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Lewis County Court OKs effort to pursue lease or transfer of Garrison boat ramp pending environmental tests
Summary
The fiscal court authorized the judge to express county interest in leasing or accepting transfer of the Garrison Boat Dock from the Army Corps of Engineers, contingent on environmental testing arranged by the Division of Water; members noted possible dredging needs, maintenance costs and liability concerns.
Lewis County Fiscal Court voted to authorize the county judge to communicate the court’s interest in the Garrison Boat Dock property and to enter discussions that could lead to a lease or transfer from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, pending environmental testing.
The judge told the court the Corps and the Kentucky Division of Water met by Zoom with county staff and indicated the Corps is prepared to begin a process that could result in turning the property over to the county. "They have offered to turn that property or start the process of turning that property over to the county," the judge said during the meeting.
County officials said the Division of Water has arranged for soil and sediment testing. Brian Storrs of the Division of Water (via email reported to the court) requested Superfund screening and is coordinating sampling; county staff said the Division is also exploring whether EPA Brownfields grants could cover cleanup if contamination is found. "If the study shows contamination, the next step would be to apply for EPA Brownfields grants to revitalize the area," a county staff member told the court.
Magistrates raised common concerns: the site’s heavy siltation, likely dredging needs to make the ramp usable for larger craft, and the potential cost and liability if contaminants are present. "There’s a large unknown there that could be a significant liability to the county," one magistrate said. Other members noted that if the property remains under Corps ownership, the county would be ineligible to apply for many grant programs that could fund improvements.
Court members agreed the letter of interest would not bind the county to accept ownership. The motion approved on a roll call vote authorized the judge to send a letter or otherwise communicate county interest so the Corps’ process — including environmental testing — can proceed. The court instructed staff to return with results of any sampling and with recommendations before any permanent transfer or lease is finalized.
Next steps: county staff will await the Division of Water’s testing results and report back to the fiscal court; the judge and staff said a lease or transfer would not occur without subsequent court approval.
