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It doesn’t seem like a bill can be passed suddenly, with little scrutiny of changes, more than 180 days after it was due, but just that happened on this bill.

While some people defended the gambling bill as having been fully vetted by debate, discussion and scrutiny, except for some minor late changes, that
was equally true of the major bills passed under Govs. Ed Rendell, Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker. They also got lots of public discussion, then the actual
bill got rushed into passage, with a few cute things tucked away in it.

Also, some of those “minor changes” ain’t so minor. For example, now the state probably can add more casinos in the next few years to deal with its
budget problems. Before this bill, that had to wait until 2017. Now lawmakers like can tweak the gambling law without refunding hundreds of
millions in fees to casino licensees. cwArticle.asp?articleId=2009151 CLICK HERE to read about that.See below

That doesn’t mean House and Senate Republicans will quickly adopt new
casinos or expand slots or tables at existing sites. But this bill made that
possible mostly because it was passed before even some of its sponsors
realized certain provisions were in it.

One of the biggest criticisms of the current gambling bill is that too much
of it was written too quickly and jammed into law. On Monday, House Majority
Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, confirmed the deal had been made and votes
were expected in the Senate as soon as Tuesday. At that time, he said he
couldn’t say too much more because they were still writing the legislation.

On Tuesday evening, the brief Senate debate wasn’t long enough to let anyone
read the proposed legislation much past page 30 of an 150-plus-page bill
before the Senate voted to pass it.

On Wednesday the House voted to pass the measure, after its members had
between 12 and 20 hours to actually read it, and more than 24 hours to
digest a fairly thorough summary of it.

In the end, the bill was enacted without many lawmakers appreciating that
they were removing the major hurdle to further future expanded gambling in
the next three years, or taking note of other gems that await our discovery
now that it has been signed into law.

And it was enacted with deal after deal made to shore up votes, with many of
those deals not visible within the bill’s text. Most lawmakers won’t say
what it is they got, but expect the four members of the Bucks County GOP
delegation to show up at Washington’s Crossing Park when the new funding for
it is announced.

And don’t be surprised if a hospital or two in Bucks gets a million or so
dollars after the House votes to raise the state’s debt ceiling in a few
months. It also will be less than shocking if the same Bucks County GOPers
who voted for the table games bill see their favored bills get House floor
votes now.

Rep. Frank Farry, R-Bucks, a lawyer and volunteer fire company honcho, got
his first taste of being a House GOP crossover vote. Only 12 Republicans
voted for the measure, while 79 opposed it. Farry and his GOP colleagues
combined with 91 Democrats to barely pass the bill.

Farry said both Philadelphia Park Casino and Washington’s Crossing are in
neighboring districts, but that he has constituents who work at the casino
and volunteer at the park and both are important. He said he voted for the
bill because the casino already employs some of his constituents and he
hoped this expansion would expand that employment in his district and the
region.

Farry also said that until this, he had never been the 102nd or 103rd vote
on a major bill that most of his caucus opposed.

He found that it made the governor’s top staff a lot more attentive to him
and his district’s needs.

“It’s the first time I have had a chance to meet with some of the governor’s
top staff in my first year in office,” Farry said. “So perhaps the
opportunity to shore up the ‘yes’ votes on table games helped with that.”

Other lawmakers voting for the bill reported the same kind of attention, and
many got commitments for a vote or funding or some other item from either
the governor or House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans,
D-Philadelphia.

Rendell officially denied any such proceedings, then essentially admitted
them, as only he can. Asked if he made deals to get table games votes, he
said: “No. When legislators in the discussion process asked for specific
things, I said, look, I’ve helped you guys in the past. Come back and see me
after this is over. But I made no specific commitments at all. I just
wouldn’t do that. I’m not a believer in buying votes. But I reminded the
legislators that in many ways, I’ve been their best friend when it comes to
projects, and that they should come and see me. And to the extent that the
project is good and we have money available, I would help them.”

