Yesterday I started a little light reading- the new ordinance for the development of the Wolf Lodge Resort here. The wolf is hungry! (Perryville proposed Ordinance) This is to be presented to the Council formally on Jan. 8 (council meeting 7-9) and could actually be approved in as little as 60 days. What? You haven’t received notice of this or seen any postings for your input/questions? Well, sure you have- it’s posted right on the town’s website (minimum notice requirement). Or have you been a tad busy lately?
A little bait and switch here from the original announcement out of town hall on Dec.17.(Announcement here). The ordinance now calls for a minimum of 200 rooms while the announcement states 450-600. The projected cost is now $10 million more.
Funny, discussions with the Wolf never show up on Perryville Councils’ minutes or the county Economic Development Office. What happened to Open Meeting Laws??? If all this is such a great opportunity, why did the Mayor or Econ. Director ever even mention meeting with them and engaging in serious discussions? Ethically legal (there are Regs regarding this)?
BTW, Thinking you may be able to utilize that fun water park? Not unless you’re a guest.
No mention of pay requirements or even requiring workers residing in the town or even the county. Originally stating that 450-600 jobs would be created it’s now down to 200 payroll jobs, This could mean all part-timers at minimum wage with no benefits. Remember, the hotel will likely be half-occupied for a good portion of the year.
Still sounding like a howling good deal? There’s more. We give them $ to pay their property AND hotel tax for 25 years. Uh,.. that’s our $ we’re paying them. So don’t be thinking about any extra monies going for? Schools, fire dept., police, roads, infrastructure, salaries, anything else you can think of- like park improvements, facilities for teens, seniors, etc., etc, etc.
But it gets even better (for the Wolf). We pay for all infrastructure and initial utility costs and any future billings. Think electrical, cable, water, sewer, gas, and whatever else I’ve forgotten or they have forgotten because there is even a clause about that. There are even more grants for construction, real estate and personal purchases, property improvements, public improvements, and even remodeling.
And all these deals hold even if the project gets sold to another owner. And even more incentives can be asked for and approved. Like—- in order to graduate from high school you must volunteer your time/labor there and all residents must volunteer to help with snow removal.
Every year these giveaways will show up in the town budget: minus, minus, minus. This is OUR money we’re giving away by the bucketful without even knowing the actual costs beforehand. For what???
I do believe the Great Wolf employed his minions to write this ordinance up to his satisfaction while the presenters are offering it as a “take it or leave it” deal.
What say you, oh residents of Perryville and Cecil County because the clock is ticking. After the initial presentation, the Council could vote within six days and then 20 days later it’s a done deal. Time is a-wasting. Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.
Say what? Are we all nuts?
This is the best our elected & unelected officials can do for us? Please, get the word out!! Now!!!
All hail, the Great Wolf.
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