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Newport approves property conveyance, MOU for Fourth Street Bridge construction
Summary
The city approved conveyance of real estate parcels and a memorandum of understanding with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to allow construction of the Fourth Street Bridge; negotiation secured barge delivery to avoid Riverboat Row and includes $811,000 in compensation and $26,000 toward moving a rowing club dock.
The Board of Commissioners approved a deed conveyance and a memorandum of understanding with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to facilitate construction of the Fourth Street Bridge.
Commissioner Order Number 66 authorized a conveyance related to KYTC’s purchase of various city parcels needed for the Fourth Street Bridge replacement. Order Number 67 accepted and authorized a memorandum of understanding and addendum between the city and KYTC outlining negotiated terms of access, easements and restoration.
City staff described a long negotiation among the city, KYTC, the rowing club and sanitary district SD1. A major outcome of the negotiations is KYTC’s agreement to barge heavy construction traffic rather than route it through Riverboat Row and James Taylor Park; staff called that "a huge win for the city" because the state will avoid building through the park.
Staff said the total area affected is about 120,000 square feet, of which just under 34,000 square feet will be transferred in fee simple to KYTC. One section of the parcel was described as roughly 85 feet wide by 306 feet long. City staff said KYTC matched the city's independent appraisal and offered compensation of $811,000 for the right-of-way and easements. KYTC also offered $26,000 to offset the cost of relocating the rowing club dock; staff said they believe the dock can be moved for less than that amount and that KYTC will restore the area to preconstruction condition, including the pedestrian trail and a rebuilt river pedestrian bridge connecting Riverfront Commons.
Board members asked practical questions about timing of payments, the area under the bridge that KYTC already owns, and the city's ability to use certain under-bridge areas for parking subject to KYTC restrictions. Staff answered that KYTC-owned right-of-way under the bridge is included where necessary and that no negotiated condition would categorically preclude the city's continued use of parking there, though any use would be subject to KYTC’s requirements.
The board thanked staff for the lengthy negotiation and voted unanimously to approve both the conveyance and the MOU. Commissioners recorded as voting "yes" were Vice Mayor Smith Morrow; Commissioner Recton; Commissioner Sutherland; Commissioner Radvonsky; and Mayor Thomas L. Cadulli Jr.
