from The Wilson Post::Nov. 7, 2008
Council OK's Bible Park economic impact plan
By CONNIE ESH

Wilson Post The Lebanon City Council agreed by a 5-1 vote Thursday evening to accept the Economic Impact Plan presented by Bible Park USA, with Ward 1 Councilor Alex Buhler opposing the ordinance, and with two limitations.

Amendments limited the total amount of the potential bonds to $60 million, and required the Bible park promoters to pay legal fees if the park and the city are sued over freedom of religion issues.

Ward 3 Councilor William Farmer pointed out the recent case involving prayer at Lakeview School which ended with Wilson County School indebted for $100,000 for legal fees.

He said while he didn’t think the park did involve such issues he wanted the citizens of Lebanon not to pay if he was wrong.

The acceptance allows the BP USA team to go back to the Industrial Development Board for the bond issue which would provide partial financing for the project.

The council also approved the intergovernmental agreement that would allow the county to apply for a Tourism Development Zone for the park. Again the vote was 5-1 with Buhler opposed.

The council unanimously approved five items to assist the Core Tech Park Development in its plans to build a facility in on Franklin Road.

Approved on were two resolutions, one in support of an application for funds from the state to "build an industrial access road," which would provide needed improvements to Franklin Road.

The second resolution supports an application for the Fast Track Development Program, which would fund improvements to the sewer, water and gas deliver network along the road as well.

The other items all involved the actual property where the office and research facilities will be located.

The council agreed on first reading to annex 59.6 acres known as Jere McCulloch Trust property and to zone that property as M-4 business/manufacturing park. The councilors also voted to rezone an adjoining 61.69 acres from Agricultural to M-4.

All of the property is in Ward 3, but in each case Buhler made the motions to approve with Farmer seconding in the case of the two resolutions and Ward 4 Councilor Joe Hays seconding the motions for annexation, zoning and rezoning.