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50 acres offered free for veterans hospital

News Enterprise - 12/23/2016

In hopes of becoming the new home of a VA medical center, Radcliff Mayor Mike Weaver is offering free land off Ky. 313.

The 50-acre site in Millpond Business Center has all utilities in place, and all geotechnical studies and ground-soil testing are completed and on file. Also, Ky. 313 provides direct access from Interstate 65.

"It would be much more convenient than where it is now or their proposed site," Weaver said.

Weaver, a retired U.S. Army colonel, talked about the idea Thursday afternoon shortly after returning to his office from his own appointment at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center off Zorn Avenue in Louisville.

"You have to go almost to Indiana to reach the Kentucky VA center," he said.

In anticipation of delays on the interstate and heavy traffic in the metro area, Weaver said he must leave two hours before the appointment to make what should be a 45-minute drive.

With the concentration of veterans in Hardin County and the Lincoln Trail region plus the proximity to Fort Knox, Weaver is confident a VA hospital in Radcliff would be more convenient for most of its client base.

Land for a new VA hospital has been acquired near Brownsboro Road and the Watterson Expressway in Louisville. At a veterans' town hall meeting earlier this week, officials said that is the only site under consideration.

"Today in the process, the only question is are we or are we not going to build at Brownsboro Center?" John Trexler, the VA center's director, said at the meeting.

Some residents near the eastern Jefferson County property oppose the project, fearing major traffic congestion along with compounding pollution and other environmental problems. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer recently sent a letter to the VA questioning the location.

Alternatives mentioned publicly include property on Louisville's west end once under consideration by Walmart and 42 acres offered by Bullitt Fiscal Court at the Ky. 245 interchange off Interstate 65.

A public comment period collecting input on the new location runs through Jan. 11.

Most of Millpond's 147 acres are undeveloped. In late 2015, Ruffle Girl acquired the former U.S. Cavalry distribution warehouse for its operations. A building recently vacated by Appliance Parts of Radcliff is under renovation.

Weaver and J.J. Duvall, Radcliff's development director, only began discussing the idea about a week ago, the mayor said.

The mayor said local legislators and each member of Radcliff City Council enthusiastically backed the idea.

"I could barely get the idea out," Weaver said. "Before I could tell them all the reasons for doing it, they embraced it."

When he received immediate support during initial conversations with elected officials Thursday, he decided to go public to develop support for the proposal.

"I think it's a great idea," Councilman Edward Palmer said. "We have a fort here, we have military people driving in and out of the community for service here. And we have a military nursing home getting ready to open so I think it fits. ... I think it's a win-win."

Because the Veterans Administration is a part of the federal government, Radcliff would not gain property or payroll taxes from the $1 billion facility. But with as many as 1,300 employees and a steady, recurring flow of patients, Weaver said Radcliff would see a "significant benefit" in many indirect ways.

In addition to recruiting support of area legislators and county elected leaders, Weaver has reached out to the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs and plans to involve Kentucky's Congressional delegation.

The city's offer is not a gesture to win community favor, Weaver said.

"We are sincere," he said. "We are very serious."

Ben Sheroan can be reached at 270-505-1764 or bsheraon@thenewsenterprise.com.