The players include the Shawneetown Regional Port Authority, the Village of Old Shawneetown, Scates Group Intermodal River Terminal (SGIRT), Viserion Grain, and State Senator Dale Fowler. Residents of the riverside hamlet are accusing the Port Authority of attempting a land grab they say robs them of the only asset they have left. It all came to a head Thursday night at a Port Authority public meeting. At issue, the proposed lease agreement between the Port Authority and “Old Town”. Members of the Port Authority say they reached an impasse and were forced to seek legislation that would circumvent the village. Old Town Mayor Bill Barton says the Port Authority has put a gun to the town’s head and placed it between a rock and a hard place.
At the special meeting Thursday, Port President Makenzie Golden said they’d been trying to negotiate with the Village since March of 2022 to keep the project moving forward. Negotiation ceased over a dispute surrounding an already established agreement between Old Shawneetown and Viserion. It took all of 5 minutes before Golden squared off with Barton.
Golden: “It requires that Viserion Grain approve each aspect of the property. It also tells us that we would not be allowed to use Third South Cross Street which is vital to our organization. So those of you that don’t know about this agreement, Viserion and Old Shawneetown have an Impact Zone agreement where Viserion pays $99,000 per year…”
Barton: “and when you call it an Impact Zone, they have right of refusal…nothing to do with what you all have going on. That lease right there, it is pre-approved. All you do is sign it, get your damn money and you go to work.”
Golden: “Yes, but we don’t believe we should have to…”
Barton: “and I don’t believe you should get our land for nothing either”
After the stalemate, Port representatives say it became apparent a legislative change to the Port Act was needed to get the project built. Discussions between SGI, Senator Dale Fowler, and the Governor’s office began working with a consultant and Senate Bill 3654 was drafted.
Once locals got wind of legislation, they turned their attention to the precedent it would be setting asking what would stop anyone or organization from utilizing political persuasion and legislation from taking anything they wanted. Since Senate Bill 3654 was drafted, Gallatin County Board Member Warren Rollman has issued multiple statements aimed at “combating the communistic policies of Senator Dale Fowler” and what he labeled the Scates-Port Cartel. He also introduced a resolution opposing the legislation and urged the Village of Old Shawneetown, Shawnee Township, Bowlesville Township, the Shawnee Water Authority, and the Gallatin County Board to adopt. Rollman spoke up throughout the Thursday night gathering.
Rollman: “So the impact zone, Viserion has signed off on that so they’re ok with it.”
Golden: “They have not signed off on it, but we also feel like we should not have to ask them permission.”
Rollman: “Well, but they have a prior agreement with Old Shawneetown that takes precedent.”
Golden: “OK, so they’re a public entity. What gives them say versus another public entity.”
Rollman: “Well Viserion is a privately owned corporation. They may be public to a degree, but they have an agreement with Old Shawneetown so that’s between those two. It’s Old Shawneetown’s property. That’s the main precedent here.”
At that point, Patrick Scates chimed in saying, “we as a private company are not going to let another private company dictate what we do or don’t do with our property.”
Noticeably absent from the meeting were representatives from Viserion and there was no sign of Senator Dale Fowler or a staffer. Despite an hour and twenty minutes worth of hand wringing, frustration, and occasional charged comments, a path forward does still apparently exist. Representatives from the Port Authority are expected to meet directly with the Old Shawneetown Village Board on Monday at 6pm in a special meeting.