Contrast that Rendell’s reaction to the potential upcoming departure of Rep.
Mario Civera, R-Delaware. Once a consistent vote for the Rendell agenda,
Civera switched when he became House Republican Appropriations Committee
chairman to being an anti-Rendell vote on most things and on almost all of
Rendell’s top recent priorities.
Now that Civera is not a vote for Rendell, the governor said of his
potential departure: “At this point of his career, it’s not much of a loss.”
What does that tell you about how long Rendell will remember this table
games vote?
So you got a bill passed in the Senate pretty much as soon as it was written and published on the legislative Web site, and passed quickly a day later in
the House.
And, as one veteran Republican who voted for it said, “We all have needs for
our district. The difference between me and some of my Republican colleagues
is that mine are going to be met a lot more than theirs are. I was gonna
vote for the table games anyway, but the rules are, it’s a close vote, you
get something. And all 12 of us did, and I think a lot of the Democrats will
too.”
Doesn’t sound so different to me

OFF THE FLOOR: Big bill full of little deals, just like old times.
By Peter L. DeCoursey Bureau Chief Capitolwire / pdecoursey@capitolwire.com

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FRED SNYDER: “A good Tuesday morning – it is the Breakfast Nook. This morning we are brought to you by, Gettysburg Hospital Wellspan…and Gettysburg Lutheran Retirement Village. Like we do every month, and I like to time this program the morning after they have their monthly (business) meeting, it is the Gettysburg Borough Show. The Gettysburg Borough Council met last night. We have a new council person with us, he took Dick Peterson’s seat in the 3rd Ward after he was elected last year…I want to bring in Graham Weaver, good morning Graham.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “Good morning Fred, glad to be here.”

FRED SNYDER: “For those who don’t know you well, a little background. Are you from Gettysburg?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “No I’m not – as a matter of fact, I’m rather new to the area, and it would be appropriate for me to give you a little background. I’ve been here for about five years. I spent most of my life in the Washington D.C. area where I worked in both government and business. I’ve also been a lifelong history buff and Civil War buff, so when it came time to retire, I was looking at various locations, and decided on Gettysburg. One thing that I can say over folks that have lived here all their lives, I didn’t end up here by accident. I chose it over everywhere else in the United States, and I think it was a great choice, because it’s a great community to live, work and play.”

FRED SNYDER: “What is your background, as far as education and work experience?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “What I’ve done in terms of government: naval officer during Vietnam War. After that, I went to work for the Interior Dept…I worked in the area of Congressional affairs. Also, I worked on Capitol Hill as a press secretary, quite some years ago. I worked as a legislative representative for the American Dental Association, and I put in many years working as a Navy support contractor. That’s my background in a nutshell. I’ve been involved in politics in Maryland…I ran four times, won twice, lost twice, so an even-steven split there on wins and losses. When I came up to Gettysburg, I had no intentions of getting involved in politics. Then, what happened that changed that all around: my cat ran away. I knocked on every door in Colt Park. She was gone for five months, and then came back on her own. But in the course of knocking on doors to find my cat, I found John Murphy, who used to be on council. I started having breakfast with him, joined by Dick Peterson, and one thing led to another, so here I am.”

FRED SNYDER: “I know you’ve only been on (council) for a month, but I also know that you attended (council) meetings before being seated. We’re going to ask your opinion on various topics, but first of all, I’ve got to ask you about the snow situation in Gettysburg. Where are you going to put the next dump?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “Maybe in your front yard (laughs). We’re very proud of our Highway Department – Dan Hilliard and his crew have done a magnificent job in terms of clearing away the snow. My own street was plowed several times, and I’ve heard the same feedback from others. With this approaching snow storm, given the (department’s) recent track, I believe we can look forward with confidence as far as the snow being taken care of with efficiency.”

FRED SNYDER: “Where are you putting it? Are you putting it over at the Rec Park?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “I’m not sure – I really don’t know.”

FRED SNYDER: “From what you hear, the highway department is ready?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “They are ready, and I think they’ll do a great job once again.”

FRED SNYDER: “We had a Gettysburg Borough meeting last night, and I guess this is your second meeting sitting on the board. What do you think? What’s your view on how the meetings are conducted? Do you think they’re structured OK?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “I think they’re generally well-run, as far as (President) John Butterfield presiding over them. Everyone is given an opportunity to speak. There’s no suppressing of opinion. We certainly, last night, voiced our opinion on various things, so I’m content with that process.”

