Nehls says politics involved in amphitheater dispute
Fayette County Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls believes politics may have held up a deal to bring a film production company to the long-dormant Great Meadows Amphitheater in Wharton Township. In his strongest comments to date against the political powers that put him in office but abandoned him after four years, Nehls said it’s reasonable to question why state Sen. Richard A. Kasunic (D-Dunbar) and state Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union) would introduce the required legislation when they openly back one of Nehls’ Democratic primary election opponents, J. William Lincoln.
“It’s becoming more obvious. Bill Lincoln’s the guy who’s replacing me, if you will. The people who are supporting him – Fred Lebder and Bob Eberly – were disappointed in my performance,” said Nehls. “It’s beginning to dawn on me that (politics) might very well be what’s happening here, because of so many people calling it to my attention. If that’s the case, what a shame for the people, for the job market, for the economy and for the future of the county.”
Lebder is chairman of the county Democratic Party, and Eberly is a millionaire philanthropist. Nehls credits both men with his 1999 election win but is running this time without the benefit of their political and financial acumen.
However, Kasunic said his only concern is being a responsible steward for the public land, a role that mandates that he ask reasonable questions about any business proposition, particularly one that could affect adjoining Fort Necessity National Battlefield Park.
“If anybody is using this as a political tool, it appears that perhaps Ron Nehls is using it … to enhance his candidacy,” said Kasunic. “I feel for Ron, but in all honesty, if anybody’s using this as a campaign issue, it’s Ron trying to prop himself up right now. …It appears that he chooses to run his campaign through you guys, through this story.”
Fayette Films LLC wants to purchase the 122-acre amphitheater site for use as a movie development and tourist facility, but the transaction can’t take place until state-imposed deed restrictions are lifted, an act that requires either Kasunic or Roberts to introduce legislation to that effect.
But with no legislation forthcoming after six months, with Kasunic and Roberts showing continued deference to the concerns of neighboring Fort Necessity and with both legislators endorsing the candidacy of former state senator Lincoln, Nehls said he’s willing to consider the possibility of a political motive to the legislative delay.
Nehls said his belief is fueled by the fact that Kasunic is featured in a Lincoln television commercial and that Kasunic and Roberts – along with Lebder and state Rep. Jim Shaner (D-Dunbar) – laud Lincoln in printed campaign literature.
In that material, Kasunic is quoted as saying, “I believe we need Bill Lincoln’s leadership now more than ever.” Roberts is quoted as saying, “I had a brief opportunity to work with Senator Lincoln. And, I liked what I saw. I am looking forward to a renewal of that effort.”
Kasunic: More details needed
In a Friday afternoon phone interview, Kasunic said it’s imperative for Fayette Films to submit a site plan so the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which actually will craft the needed legislation, can begin that process.
Kasunic said the holdup has nothing to do with him or Roberts, but with Fayette Films following “common business practice” and putting its site plan on the table so the DCNR can decide items like buffer zones and other potential deed restrictions.
All he’s seen to date, said Kasunic, is what appears to be a modified tax map drawing so unprofessionally done it borders on being laughable, in terms of the norm for site development plans.
“Somebody didn’t even use a ruler to draw the lines on the buildings,” said Kasunic. “I think it’s a farce for somebody to submit that as a site plan, and to think that it’s acceptable and is all that we need.”
Kasunic defended his stance on the issue, noting the inherent “sensitivity” of conservation-type projects like the amphitheater that were funded with Act 70 funding, which makes the proposed development details even more important in terms of gaining the required legislative approval.
“I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request (to see a site plan),” said Kasunic. “If this is a huge success, Rich Kasunic and Larry Roberts will not get any credit. But if it fails, the two of us will certainly have fingers pointed at us … and we will end up with egg on our face. We’re going to be the ones who are blamed, honestly.”
Roberts did not return a call seeking comment on Nehls’ assertions.
Nehls, who has served as point man on a project he said would pump $4.8 million into the county in its first year, said Kasunic has never returned his phone calls or responded to his letters concerning the situation. Nehls also said that Fayette Films officials were prohibited from attending a high-level meeting last fall with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Harrisburg, a meeting they were eager to attend.
All of these questions could have been answered at that time, said Nehls.
Kasunic said that his office routinely logs the names of all callers and that anyone would be hard-pressed to find Nehls’ name among the recent listings. He said that he discussed the Fayette Films proposal with Nehls in a February meeting and that otherwise Nehls has mentioned the project to him only when their paths have crossed at other events.
“I would like to show you my (call) tablets. Every call that comes in here is recorded. If you find Ron Nehls’ name in here … I’ll be the first to say that I’m wrong. (But) I can’t remember the last time I got a call from Ron Nehls,” said Kasunic.
Nehls cites falling
out with Fay-Penn
While attempting to shepherd the Fayette Films initiative from concept to reality, Nehls said he also had harsh words with his former boss, Michael Krajovic, the top administrator at Fay-Penn Economic Development Council.
