RSA project exceeds most expectations

MUSCLE SHOALS -- Members of the Public Park Authority of the Shoals couldn't hold in the laughter Friday when Chairman Rex Burleson started their meeting by asking if everyone had received the minutes from the last meeting.

That's because that meeting took place in June 2004.

Since then, authority members have allowed the wheels they and Retirement Systems of Alabama Executive Director David Bronner had set in motion to churn onward.

Judging by reports on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's twin courses in Ford City and the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa in Florence, the wheels have been turning quite well. Authority members met Friday to get an update on the project and were pleased with what they heard.

About 93,000 rounds of golf have been played since the complex opened 28 months ago, said Scott Arndt, who is in charge of the courses.

"We're probably 30 to 35 percent ahead of where we thought we'd be at this stage," Arndt said.

Then, it was Larry Bowser's turn.

The general manager of the Marriott, which is adjacent to the Renaissance Tower and Shoals Conference Center, reported the hotel had $10.8 million in revenue in its first year.

"In our (business plan), we expected $6.6 million in the first year," Bowser said. "We didn't expect to hit $10.8 million until 2013."

In addition, the conference center took in $2.7 million this past year. It was doing about $600,000 a year in business before the Marriott took over operations there, Bowser said.

Dick Jordan, a member of the authority who was Florence's mayor when management of the conference center was handed to the Marriott, recalls when the conference center regularly lost money.

"When we turned it over to you, we were losing $500,000 a year," Jordan told Bowser.

The authority was formed by then-mayors of the four largest Shoals cities, and chairmen of the Colbert and Lauderdale county commissions. While three of those mayors no longer are in office, they retained their seats on the authority. Muscle Shoals Mayor David Bradford remains on the board.

Funds for the projects were provided by the RSA and a 2-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax collected in Lauderdale and Colbert counties.

Burleson, who also chairs the Colbert County Commission, reported that nearly $5.5 million has been collected from the gas tax. He said the amount of money taken in has been nearly even between the two counties.

Burleson said, at this rate, the 30-year bond that went into the project would be paid off in 15 or 16 years.

Later in the meeting, Johnny Dill, who is handling money matters for the authority as a representative of Joe Jolly & Co., suggested looking into investing the authority's money in ways that would yield higher interest rates. He said the current investments are fixed at 3 percent, and better rates could be obtained. The authority liked the suggestion, and instructed Dill to look further into it.

The figures presented Friday brought smiles to the members' faces, but they also pointed out not all the news is good.

For example, the question about the future of Veterans Park remains unanswered. An attraction at the Florence park that would help draw tourism and enhance the economy was part of the contract negotiated among the authority, Florence and RSA. The park is across the street from the Marriott.

There had been discussion among some Florence leaders about the possibility of a Bass Pro Shops store anchoring a retail center there. That controversial proposal was dismissed when the Tennessee Valley Authority board declared none of its waterside property should be used for commercial development.

Burleson said he has asked a TVA representative to send him information on what type of developments or projects would be allowed at the park. TVA is compiling that information, and Burleson said he will share it with the authority, which has $2 million set aside for development at the park.

The RSA and authority joined forces at the turn of the decade to formulate an economic development package, at a time when the Shoals' economy was suffering. The hotel and golf course were part of the plans.

In addition, a new restaurant was placed atop Renaissance Tower. The restaurant now revolves, which had been part of the original plan for the tower when it was built nearly 20 years ago.

Jordan asked Friday about the authority's role with Veterans Park. He said he would like the authority to assist in any development, but believes final decisions should be left up to Florence.

Jimmy Hughston, attorney for the authority, said it is his understanding that the RSA can submit a plan, but the city and authority don't have to approve it.

"David Bronner has asked for suggestions on what we might want for the park," Hughston added.

A separate matter discussed Friday involves bills from attorneys Bob Hill and Mike Quillen. Hill's bill is for about $17,000, while Quillen's is for around $23,000.

Hughston explained that Hill was the attorney for the Tennessee Valley Exhibit Commission, which used to oversee operations at the tower. The tower is a state facility paid for with state money and the commission is a state agency.

A former restaurant owner at the tower had sued the commission, claiming the entity owed him money for not living up to its contract with him, causing the restaurant to go our of business. The suit was dismissed at the local and state appeals levels, officials said.

Hill represented the commission in those suits.

"The Public Park Authority had approved a resolution saying if a judgment were issued that would be a lean against the tower, the authority would satisfy anything to resolve that," Hughston said, noting the commission was dissolved while the suit was processing through the system.

He and authority members said the case would have been lost by default judgment had no attorney been there to represent the interests of the tower.

Quillen and Hill submitted bills to the exhibit commission for their work in September 2005, with Quillen's bill being for $29,482.60 and Hill's bill being for $21,522.10.

The exhibit commission was able to use its remaining money, about $10,700, to pay a portion of the attorneys' bills. Last March, Quillen received $6,181.32 from the commission, with Hill getting $4,513, based on commission records.

Hill and Quillen later asked the park authority to pay the remainder of the bill, which was the topic of discussion Friday.

The authority agreed Friday to pay Hill's bill. Since they had no communications that indicated Quillen also was working on the suit, they chose not to pay his bill.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.