Commissioner questions potential gambling at mountain resort
Fayette County Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls, stymied at the state legislative level in his efforts to bring a film production company to the Great Meadows Amphitheater, wants to know if the same ultra-cautious approach will apply to potential gambling at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa. Nehls said he knew nothing ahead of time about a potential House bill that could grant the Wharton Township resort slot machines or possibly a full casino. That possibility is part of a package being formulated by House Speaker John Perzel (R-Philadelphia) with backing from House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg).
Over the last several months, Nehls watched the amphitheater proposal put forth by Fayette Films LLC die on the vine, largely because state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic (D-Dunbar) and state Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union) sided with the concerns of neighboring Fort Necessity National Battlefield and wouldn’t introduce legislation to lift deed restrictions.
Now, with the possibility of the legislature approving legalized gambling in the same geographic area, Nehls says there is “legitimate reason” to hold the gambling initiative to the same standard of scrutiny.
“Fort Necessity’s probably a mile or less away from Nemacolin Woodlands,” says Nehls. “The concern to be addressed is, my goodness, if we can create as much negativity as the potential movie production company did, how much negativity is legalized gambling within one mile of the amphitheater location going to have?”
Nehls says that Fayette Films represented private development, the best type you can get, yet the company and its supporters faced “all kinds of obstacles and concerns” during a very public two-year process. Those concerns eventually delayed and killed the project.
“And now, a mile away, it appears that we’re going to have a chance to get this (gambling) done,” says Nehls. “We put it out in the open about the amphitheater, and everyone kept saying, including our legislators, ‘We don’t have enough information.’ Then all of a sudden I read in the paper that something has a very strong chance of happening (at Nemacolin) in a very short period of time.”
Kasunic counters that Nehls is “comparing apples to oranges” in the sense that the amphitheater was a local issue while gambling is a statewide issue. Kasunic says he’ll support gambling at any or all of the major resorts located in his senate district like Nemacolin Woodlands, Seven Springs and Hidden Valley.
“I think (those) places would be ideal locations for any expansion beyond the racetracks. I think it’s a fit,” says Kasunic. “I would support the inclusion of the types of resorts we have here in the Laurel Highlands. Absolutely.”
The senator notes that because added revenue from gambling is closely tied to Gov. Ed Rendell’s budget package, the legislature must make a decision on gambling expansion by June 30.
“There’s not going to be an opportunity to go back and address this. When the train leaves the gate here, it’s going to be done,” says Kasunic. “If it’s something that’s going to impact and benefit the 32nd District, I would be foolish to ignore what’s going to happen … If it’s going to look at creating jobs and benefiting the district, I can’t close my eyes to it.”
With 95 percent of the state’s share of any gambling revenue earmarked for property tax relief, Kasunic also says he must also keep in mind the potential statewide benefit to taxpayers.
“This isn’t just Fayette County. This is a statewide issue, with the implication of property tax reductions for all Pennsylvanians,” says Kasunic. “Generally, with local issues (like the amphitheater) other senators and representatives don’t get involved.
“For Ron to indicate that this is the same (kind of issue), it pales by comparison. It’s time, in all honesty, that we move on. We need to get beyond the amphitheater issue … Nemacolin Woodlands is there and has existed for some time, even before Joe Hardy, when the Rockwell family owned it. (It) isn’t something brand new and it’s not adjoining Fort Necessity.”
Responding to Kasunic’s stance that he can’t ignore the potential of job creation from gambling, Nehls says there must be “selective political decisions being made,” because Fayette Films offered the potential of “hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars” in economic growth yet was shunned.
“How can you deal with one project in such an efficient manner, and drag your feet on the other for a year?” asks Nehls. “That’s selective … (But) I’m glad that we’re bringing in jobs and helping the economy. That’s what it’s really supposed to be about. I hope a lot of people recognize that.”
Nehls says that while he personally doesn’t support gambling, he thinks that if the legislature decides to approve it, Fayette County should try to take advantage of the opportunity. But the lack of information concerns Nehls, who questions whether enough is known about gambling’s impact on the mountain area in general and the neighboring Bruderhof religious community in particular.
“A lot of concern was expressed about Fort Necessity being right next door to what we were trying to accomplish (with Fayette Films),” says Nehls. “The question comes to my mind, ‘What about the Bruderhof community? A righteous and devote group of people that are right next door to Nemacolin Woodlands’ property? Is there any need to express concern for this group of people? Have we checked into that? They may not have any concerns. But have we checked into it?”
Nehls’ other main concern is, “Will this change the character of our mountains as we know them? As we have known them for decades?”
Matthew Domer, spokeman for the Bruderhof Communities in PA Inc., faxed the following statement concerning his community’s stance on bringing gambling to Nemacolin Woodlands: “We are surprised and concerned by the possibility of legalized gambling at our neighbor, Nemacolin Woodlands. Such a development would have obvious effects not only on our township but on our county and beyond. We have been residents of Wharton Township for almost 50 years, and we are committed to preserving for generations of Bruderhof children to come, the quality of life that first brought us here.
“We have full confidence that we will be granted every opportunity to address our quality-of-life concerns directly with Nemacolin Woodlands and with our elected officials if plans are seriously considered.”
Nehls says he isn’t lining up against the gambling initiative, but is only interested in giving the matter a full public airing so that everyone, including himself, knows the plan and its potential ramifications, good and bad.
“There’s (been) very little or no time to prepare for this,” says Nehls. “We should have time – and when I say ‘we’ I mean the community of Fayette County, particularly the mountain area – to prepare for whatever consequences this may bring.”
Nehls says he also wants to know how legislators feel about the gambling proposal. “Yea, I sure would,” says Nehls. “It’s a case where it’s (been) thrust upon us so quickly. If it’s good development, I’m for good development. But I would like, as a sitting commissioner, even now, to be a part of the process.”
Roberts did not return calls seeking comment.