Group Hopes to Have Locks Open for Recreational Boaters in 2014
Leader Times
9 May 2013
By Brigid Beatty
Leader Times Staff Reporter Brigid Beatty can be reached at
724-543-1303 x1319
EAST FRANKLIN — Recreational boaters will have the opportunity
during four days in August to pass through Allegheny River locks 6
at Clinton and 7 at Kittanning, which will be operated for several
hours by the Army Corps of Engineers.
However, the Allegheny River Development Corp. (ARDC) is seeking
ways to bring back seasonal operating hours at all four locks in
Armstrong County.
It's unlikely it will be any time soon.
ARDC has its sights on next year and is working toward expanding
operating hours from May until September of 2014.
Before that can happen the nonprofit will have to navigate through
government channels.
ARDC officers and board of directors held a public meeting on
Wednesday at the East Franklin fire hall to lay out the results of
recent discussions with the Corps.
Earlier this year, after ARDC had discussed the possibility for a
public/private partnership to keep the locks open, the Corps told
the organization it would have to be insured for third-party loss
for around $5 million.
Since then ARDC officers had been seeking maritime insurers but
could find no agency willing to underwrite them.
“So it's off the table,” said Mark Devinney, ARDC president.
Now the group is taking a different tack and is looking into
something called contributing funds.
That means the nonprofit would raise money for the Corps to
operate the locks at an hourly rate of $60.94, not including
maintenance costs.
According to Mike Ferris, ARDC vice president, it would take 470
man-hours per lock to operate from May to September, which works
out to $28,000 to operate one lock during the recreational season.
“That's $115,000 to contribute to the Corps and we'd have all four
locks open for the recreational season,” said Ferris.
“Considering the other way (of insuring ARDC for $5 million) this
is very inexpensive.”
He noted that amount was an estimate and would provide funding for
only one season.
Linda Hemmes, ARDC treasurer, said the contributing funds must go
through a municipality before it passes to the Corps.
She said ARDC approached the Armstrong County Commissioners in
April and asked if they would be the pass between the ARDC and the
Corps.
“They are on board with the concept but still need to hammer out
the details,” she said after the meeting.
Hemmes said giving money to the federal government for a project
like this one will take time to move through the channels.
Approval must go through all the various levels of the Corps
before going to the Secretary of the Army and then on to the
Office of Management and Budget before filtering back down.
“It's not going to be a short trip,” said Hemmes. “But I'm hopeful
it could be next year.”
Although the contributing fund has not been set up yet, a member
of the public suggested ARDC begin taking pledges now so the funds
would be available when needed.
According to Ferris, there are about 5,000 recreational boaters on
the Allegheny River each season.
At present, ARDC has $15,093 of donated money in a fund, said
Hemmes. Incoming funds so far have paid maritime attorney fees and
have helped with mailing costs.
Devinney encouraged more individuals and businesses to show
support for ARDC by signing up for membership and writing to U.S.
Rep. Mike Kelly and U.S. Sens.Pat Toomey and Bob Casey.
He thanked Kelly's Director of Outreach Samuel Breene for
attending and for supporting ARDC.
“We haven't given up,” Devinney said before the meeting ended. “We
still have our shoulder to the wheel.”
Locks 6 and 7 will be open Aug. 3 and 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30
p.m. and on Aug. 10 and 11 from 1:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For more information visit http://www.AlleghenyRiverDevelopment.org
Brigid Beatty is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be
reached at 724-543-1303 or bbeatty@tribweb.com