Harley Davidson Dealership

wkugirl · Senior Member

Harley Davidson Dealership

Date: Sep 10, 2007

WKUgirl,

I agree with you. We should meet anything deal offered to them by London/Laurel County. I believe the site off exit 25 at I-75 is a great location for them. It is much better than the one in Laurel County. Between 35,000 and 40,000 vehicle a day pass north and south right by that site.

12,000 to 15,000 vehicles pass east and west on Cumberland Falls Hwy.

Harley Davidson is a prestigeous company. It will attract another motel, restaurant and some other small companies. We must do everything possible to get them here. If we lose we should go down swinging rather than go down on strike three with our bat on our shoulder.

I hope it comes here.

Bob Terrell, Sr.

wkugirl · Senior Member

Mr. Terrell, Sr.
Thanks for the reply. Do we have any Corbin city officials working on this deal?? I hate to see this slip through Corbin's fingers. It would be huge for the South Corbin exit, and all of Corbin really. I feel like YOU are our best hope in negotiating a deal like this. I'm not sure how all of the negotiations work. Who in Corbin is in the position to offer them incentives???

Date: Sep 11, 2007

Most all of the folks I've talked to on this are very tight lipped, or won't talk at all. The consensus I've heard is it will end up in court for breach of contract. But, nothing is for sure until the property is excavated and deemed ready for construction, and/or the dealership breaks ground in laurel county.

As far as these incentives such as occupational tax returns and such, I feel this should be illegal for ANY county or city to offer such things. This is a slap in the face of all the hard working folks that struggle to pay the tax all year. Sure, some call this the penny tax, but, a tax is a tax.

That said, we'll just have to wait and see. I don't think the mayor or commissioners would play their hands until the time is right. Sometimes, you just have to keep your mouths shut.

Jarhead · Veteran Member

How can Laurel County offer a incentive and Whitley cannot match it? From the way it was told in the newspaper, it doesnt seem like that much for the county to give up. The location in London compared to the one in Corbin is like apples to hazelnuts! I cant imagine why Whitley wouldnt want to offer the same deal. That would boom the south end of Corbin, not to mention bring businesses with it. The property in Corbin looks better each day, and with the expo center across the street, this would be an awesome attraction. Somebody needs to light a fire under the city and county to get this done! Dont let this one get away guys!

Date: Sep 13, 2007

I agree.

Go up to the restaurants section, pull up the Vintage house thread, and read that. You'll like that post.

Corbin can offer this type of incentive, but will they.

Date: Sep 14, 2007

How can counties charge businesses a tax and turn around and give it to their buddies? This is exactly what Laurel is talking about doing and I believe it will hurt Judge Kulh and his crew in the long run. A few wealthy Laurel people who ride bikes want small businesses to pay tax so the Harley guy can get an incentive. I have a small business in Laurel county and I do not like the deal. I wonder how most the other Laurel business people feel about it?

kramer · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

How can counties charge businesses a tax and turn around and give it to their buddies? This is exactly what Laurel is talking about doing and I believe it will hurt Judge Kulh and his crew in the long run. A few wealthy Laurel people who ride bikes want small businesses to pay tax so the Harley guy can get an incentive. I have a small business in Laurel county and I do not like the deal. I wonder how most the other Laurel business people feel about it?

I wonder how Tri-Co. Cycle likes Laurel Co. giving incentives to a competitor when they have been located in the county for 25 years or so.

Jarhead · Veteran Member

The problem I see with what they have done is how can you give money that you dont have? Its like gambling on credit.... If I was the owner of that dealership, I would be a little concerned about their ability to pay up. What happens if they dont? After the steel goes up... the dealer is stuck. Maybe someone should share the experience the contractors faced building the new Emergency Management facility with him. They somehow ended up short of money to pay the bills! Heck, I wish I could get a new house built and not worry about paying for it !

Date: Sep 15, 2007

To me, an even bigger slap in the face is to the employees. They still have their occupational taxes taken from their checks, and then the county gives the money back to the business owner as the incentive. The employees are literally paying the owner to work there. I think that is the biggest issue here with regard to the incentives. This happened in clay county several years ago. A small factory moved in and were offered an incentive of returning their occupational tax money to them, and then 18 months after the incentive ran out, the company packed up and left.

I don't see a Harley dealer doing this, but, it shows the way things work in politics.

As far as I've heard, there is still nothing certain about this business coming to either county. We won't know anything until it breaks ground somewhere. I'm sure the corbin developers have some good lawyers lined up, and should the dealer back out of his contract, he'll pay through the nose.

Date: Sep 15, 2007

I guess we will have to wait and see

but I say that Harley will locate in Corbin.

Jarhead · Veteran Member

This article was in Friday's Knoxville News Sentinel:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/sep/14/new-harley-store-revs-up-for-business/t

If someone knows one of our local reporters, maybe they can get do some research and find out what is going on too!!

Looks like the developers on the corbin location have been validated!

Jarhead · Veteran Member

Jarhead wrote:

This article was in Friday's Knoxville News Sentinel:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/sep/14/new-harley-store-revs-up-for-business/

If someone knows one of our local reporters, maybe they can get do some research and find out what is going on too!!

Looks like the developers on the corbin location have been validated!

