Taking liberties

A proposed ban on new residential and commercial construction along the Tennessee River could stop a development planned at Florence's Veterans Park, prompting Mayor Bobby Irons and council President Leland Howard to formally ask TVA to exclude Veterans Park from the prohibition.

Irons and Howard submitted the letter to TVA as part of the comment process on the proposed moratorium. The letter was also signed by the mayors of Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia.

As part of the Retirement Systems of Alabama economic development partnership with Shoals governments that included the Marriott Hotel and Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses, an "attraction" that is mutually agreeable to all parties is to be built in Veterans Park. The park is owned by TVA and leased to the city as a public access recreation area.

A Bass Pro Shop and related shopping center have been discussed for Veterans Park.

The problem we see here is the mayors and council president weighing into the TVA debate without first consulting their city councils.

A formal position has not been stated by the Florence council, though an effort to adopt a resolution last week was tabled when Councilman Scott Carrier would not agree to give consent to immediate consideration for a vote. The resolution is expected to be on the next meeting agenda.

The RSA project has been successful in the Shoals, attracting more visitors and proving to be an important tool for economic development. It also ushered in a new era of cooperation among elected officials from Colbert and Lauderdale counties.

But Irons and Howard, especially, have overstepped their authority in the TVA debate on commercial development. Their letter does not have the authority of the elected government of Florence.

The Bass Pro Shops proposal is not popular with Florence residents, in part because so little is known about the details. And many don't want to see the riverfront park plowed under for another shopping center.

The park also is the site of a veterans memorial honoring those who have served in the nation's armed conflicts. Its fate is not clear should a commercial development be approved.

As we have stated before, a public discussion is needed about the proposed commercial development of Veterans Park. Too little is known about the proposal, which only feeds public mistrust of government. And that's one thing the community doesn't need.