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June 9, 2009

Brent Spence tops N. Ky. wish list

By Patrick Crowley
pcrowley@nky.com

COVINGTON -- Constructing a replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge is Northern Kentucky's top infrastructure priority, a regional committee that lobbies for funding is expected to announce Wednesday.

Even though most of the expected $3 billion to replace the Ohio River span connecting Covington and Cincinnati will be paid with federal funds, the Northern Kentucky Consensus Committee included the project on its priority list of projects because some state funding will be required. The amount of state money has not been determined but will probably total about 10 to 20 percent of the project.

Officials with the committee would not comment Tuesday on the list, saying they will be available to answer questions at Wednesday's press conference. Excluding the Brent Spence, the list totals $371.4 million and is broken down into infrastructure, economic development and tourism, health care and postsecondary education needs.

The list is to be formally unveiled during a morning press conference at the convention center. It was put together by business, government and civic leaders from Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Owen, Pendleton and Carroll counties.

The list is generated every two years. Officials do not expect to have every project funded, but the legislature has in the past fully funded one or two major projects and provided seed money for planning, architecture and land acquisition for others.

Past projects, including Northern Kentucky University's $90 million student union and various road projects, have been funded after appearing on the committee's list.

Committee members, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, will use the list to lobby for state funds. Other projects on the list include:

• Northern Kentucky Convention Center expansion, $50 million.

• Constructing Gateway Community and Technical College's urban campus in Covington, $21.5 million.

• Renovating NKU's Old Science Building into a Health Innovations Center, $92.5 million.

• Replacing water lines -- including some that have been in operation for 110 years -- in the river cities of Bromley, Ludlow, Covington, Newport, Bellevue and Dayton, $69 million. The Northern Kentucky Water District would pay $69 million of the $138 million project.

• Improving the Silver Grove Pump Station operated by Sanitation District No. 1, $25.5 million.

• Expanding Lake Williamstown in Grant and Pendleton counties, $57.6 million.

• Address erosion problems on Northern Kentucky's riverfront and developing a pedestrian pathway along the Ohio River and hiking and walking trails along the Licking River, $7.4 million.

• Realign Kentucky Routes 8 and 9 in north Newport, a road project considered key to the development of the nearly $1 billion Ovation project, a proposed riverfront residential, office, retail and entertainment complex.

• Covington Square and public market in downtown Covington, $14 million.

• Construction of Adolescent Residential Substance Abuse Treatment facility, $2.4 million.

• Construction of Jefferson Community and Technical College Carrollton campus, $12 million.

• Construction of a Tri-County Regional Airport in Gallatin County near the Kentucky Speedway, $7 million.

                                                                                                                                                                                   
Grant County News:
 
03/19/2009
 

Lake expansion project gets $540,000 boost

By Bryan Marshall, staff writer

Vince Gabbert, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Steve Beshear, recently returned home to Grant County bearing an expensive gift.

The 1994 Williamstown Senior High graduate and son of Rosie and Eddie Gabbert announced a $540,000 state grant that will help inch closer the planned expansion of Lake Williamstown.

The announcement came in front of a standing-room only crowd at a town hall meeting hosted by the Williamstown Woman’s Club at Williamstown Baptist Church.

“I don’t see many friendly crowds these days in my line of work,” Gabbert said before revealing the grant. “So, it’s nice to see some friendly faces.”

The money will fund phases 2 though 5 in the development and permit plans for the expansion.

“Although we are a long way from funding the $45 million to complete the project, if we all work together for this common goal, the completion of the expansion is something that can be realized in the near future,” Gabbert said.

“We all know this will be a very long and expensive process, but anything worth having is worth working for,” he said.

Gabbert said that he can personally attest to the governor’s commitment to working with federal, state and local leaders to find a way to finance the construction of a new dam that will triple the size of the current lake.

Bill Dennison, president of the Williamstown Lake Association, applauded the efforts of everyone involved in obtaining the funding.

He said the project was at a standstill before the announcement was made.

“It will be extremely beneficial,” he said of the money. “There’s numerous studies that have to be made to satisfy the application to the Corps of Engineers. The lake expansion committee needed those funds to be able to progress through that application.”

When asked about a timeline, Gabbert said he could not be sure when the project would become reality.

“I can tell you that (Grant County Judge-Executive Darrell Link) has offered to name it after the governor if we can get it done by his second term,” said Gabbert to a laughing audience. “So, we’re going to push to have Lake Beshear ready to roll within the next seven years. With this boost in funds, it will help expedite the process.”

Link, one of many elected officials in attendance, introduced Gabbert, noting that he “has never forgot from which he came.”

While the big news from the meeting was the newfound funds for the lake expansion, Gabbert also mentioned the approval of a state road plan that includes money for a design for a new interchange off Interstate 75 in Sherman.

“With the growth that our county has seen in recent years and the construction of (Sherman Elementary), this is something we sorely need and will provide tremendous dividends going forward,” he said.

With his parents sitting in the front row, Gabbert was greeted graciously by attendees.

When the nearly hour-long meeting ended, many stopped to talk with him or share a handshake or a hug.

“Everyday I thank my lucky stars to have the job that I do,” Gabbert said. “No matter how tough the previous day was, each morning when I make that turn on Capitol Avenue and see the rotunda all lit up, it renews my spirit and gets me going for the day.”

Copyright www.grantky.com. All rights reserved.
 
 

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As for now, the following information may be of interest; more will be added, so stay tuned:
 
 
This video was one of the first presentations made about the Lake Expansion.
After watching, you will know, that the future of the world depends on the Lake Expansion. 
 
 
 
University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Department of Landscape Architecture Recommended Land Use Plan (.pdf)
 
Grant County also has a Lake Williamstown web page, see:
 
Vision 2015 - a team of nearly 100 civic, business and government leaders launched a community planning effort to develop a strategic plan for Northern Kentucky’s future