from The Lebanon Democrat::March 17, 2009
Squires close February's meeting without a glance towards Bible Park project
by: J.R. LIND

March 17, 2009 – The latest round of debate over the Bible Park ended not with a bang, but with a whisper.

After County Mayor Robert Dedman gaveled the February session of the County Commission back into session Monday, Commissioner Bernie Ash rose to his feet, his voice hoarse.

"I move we adjourn the February meeting," he said.

After a unanimous voice vote, Dedman gaveled February's meeting to a close without a second vote on a 5 percent privilege tax park backers say is a key component to the project's funding.

The move to adjourn came after park developer Rob Wyatt sent a letter to Ash and Dedman requesting no action on the tax resolution after the Lebanon City Council took the first step to rescinding its support two weeks ago and after Wyatt announced park operations in the county were being suspended last week.

"We don't think it would be the right thing to do to ask the County Commission to once again pursue a recorded vote when the Bible Park project has been undermined by the unfortunate and bizarre political infighting in Lebanon," Wyatt said.

In a statement, Wyatt said the city council's request to have full financial information before taking a vote was akin to "demanding summer be here right now, when it's barely spring."

"We all wish for a long string of warm, sunny days, but we have to wait.  With the Park, we wish we had the information in hand that Mr. [William] Farmer and Mr. [Alex] Buhler are asking for, but we don’t. If we had it, we would certainly be glad to give it to them," the statement read in part.

The council vote to rescind support was unanimous.

Wyatt said he’ll have the information they want within the next six to 12 months.  “Once we have the financing package finished, we will send it to the Industrial Development Board, as required, for thorough review. We will stand ready to answer any questions at that time to everybody’s full satisfaction," he said.

The commission also refused to act on a Bible Park resolution in the March session, which began, as scheduled, at 7 p.m. Commissioner Heather Scott introduced a "drop-in" resolution rescinding the commission's previous actions on the Bible Park, similar to the one the Lebanon council already approved. Scott's resolution was deferred by the commission and sent through the committee process.

Little else at March's meeting generated much controversy or discussion. The 13 budget amendments on the agenda all passed unanimously or with overwhelming majorities. Among those was the approval for the Sheriff's Department to take more than $73,000 in grants from the stimulus package. Sheriff Terry Ashe said the money will be used to upgrade 15 in-car video systems.

In a lighter moment, the commission unanimously approved a resolution, introduced by Scott, opposing an Environmental Protection Agency report that suggested a nation-wide tax on cattle as part of a plan to cut back on greenhouse gases. Environmentalists say cattle produce large amounts of methane gas.

"We are supporters of cows being tax free," Scott said.