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Mayor explains appeal of Radcliff VA project

News Enterprise - 12/27/2016

As mayor of Radcliff and a retired U.S. Army colonel with 30-plus years of active military service, I believe I'm in a unique position to comment on the location of the new veterans hospital.

As a veteran, I use the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic at Fort Knox and the VA Hospital on Zorn Avenue in Louisville. When I have an appointment at the hospital, I always allow two hours for the 45-minute trip to allow for unforeseen traffic congestion.

This is the situation all veterans face when traveling north on Interstate 65. Veterans who live on the west side of Louisville probably face a similar situation.

The bottom line is, if the new hospital is to be located where it will be convenient for all veterans in the Greater Louisville area, it should not be located in the city of Louisville.

Another serious problem with the current VA or any future Louisville location is parking.

The new hospital should be located where it will best accommodate the veteran population.

The Radcliff City Council, Hardin County Judge-Executive Harry Berry, state Sen. Dennis Parrett, Rep. Jeff Greer and Rep. Dean Schamore all agree with me that the new hospital should be located in an area away from all of the traffic and parking problems.

The city of Radcliff has such a place.

We own a 147-acre business park that has utilities on the site and all of the geotechnical studies have been completed. The park is just 10 miles off Interstate 65 at Exit 102 on limited access Ky. 313.

The site is near Fort Knox. Radcliff also is home to Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-Central and a new 120-bed veterans center will open here this spring.

The city will donate 50 acres, which is about 15 more than the proposed site. The extra 15 acres will allow adequate parking.

Since 1918 when Camp Henry Knox was first established, soldiers and families have retired in the area, establishing one of the largest veteran/retiree populations in the commonwealth.

This should be simple: Put the hospital where the veterans are or where veterans easily can get to it - and not where non-veterans want it to be for various reasons other than the interest of the veteran population.

Mike Weaver is mayor of Radcliff. He can be reached at 270-351-4714 or mayor@radcliff.org.