Published: March 25, 2008 02:26 pm            

Park project back on track

Application resubmitted to State Division of Water

WHITLEY CITY — After months of limbo, there appears to be a light at the end of the culvert for the excavation at the community park.

It all started last September when a hard rain and lack of silt fencing caused sedimentation along Barren Fork, a habitat for the endangered minnow known as the blackside dace.

Following the incident, the Kentucky Division of Water halted further development — saying the McCreary County Park Board’s plan to divert a small stream underground could permanently harm dace habitat. DOW officials agreed to reconsider if the park board could get the blessing of the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife in writing.

The board received that document at the beginning of this month and has since resubmitted its application for a DOW permit. The process, president J.C. Egnew said, should take about 120 days. The plan must also be approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“I’m optimistic,” Egnew said. “Asking us to resubmit is a good sign. The experts are saying our plan would not harm the fish. We believe this will unblock the deadlock.”

Another good sign is Fish and Wildlife’s willingness to work with the park board regarding a fine for the initial violation. Egnew said parties involved are working out a five-year agreement over six months which will largely focus on community service. The contractor, Weddle Contracting, would work to rehabilitate other streams for the blackside dace, while the board would work on school and other community awareness projects.

Park board members recently allocated some $12,000 to McCreary County Little League, which was left without dedicated facilities after the excavation was halted last fall.

Weddle Contracting was awarded the $2.3-million contract about a year ago to excavate 40 acres as Phase I of park development (multi-generational facility, fairgrounds, soccer field, Little League fields, amphitheater, access road and parking). The project was to have been completed by the end of 2007.

If all goes well, work would resume by July. The next phase of park development would be the construction of a community facility to house the McCreary Senior Citizens Center among other services. But those plans have also hit a snag.

The county had received a special waiver to apply for a $1 million community development block grant but the application has been held up by the county audit, which state officials have yet to release. In the meantime, Egnew has been advised that the waiver is no longer available and the maximum the county can apply for is $500,000.

Egnew said the board is working with Lake Cumberland Area Development District director Donna Diaz and also expects to approach Senator David Williams for assistance. A tentative earmark of $80,923 was included in the House of Representatives’ version of the state budget, but Egnew was unaware of the allocation.

The next park board meeting is scheduled for April 14.

        

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