Kentucky

KENTUCKY – TENNESSEE MARINA ASSOCIATION

TO:

Colonel Bernard R. Lindstrom U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Nashville District FROM: Kentucky and Tennessee Marina Association DATE: November 12, 2008 SUBJECT: Concerns of USACE Concessionaires 1) Abatement of Rent on Gasoline Sales or Permanent Reduction to Fixed

1% on gasoline sales. - KMA/TMA strongly feels that the USACE should fix the rent on gasoline sales at 1% to avoid the extreme price fluctuations and the high cost to the public. - EXAMPLE: When marina fuel was between $4.00 and $5.00 per gallon, the public was paying $.20 to $.25 per gallon just to cover the USACE rent. - Official request letter dated June 5, 2008 addressed to LTC Lindstrom has not been answered by USACE. - As a precedent, in 1980, the USACE provided a $.05 per gallon gas credit against rent payable. 2) Managed Parking - USACE Concessionaires have been awaiting a policy letter from USACE on launching and parking use fee structure. - Specifically, USACE committed to concessionaires to define “Managed Parking” in a meeting on December 19, 2008. - Two meetings (4/17/08 and 12/19/08) with USACE District Engineer have resulted in no formal and consistent policy on parking fees. - Concessionaires need flexibility in fee structure especially since USACE as “Landlord” is not fulfilling their responsibility in maintaining roads, ramps, and parking on federal lands. - Concessionaires are “Commercial-for profit” operations and when USACE compares parking and launching fee structures around the country, “non-profit parks” are used as comparables. This is not a fair comparison. - “Managed Parking” should be defined as: I.) Paved and striped parking area. II.) Monitored Parking area. III.) Posted rules and fee structure.

3) Communications - Local level reservoir management office has little decision making authority-decisions are sent to District Office. - District office not prompt and efficient with responses to concessionaires. Poor response time or no response. - Concessionaires feel as their contribution to the USACE’s recreation mission is extremely important but grossly underappreciated by USACE.. 4) Reservoir Reduction Policy

- Concessionaries continue to need consideration and flexibility on the USACE’s policy on Reservoir Reduction. - Parking is the number one problem restricting concessionaire’s ability to grow and meet the public’s demand for recreation. - Economic impact for the communities surrounding the lakes must be considered and compared against the small amount of fill needed to relieve parking constraints. 5) Partnership Defined. - Since 1999 when the National Recreational Lakes Study was completed for the U.S. Congress, the USACE Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the USACE District office in Nashville, has been promoting “PARTNERSHIPS” with private enterprise to better serve the public recreation demand. - Local reservoir management offices are not open to unique, creative, and innovative ways to partnership with concessionaires to better serve the public. - A clear definition of “Partnerships” is needed to avoid miscommunications and costly proposals by concessionaires.

Kentucky & Tennessee Marina Association Members appreciate the USACE’s willingness to move the discussions on these issues forward and bring about closure on them to the best ability of both parties. We look forward to hearing from you soon.