Dismantling of decrepit barge on Chattanooga's riverfront may start this month

The Allen Casey Barge on the north shore of the Tennessee River, seen Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn., has been extensively damaged and covered with graffiti.
The Allen Casey Barge on the north shore of the Tennessee River, seen Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn., has been extensively damaged and covered with graffiti.

The city's biggest riverfront eyesore may soon start shrinking, instead of sinking.

Chattanooga City Council members unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday to waive some waste fees for salvage on the dilapidated barge owned by businessman Allen Casey.

Casey first brought the barge to the city's waterfront in 2009. He planned to make it a premier floating restaurant. But Casey's company ultimately went bankrupt, the barge deteriorated and it's now wrapped up in legal proceedings.

In other business

In other business, council members: * Proclaimed that March 9 will now be known as Luther Day in honor of longtime local broadcaster Luther Masengill. Masengill died in October. Monday would have been his 93rd birthday. * Passed a final reading of an ordinance to allow the city Land Development Office to collect fire inspection fees on behalf of the Chattanooga Fire Department. The fees will now be based on the cost of business permits, instead of a flat $50 fee. * Approved a resolution to renew a $900,000 contract with AST Corporation for software services. * Discussed a possible amendment to the city's Passenger Vehicle for Hire ordinance that would allow for unique or vintage vehicles to operate in the city.

There is a hearing today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to determine whether Tullahoma, Tenn.-based Southern Community Bank can put up $225,000 to cover the rest of the demolition and removal.

The hearing was originally scheduled for Feb. 25 but was postponed due to winter weather.

While lawyers continue ironing out a plan to completely remove the flotsam, the city will pass on collecting up to $1,000 in waste fees for salvaging non-recyclable materials so a contractor can enter the barge and start dismantling it.

Chattanooga Chief of Staff Travis McDonough told council members Tuesday the work may start soon.

Doug Stein, a local contractor who has offered to do the work, is awaiting a signed contract and some regulatory approval. Once those two things happen, he hopes to get in the barge this month.

"I'm tired of looking at it too," Stein said.

But he cautioned it would not be a very quick job.

"We are going to be very meticulous in taking it apart, because we don't want any little piece to fall in the river. And as we are removing material we have to watch the weights, to make sure the moorings don't get loose. It's actually risky work," Stein said.

Stein says he plans to remove everything from the barge down to its concrete deck.

The barge has marred the city's waterfront since it got here.

In 2011, it partially sank. And last year, the Army Corps of Engineers gave Casey two months to remove the vessel.

Last month, cold weather froze a sump pump in the barge and it started to list toward the shore. It's currently being kept stable by standard-capacity pumps available at any hardware store.

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.

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