The council voted in November to accept Bible Park USA's proposed economic impact plan and back an inter-local agreement that would support the county commission should it vote to create a tourism development zone for the park property.
Councilman Alex Buhler asked the council to suspend the rules of order for Tuesday's meeting to discuss an ordinance he had crafted regarding the Bible Park. Buhler's ordinance was not on the agenda.
The vote to suspend the rules and the subsequent vote to rescind all previous Bible Park ordinances passed unanimously.
"I don't see where they're investing anything," Buhler said about Bible Park developers.
Park developer Rob Wyatt, president of California-based Entertainment Development Group, said in a statement that he was surprised by the council's decision.
"It is puzzling that the Lebanon City Council, during a national economic crisis in which layoffs are a daily announcement and tax revenues are hard to find, would fail to support an international tourism development that will attract tourists who will spend their money in Wilson County restaurants, hotels and businesses, leaving behind millions in tax revenues annually, before they go back home," Wyatt said.
"We have operated in good faith with the Lebanon City Council, and we have not been contacted by anyone on the Council with a request for additional information at any time in the last weeks or months," the developer said.
Buhler said he asked the council to take back support for the park because he and other council members got no response after asking repeatedly to see financial statements from park developers.
"The public has a right to know who is behind this," Buhler said.
Wyatt said in his statement, issued after the council meeting, that the developers would provide complete financial details after getting approval from the county Industrial Development Board to develop a plan for the park.
S.C. park didn't last
Councilman William Farmer said he was troubled that the same group that brought the Hard Rock Park to South Carolina is backing the Bible Park.
Farmer referred to SafeHarbor Holding, an equity investor in the proposed Bible Park, which also developed the Hard Rock Park.
The $400 million Hard Rock Park opened in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last summer and sold recently at a bankruptcy auction for $25 million.
The ordinance to end support will require a second vote on March 17.
The Wilson County Commission is scheduled to vote March 13 on a proposed tax incentive package. The future of that package isn't certain because of the Lebanon council's vote.
State law requires the city and the county sign off on a tourism development zone, which allows use of taxes generated by the development to pay off bonds issued to finance it.
Councilman Alex Buhler asked the council to suspend the rules of order for Tuesday's meeting to discuss an ordinance he had crafted regarding the Bible Park. Buhler's ordinance was not on the agenda.
The vote to suspend the rules and the subsequent vote to rescind all previous Bible Park ordinances passed unanimously.
"I don't see where they're investing anything," Buhler said about Bible Park developers.
Park developer Rob Wyatt, president of California-based Entertainment Development Group, said in a statement that he was surprised by the council's decision.
"It is puzzling that the Lebanon City Council, during a national economic crisis in which layoffs are a daily announcement and tax revenues are hard to find, would fail to support an international tourism development that will attract tourists who will spend their money in Wilson County restaurants, hotels and businesses, leaving behind millions in tax revenues annually, before they go back home," Wyatt said.
"We have operated in good faith with the Lebanon City Council, and we have not been contacted by anyone on the Council with a request for additional information at any time in the last weeks or months," the developer said.
Buhler said he asked the council to take back support for the park because he and other council members got no response after asking repeatedly to see financial statements from park developers.
"The public has a right to know who is behind this," Buhler said.
Wyatt said in his statement, issued after the council meeting, that the developers would provide complete financial details after getting approval from the county Industrial Development Board to develop a plan for the park.
S.C. park didn't last
Councilman William Farmer said he was troubled that the same group that brought the Hard Rock Park to South Carolina is backing the Bible Park.
Farmer referred to SafeHarbor Holding, an equity investor in the proposed Bible Park, which also developed the Hard Rock Park.
The $400 million Hard Rock Park opened in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last summer and sold recently at a bankruptcy auction for $25 million.
The ordinance to end support will require a second vote on March 17.
The Wilson County Commission is scheduled to vote March 13 on a proposed tax incentive package. The future of that package isn't certain because of the Lebanon council's vote.
State law requires the city and the county sign off on a tourism development zone, which allows use of taxes generated by the development to pay off bonds issued to finance it.
Buhler said he asked the council to take back support for the park because he and other council members got no response after asking repeatedly to see financial statements from park developers.
"The public has a right to know who is behind this," Buhler said.
Wyatt said in his statement, issued after the council meeting, that the developers would provide complete financial details after getting approval from the county Industrial Development Board to develop a plan for the park.
S.C. park didn't last
Councilman William Farmer said he was troubled that the same group that brought the Hard Rock Park to South Carolina is backing the Bible Park.
Farmer referred to SafeHarbor Holding, an equity investor in the proposed Bible Park, which also developed the Hard Rock Park.
The $400 million Hard Rock Park opened in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last summer and sold recently at a bankruptcy auction for $25 million.
The ordinance to end support will require a second vote on March 17.
The Wilson County Commission is scheduled to vote March 13 on a proposed tax incentive package. The future of that package isn't certain because of the Lebanon council's vote.
State law requires the city and the county sign off on a tourism development zone, which allows use of taxes generated by the development to pay off bonds issued to finance it.
"The public has a right to know who is behind this," Buhler said.
Wyatt said in his statement, issued after the council meeting, that the developers would provide complete financial details after getting approval from the county Industrial Development Board to develop a plan for the park.
S.C. park didn't last
Councilman William Farmer said he was troubled that the same group that brought the Hard Rock Park to South Carolina is backing the Bible Park.
Farmer referred to SafeHarbor Holding, an equity investor in the proposed Bible Park, which also developed the Hard Rock Park.
The $400 million Hard Rock Park opened in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last summer and sold recently at a bankruptcy auction for $25 million.
The ordinance to end support will require a second vote on March 17.
The Wilson County Commission is scheduled to vote March 13 on a proposed tax incentive package. The future of that package isn't certain because of the Lebanon council's vote.
State law requires the city and the county sign off on a tourism development zone, which allows use of taxes generated by the development to pay off bonds issued to finance it.
