FLORENCE — Residents pelted Agriculture Authority members with questions for over 90 minutes Thursday during a meeting that was moved to a Lauderdale County courtroom due to the large turnout.
More than 70 people asked a variety of questions about the proposed $5 million Lauderdale County Agricultural Event Center.
Among questions people asked: where it would be located, whether there has been a feasibility study, how the authority was created, and how it would be funded.
The main point they made, however, was that they feel the public is not being informed enough about the proposed center.
"The problem is I don't know enough about it one way or another to make a decision," said Bud Ward, a member of the Shoals Economic Development Authority Board.
Ward stressed that public funds are going into the proposed development, so it is the public's business.
"Is this going to pay for itself?" Michael Broder asked, adding that he does not have enough information to decide whether he favors the plan.
Rebecca Ferguson said she is not aware of any ag center in the region that makes money. She also asked about its cost, saying estimates initially were $30 million.
"I'm concerned that you seem to be advocating something that really hasn't been fleshed out yet," James Thompson added.
The funding mechanism for the center is from in-lieu-of-tax money paid by the Tennessee Valley Authority to city and county schools and governments, and a 2-cents-per-gallon fuel tax that currently is being used to repay an economic development bond.
The seven-member Agriculture Authority is made up of Lauderdale County commissioners, members of the local legislative delegation and Ronnie Lane, who is there to represent the farming community. State Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, is chairman.
Melson answered most questions on behalf of the authority. He said various governmental entities, including every municipality in Lauderdale County, issued letters supporting the plan.
Melson added that they met with more than 100 people from various aspects of the community to get input as part of the project.
Marketing firm CSL Marketing conducted a study that indicated ag centers in similar-size communities are successful, he said. Birmingham-based environmental consulting firm Terracon conducted a study that found the plan to be environmentally safe.
A feasibility study will be conducted and will look into various aspects, including the size of the arena and the potential impact of a proposed arena in Sheffield.
The authority has purchased 170 acres of property off U.S. 72 for $2.6 million for part of the project. It was purchased from the Hyde family, authority members said.
Melson said the land is between Smokin' on the Boulevard, which is at 4080 U.S. 72, and Beckman Marine Sales, 3714 Florence Boulevard. If the feasibility study determines an arena should not be built, that land would be sold.
He said the authority conducted a poll of Lauderdale County residents that indicated 70 percent support the plan.
Authority members said they will try to be more forthcoming about plans so the public will be better informed. They said a lot of information still is needed and they didn't want to misinform people.
"We realize we may have been a little ambiguous, but we don't want to put out incorrect information," Lane said.
It always amazes me when something that would be good for the area in so many ways manages to get nay-sayers. Like the woman who said she doesn't know of any ag center that makes money. Ag centers aren't built to make money but with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture, serves growers, livestock producers, other agribusinesses, and agricultural information/education providers.
What some of these horse's patoots don't realize is we WON'T get a truck load of money for their little pet projects. We will only get it for the Ag Center, period. In other words, if the Ag Center isn't built, there won't be any money to pursue their little dreams.
www.wbrc.com/story/38583424/lauderdale-county-residents-want-answers-on-45m-agricultural-centerYou can bet every community in close proximity to an Ag Center benefits in many ways. It's not like this is a private company trying to make it to the fortune 500 so if it doesn't make a ton of money it will put the company out of business. It's to promote growth and education and if we happen to get some fun out of it too, that's icing on the cake!
Of course it would be nice if the ROYAL families of the Shoals got together and built something like that for the area as a thank you to the thousands of residents who made them wealthy by working for them for little more than minimum wage. But that ain't gonna happen so this is the ONLY way this area will ever have anything nice and people need to support it and stop being sticks in the mud.