Nehls said that Fay-Penn wanted to put obstacles in the way because of a desire to cater to the requests of Fort Necessity and park Superintendent Joanne Hanley, a total capitulation that Nehls did not favor.
“I told (Krajovic) that’s not going to fly, that we’re not going to put it into the lease that, ‘This is what Fort Necessity wants, and that’s what Fort Necessity wants,'” said Nehls. “He told me I was a defeatist and I told him to go to hell, and that was basically the end of (Fay-Penn’s) participation.”
Krajovic said he was sorry that Nehls feels that way. He said that Fay-Penn was offering professional assistance to “properly address all of the concerns and issues” related to the Fayette Films development, concerns that he believes could have been resolved without jeopardizing the project.
Krajovic said Fay-Penn’s desire was to find a solution that would satisfy all parties, and he noted that the project apparently hasn’t advanced because core issues still haven’t been addressed.
“Fay-Penn can only offer its assistance. We have no authority or control over the property. That rests with the county commissioners. We can offer our opinion, but if it’s rejected, that’s all we can do,” said Krajovic.
Nehls said that while Roberts recently sent him a confirmation that he had forwarded the Fayette Films site plan to Hanley as requested, Kasunic has questioned the personality of Fayette Films executive Jason Thomas, along with the firm’s job projections, neither of which are germane to the firm’s desire to do business in the county.
“One of his references from North Carolina said, ‘Hey, Jason Thomas doesn’t mince words … but he certainly does know how to run a movie production company.’ … I didn’t think being a nice guy was one of the qualifications to start a new business or bring in new jobs to help the economy of Fayette County,” said Nehls.
“Whether it’s Sen. Kasunic or the camp to which he belongs, the thing that befuddles me is, ‘What are the questions that you want answers to? What exactly are the concerns?’ The bottom line is that if they would have allowed the company to come to the meeting that was held (in Harrisburg) last September, this whole thing would be resolved by now, but they would not allow them (to attend).”
Nehls said that Actors’ Equity is a strong union and just because it hasn’t had a presence in Fayette County doesn’t mean it doesn’t provide good wages for its members. He added that no single elected official in jobs-starved Fayette County should be in a position to state a preference over the type of jobs a business would create.
“Are there, then, certain types of jobs that we don’t want? If we can afford to be that kind of picky-choosy, then Fayette County is going to remain dormant (compared) to our neighboring counties, forever,” said Nehls.
Kasunic said he’s in favor of developing the amphitheater site, but he reiterated that no shortcuts can be taken, and the core issue remains submission of a sound and acceptable site plan, one that satisfies the federal government, the county commissioners and Thomas.
“I’m not against development. We’d love to see that ((property) developed,” said Kasunic. “It’s not me holding this up, it’s not Larry Roberts holding this up. There are just certain things that need to happen.
“I just think we need to be very careful. I’m not going to be bullied into making a rash decision here … I’ve talked to a lot of people, and everybody’s kind of skeptical about this whole thing.”
Roberts’ office on Friday afternoon faxed the newspaper a copy of his May 5 correspondence to Hanley, which states, “Per our last conversation I am enclosing a copy of what is supposed to be a site plan for the Project 70 land near the amphitheater. I received this information from Commissioner Nehls and am hopeful it will be helpful to you. After reviewing the documents, please let me and/or Senator Kasunic know what you think.”
Thomas won’t extend deadline
Thomas, who recently moved to California from Wyoming, said he and his partners have gotten such a runaround in Fayette that the political angle espoused by Nehls seems plausible. Thomas said the fact that Kasunic referred to his firm as “outsiders” in a recent newspaper guest editorial perhaps reveals a reason why their project hasn’t been fully embraced.
“When I read that, in fact, a haze lifted from over my eyes,” said Thomas, who predicted that someone with local connections would pick up the ball and mirror Fayette Films’ well-circulated business plan for the amphitheater site.
He also said that some people would be shocked to know the identity of a “well-known businessperson” from Fayette County who put up an initial $50,000 to bring him and his partners to the area.
Thomas said he remains firm on his May 12 deadline for some type of commitment to introduce the required legislation. “Ron’s asked me to extend it and I’ve said no,” he said. “But I’ve told him that if you ever get your act together in the next 20 years, give us a call. Apparently, it takes the politicians there that long to get their act together.”
An unoptimistic Nehls said he has already begun shopping the amphitheater site to other potential interests, including the current owner of the Woodland Zoo in Wharton Township. The other is a county businessman who wants to “make sure it doesn’t get into the wrong hands,” said Nehls.
That businessman is not Eberly, according to Nehls.
Nehls said that Shaner, his former high school classmate and football teammate, “told me straight out that he is for (the Fayette Films project) and would vote for it,” but added that the Legislature has an “unwritten law” that you don’t cross district lines on such matters.
Shaner could not be reached for comment Friday.