MIKE PIRTLE, Post Publisher
Posted: Sunday, November 1, 2009 6:07 pm

Ronnie Barrett, owner of Barrett Firearms, stands in the lobby of his new facility.

Refusal to extend a stubbed-off road 550 feet may cost Rutherford County a sizeable manufacturing company and incalculable national and international marketing dividends.

Ronnie Barrett, owner of Barrett Firearms, manufacturer of the iconic Barrett Light .50-caliber rifle, fears inability to build an access road to his new $4.5 million manufacturing facility just off the Buchanan exit of Interstate 24 will force him to move the business to another state.

A Murfreesboro native, Barrett is frustrated by the thought of moving elsewhere, largely because he believes he had an agreement with Tennessee Department of Transportation for easement of some 550 feet of right of way along the interstate to construct, at his cost, the road to the new manufacturing facility.

He points to a Feb. 27, 2005 letter from TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges, following a meeting with Barrett, neighboring landowner C.C. Elliot and state officials on the request for the road extension, that states, “When formal plans are available, we will allow the relocation of the fence to a point to be determined by this department.”

Barrett and Bud and Brenda Elliot interpreted that to mean the department would allow the 550-foot extension of Miller Lane agreed upon at the earlier meeting.

The initial proposal would have nearly doubled the length of Miller Lane that runs alongside I-24 and follow what appears an intended path of the original road.

Ultimately, Degges and TDOT agreed to allow easement on only a 372-foot area inside the fence along the interstate, citing in earlier reports concerns about storm drainage and flooding.

TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely refuted any agreement Friday in a statement:

“Normally, I do not comment on matters in litigation, but after seeing recent news reports concerning the Barrett Firearms situation, I feel compelled to respond.

“First, I can state unequivocally that TDOT never committed to building an access road for Barrett Firearms on Interstate 24 Right of Way. The Federal Highway Administration, which would have to approve any such incursion on the ROW, has consistently agreed with our position.

“Barrett Firearms was offered two alternative access road alignments, which would have moved the project forward. They rejected both and chose to file a lawsuit. The Office of State Attorney General is defending TDOT in this lawsuit and I am confident of our position.

“I will have no further comment on this matter.”

Barrett said Degges has proposed moving the road onto his property, but notes that is impossible because of a water retention pond required by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Degges also suggested a road at the back of the property, Barrett said, but explained that would involve land owned by three other property owners.

As matters now stand, Barrett’s new building has limited use due to lack of access, Barrett is suing the state and the Elliots are suing Barrett as they sold the land for the new manufacturing building contingent on gaining new road access to their property.

With investment offers and contracts on hold because of the road issue, Barrett says he is forced to look at relocating to another state where officials are offering enticing incentives and investors are willing to input funds to expand Barrett Firearms to “the next level.”

Moving would cost 120 jobs and 250 ancillary jobs at present, not counting planned future expansion, he said, and wonders, “Is the chief engineer of TDOT in charge of economic development in Tennessee?”

Barrett, who got his start in a gravel-floor garage producing the then unique Barrett Light .50, said the firearms producer is a $40-50 million/annual business that is recession proof and doing business with 50-60 American allies.

Pointing to a hallway lined with awards and recognition from sources as diverse as the Wall Street Journal, Fortune 5000 and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year, Barrett says he has considerable business experience and “this is the biggest travesty I’ve seen in a while.”

TDOT’s insistence “integrity of right of way must be preserved” forces manufacturing delivery trucks to use a rudimentary road at the back of the new production plant, prevents use of the impressive new reception, training and marketing areas at the front of the new facility and greatly increases business costs, Barrett said.

In dealing with potential new investors or in seeking contracts, Barrett said he faces issues with a legal address, shipping access and “fire and emergency services” that are resulting in large and mounting costs.

“I don’t like to sue my own county and state so we can tear down this building and return it to farmland,” he said, but added without the access road, business considerations make that almost unavoidable.

He sees hope only in a judge’s ruling or “(Gov.) Phil Bredesen to come in and ask what are we doing trying to run off jobs.”