2021 Proposed design for a boat launch at the southern end of Liberty Street. Graphic courtesy City of Warren.

Could Riverfront Development Project Be Biggest Economic Shift in Decades? One Warren Co. Commissioner Thinks So

December 19, 2022

WARREN, Pa. – A Warren County commissioner believes that the Warren Riverfront Development project has the potential to be the biggest economic shift for the county in decades.

But only if it is done correctly.

“This can be the biggest economic shift in the county, tied to tourism, in decades if it is done right,” Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said at the Wednesday, Dec. 14, Warren County Commissioners meeting. “My concern, right now is that we are really focusing on a couple of very major financial pieces to it, but we are missing some of the other pieces.”

Eggleston’s comments came during a lengthy discussion between the Commissioners and some members of the Warren City Council, including councilman Maurice Cashman, before a vote by the Commissioners that ultimately pledged $750,000 to the project.

Eggleston took issue with Cashman and others calling the project a “boat-launch” project saying it is so much more than that.

“The project isn’t a boat launch,” Eggleston said. “The boat launch is part of the project. You need to really stop referring to it as a boat launch because people hear that and they think it is just a boat launch, you are spending 2 ½, 3, 4, 5, 6 million on a boat launch. That is not the case. The boat launch is an important feature of the project, an incredibly important feature, especially from a security standpoint from, like, a safety standpoint.”

It is Eggleston’s belief that if other elements are incorporated within the project, more money will be available for the project.

“When I shared this project with Kim Slocum when she was first hired, and she read through it, she really felt there were a lot of things being left on the table that could be incorporated into the project that would actually make it easier to fund and make it more attractive to federal and state people who want to grant money to the project,” Eggleston said. “I think there are a lot of other pools of money that you could be going after for that overall project.”

Some of the other aspects Eggleston believes need to be tied into the project include cultural, entertainment, and art elements.

“You aren’t going to do that without a more comprehensive strategy to address it,” Eggleston said.

Because of the concentration on the boat-launch portion of the project, Eggleston believes the potential for a greater scope on the project isn’t being discussed.

“My concern with this project is there is such an interest at this point in moving forward with something, I think a lot of other stuff seems to get lost in the discussion. That’s just my opinion.”

Eggleston said he understands why the boat launch and road improvement parts of the project are the most talked about aspects.

“Originally, the road was a mess,” Eggleston said. “It is not hard to say we have to fix the road. We want to access the river. We need a boat launch.”

Eggleston said his comments shouldn’t be taken as disparaging or passing judgment on the project, but rather that the county wants to help because the project has the potential to benefit everyone.

“I know you guys are doing the best you can,” Eggleston said. “These are just suggestions.

“We could really help you with this project, and help you get it funded, and help it be a success. I highly encourage the city council to take some time and ask themselves how we can engage the county and how we can integrate ourselves into your process in order to make it more successful.”

Eggleston also said the County wasn’t looking to be a 50-50 partner with the City acknowledging the City is putting a lot more money toward the project than the County.

“We would like to be engaged with the CIty on how this moves forward,” Eggleston said. “Not as a 50-50 partner, but certainly as an entity that has a vested interest in the success of this project.”

Cashman told the Commissioners the City would welcome the opportunity to have the County’s assistance.

“We certainly will welcome any help and suggestion we can have,” Cashman said. “This is an important ingredient in getting started because it won’t be, in all likelihood, until 2025 that we actually get under construction because of all the environmental permits and so forth that you have to get. So, as we would find other funding to start finishing off this project that will be easier to move forward on. But this is such a key thing, sort of the anchor of this whole project, to get started. We recognize that fact there is more to do and there is more funding that has to be required.”

Commissioner Tricia Durbin asked if the City had formed a subcommittee to spearhead the project but was told by Cashman that hadn’t happened at this point.

“We have not done that, per se,” Cashman said. “We will engage with (acting City Manager) Mike Holtz saying let’s get involved (with the county grant writer).”

Cashman said the City is also looking at the potential of hiring a grant writer as part of its reorganization following the retirement of long-time City Manager Nancy Freenock but is more than willing to get help from Slocum.

“Any help is more than welcome,” Cashman said. “Anything Ms. Slocum can help us with, absolutely.”

Eggleston was asked if he had brought some of his thoughts in front of the City Council in the past about the project.

He acknowledged he had but thought it was a good time to restart the discussion.

“I feel this is a good time to try and reinvigorate the discussion related to it,” Eggleston said. “You have a transition in your administration and turnover in your city council (members). These are discussions we have had for several years, and there have been multiple times that we have suggested to different folks let’s partner on this and figure out how to do X Y, and Z because we have additional assets that can be brought to bear to assist in a collaborative setting. I think it makes it easier for you folks to make the case when you have county support, not just financially but also administratively, especially when you are going after the bigger state and federal grants.”

Cashman agreed with Eggleston on that point.

“It is,” Cashman said. “(We can have) a vision on how we can work together and make Warren County, not just the City but Warren County, a much better place to live and recreate in. We are very interested in moving that forward.”

Durbin asked if it would make sense for the County to include a stipulation in its resolution authorizing the $750,000 that a member of the county like Slocum or a commissioner would be on a City subcommittee for this project.”

Eggleston said that wasn’t necessary.

“That would be preferable,” Eggleston said. “But I don’t think that has to be part of the motion

“Our view is that we are committing funds to the project with the understanding that we are going to be able to look at it and say we are 100% comfortable with it when it moves forward
We are not, necessarily, looking to look over anybody’s shoulder. We just want to make sure the funds are used judicially and, on the flip side of it, anecdotal we would ask that we would have a more engaged role in the development of the project

Cashman said that shouldn’t be a problem.

“You are a shareholder, a stakeholder, however you want to say it,” Cashman said.

Editor’s Note: This meeting was covered remotely via Warren County’s YouTube video of the meeting

         

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