Oops... pasted a bad link... use this one

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/sep/14/new-harley-store-revs-up-for-business/

Date: Sep 15, 2007

Jarhead wrote:

Jarhead wrote:

This article was in Friday's Knoxville News Sentinel:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/sep/14/new-harley-store-revs-up-for-business/

If someone knows one of our local reporters, maybe they can get do some research and find out what is going on too!!

Looks like the developers on the corbin location have been validated!

Oops... pasted a bad link... use this one

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/sep/14/new-harley-store-revs-up-for-business/

Thanks, Jarhead. That looks good.

Date: Sep 15, 2007

I wish this maddux guy would quit playing around. If he has made a deal in Corbin, then the deal is done... period. As I see it, a contract has been made and money has been given. If laurel makes a play, so be it... but honor the deal you made originally. Has anyone seen the property in london that is in question? Is it on the interstate? I heard it was next to 84 lumber... who in their right mind would put a Harley dealership that far away from the interstate? Nothing is making sense. First Corbin, then London, then in a tennessee newspaper its Corbin again! Sounds to me like london is grasping for straws, and all the straws are gone. Now they have made an offer that doesnt look like is going to be effective. If I was a Laurel business, I would be knocking on Judge Exec Kuhl's office door wanting the same deal. Maybe Tri County Cycles will get the training incentive instead. Good luck. hmm

Date: Sep 18, 2007

Looks like its put up or shut up time for the Harley guy according to today's paper. I was afraid this would end up in court.

This'll get messy and expensive.

Date: Sep 29, 2007

Yeah who took the money the fat one.

Date: Nov 17, 2007

I'd say this deal is done, done gone.

Sure hope A.J. has some other things lined up.

AJ · Senior Member

Workin on it !!!!

Date: Nov 20, 2007

Hang in there AJ.

Your IP has been banned by the administrator of this forum. You are not permited to comment.

Date: Nov 28, 2007

I am disappointed Harley Davidson is not going to locate in Corbin. Today's paper quoted that London has better demographics than Corbin and that is hard to believe.

Corbin just needs to be determined to compete recognizing this is a tough market place at this time. I wish Corbin had offered some type of program to get them here. It would not have taken much to do it.

We lost General Shale from our area a few months ago. Who will be next?

Date: Nov 28, 2007

Anonymous wrote:
I am disappointed Harley Davidson is not going to locate in Corbin. Today's paper quoted that London has better demographics than Corbin and that is hard to believe.

Corbin just needs to be determined to compete recognizing this is a tough market place at this time. I wish Corbin had offered some type of program to get them here. It would not have taken much to do it.

We lost General Shale from our area a few months ago. Who will be next?

What would you like to offer. How about you pay to get them here. This is a retail store not a manufactoring outlet. What are you going to offer Pepsi, CTA etc who have been here for years.
London is not going to get it either, I heard Somerset is top runner.

Date: Nov 28, 2007

I am disapointed as well, but from what I have heard from a very reliable and close source to the corbin developers, there is a deal in the works on that property that will be much bigger than the motorcycle shop. AJ seems to be doing a good job at avoiding the press and working on making something happen on the south end, so maybe it wont be a total loss for Corbin.

I also heard there are some documents between the harley dealer and the corbin developers that could be damaging against the dealer. I'm betting the fraud case sticks in court. Good luck AJ and Steve.

Date: Nov 28, 2007

Polecat Properties bought 8.24 acres off Hwy 80-Hal Rogers Parkway on Oct. 1 for $350,000.00. Scott Maddux signed the deed for Polecat Properties. I was at the courthouse last week and came across it while searching for some deeds. I would say london is the destination. My guess is he got the corbin guys to go public so he could get the london boys to counter an offer and get kuhl to put up some county incentives and play the hero at saving this from going to Corbin. Maddux played smart ball, but a big gamble if this goes to a jury trial in whitley. I cant believe the london guys would sell commercial property in laurel county for 40,000 an acre, and this Maddux guy would want to put a high end retail shop that far away from I-75. The selling price should be a hint that it is a bad location.

My guess is the developers have a 60/40 shot at winning this case. The good thing is Jensen is attorney for Maddux. He has a record of being a sorry attorney, being more concerned with politics.

Date: Nov 28, 2007

I have heard that a lot of businesses in London are now wanting the incentives for themselves. i think Laurel County has opened a big can of worms for a retail store that will only employee at most 15.

Date: Nov 28, 2007

Eric Hart of Tri County Cycles went to the fiscal court meeting when the incentive was voted on and told the court he would never pay another dime to the occupational tax. I would say that he will, but atleast he had the sack to stand up and say what he felt. The incentive has been voted for and there wont be much more than a word or two said about it. London beat Corbin again and Laurel Countians will let it ride due to that fact. Isnt Carr and Brock both from Laurel Co and have businesses and land there too? Thats a sour grape in the vineyard.

Date: Nov 28, 2007

When you battle and win nearly everyone on the team celebrates and is joyful. Laurel County and London will get over any criticism of their support for Harley Davidson because the community will feel a big lift in victory.

When you lose, using excuses doesn't ease the pain of defeat.

Competition is tough. Times change. Complaining about the unfair competition won't win you any championships. You have to have a mindset that is driven by a sense of urgency and purpose.

I feel bad for A. J. and Steve because they did everything possible to get this deal closed.

Bob Terrell, Sr.