from The Lebanon Democrat::Dec. 16, 2008
Bible Park hits bump in the road
By: J.R. LIND

Lebanon Democrat December 16, 2008 – A major part of the funding plan for the Bible Park failed by one vote of the Wilson County Commission, and officials behind the plan said they will be examining their options over the holidays.

A resolution instituting a 5 percent privilege tax within the confines of the proposed park failed to get the 17 votes needed from the county commission, falling short by one vote, 16-7. Two commissioners – Gary Tarpley and Paul Abercrombie – were absent from Monday's meeting. Both voted for the resolution on its first reading in November.

State law requires the privilege tax resolution to receive a two-thirds majority of the commission on consecutive readings. Under the park's financing plan, the privilege tax would be captured and used to retire between $35 and $45 million in bonds.

"Right now, frankly, I'm a little surprised," said Ron Wyatt of EDG, the park's developers. "We are going to be a major employer for many people locally."

Wyatt said the Bible Park team would take some time to decide its next step. The commission could take up the resolution at its January meeting, but would have to pass it by two-thirds at both that meeting and the February session.

Bonds for the park would have to be approved by the Industrial Development Board, and park developers had planned to go to the IDB in early 2009.

In other business, the commission approved a resolution asking Reps. Jim Cooper and Bart Gordon to include a new Lebanon High School in an economic stimulus plan.

President-elect Barack Obama has repeatedly announced his intention for the next round of stimulus to be based on infrastructure and building projects.

The commission also voted to institute a plan to eliminate two part-time judicial commissioners and create a new full-time commissioner instead. The commission also gave approval to a proposal by Commissioner Clint Thomas to create a committee to examine the possibility of creating a human resources department for the county.