumbo barges near the Robert C. Byrd Bridge and Harris Riverfront Park. Port Huntington Terminals (Taylor Iron and Metals) has applied to fleet 15 jumbo barges in addition to installing a materials handling dock. They propose to handle forest products, veneer, plywood, primary iron and steel products, iron steel waste, scrap, manufactured goods, sand, gravel, stone, salt, slag and other materials. Mitigation includes the removal of the two sunken barges.
Barges now line the river bank in a residential area that has been determined to be a congested waterway from Proctorville, Ohio, to Hanging Rock, Ohio.
An editorial of April 8, 2006, reasoned that it would be in the best interest of the community for the Corps to deny the Westmoreland permit. Also, an article in The Herald-Dispatch on July 13, 2006, quoted newly arrived Col. Dana Hurst as saying he was "looking forward to working with members of this community."
Prominent gentlemen who have bridges named for them have been asked to assist us who oppose these projects.
Don Saunders is a resident of Burlington, Ohio.