FRED SNYDER: “I’m going to ask you something that was in the newspaper this morning, in regard to a police four-wheel drive vehicle. You were the only dissenting vote to this – it’s my understanding that you questioned the protocol as the vehicle, with how it was to be procured.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “If I could address that – I got a call from the Mayor at 4 o’clock Monday afternoon, asking to support the purchase of the four-wheel drive vehicle. I didn’t have any objections to it. I just wanted there to be more discussion, to see if the borough did in fact need this, and I wanted to hear more from the chief of police. We have a process in the borough, where if we’re making a major purchase, we run this through the finance committee, so it can be looked over very carefully. It’s a major expenditure, and we shouldn’t just hop into it. Since we had a time crunch with the finance committee looking at this purchase, I called (Councilman) Bob Krummerich (chairman of finance committee) and suggested that we have a special emergency meeting immediately before the full council met, to give us an opportunity to explore this vehicle with the chief of police. When I completed that phone call, I was under the impression that (Krummerich) was agreeable to that, but somewhere along the line, the idea got dropped, and it was put in front of the full council, without being properly vetted with the committee. As long as we have the committee structure, I think we ought to follow the rules. I didn’t have any problems with the purchase of the vehicle – just following the rules.”

FRED SNYDER: “My understanding of it was that the (vehicle) was already in the budget, 2009 budget, and they cut it out of there. The idea was, once the money was available, we’re going to buy it. Of course, that money from the federal government…

GRAHAM WEAVER: “Right, that’s where the money came from.”

FRED SNYDER: “The $200-plus thousand…”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “That wasn’t a concern of mine, the money, it’s just that I feel that we need to use the money carefully and prudently. For that reason, I wanted to be completely assured that this was a necessary purchase. I’m kind of surprised that they didn’t want to have an emergency meeting of the finance committee. I feel we should explore every expense of a significant nature with care.”

FRED SNYDER: “What’s on top of your mind with the borough? It’s no secret that the borough has the highest millage rate in the county. What are some of the things that concern you?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “We do have the highest millage rate in the county, and taxes are a big concern of mine. When I ran for Borough Council, I point out that I was running in the only contested election last year. The other people that ran were all uncontested. That meant I had to go around and knock on doors and talk to people. In the Republican primary, I got 67 percent over two opponents, and was unopposed in the general (election). In fact, I got the Democratic nomination was well, through write-ins. Now having said that and talked to all of those people, my campaign was based – - – and each piece of literature I handed out – - – said fight higher taxes. This message resonated well with the people of the 3rd Ward. I got the feeling that they want the line held on taxes. I kind of approach the whole thing on taxes and spending a little differently than probably the majority of elected officials here and other parts of the country. There’s a basic tendency on the part of elected officials to view the business of taxes and spending from the perspective of their own level of government, and that’s very understandable. You’re dealing with these problems day after day, and you look at it from the point of view of your own perspective. But what you need to do is look at it from the perspective of the taxpayer. The taxpayer here in Adams County and in Pennsylvania is faced with the prospect of tax increases, not just in the borough – - – we just had one of those – - – but five – - – count them Fred – - – five different levels of government.”

FRED SNYDER: “Oh sure.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “First of all you have the borough. Secondly, you have the school district, and you’ve seen the articles where they’re talking about a two mill hike at that level. You also have a reassessment being conducted by Adams County. I know it’s supposed to be revenue neutral, but it will go up for people and down for others, so some people will get a hit on that. Then looking at the state of Pennsylvania, what you see is that in 2012, we’re going to have a big pension problem, which is going to be very pricey for all concerned. And finally, we have the federal government, and we still don’t know how that’s going to shake out, except that they spend money in billion and trillion dollar increments and that money has to come from somewhere. The result is, the taxpayers – - – and I try to look at it from their point of view – - – are faced with a lot of increases and for that reason, it behooves all of us at all levels of government to bear that in mind and be extremely prudent before spending new money.”

FRED SNYDER: “Well, you don’t have a lot of money to work with in the borough right now.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s true.”

FRED SNYDER: “You’ve got some real issues there with the (parking) garage, crumbling infrastructure, and fixing the borough building.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “No question about it.”

FRED SNYDER: “I think, the police department is your biggest cost, isn’t it?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s true. Right now, we have two vacancies in the police department, and while we’re working on the future expenses for the coming year, we should probably hold off on filling those vacancies, at least in the short term.”

FRED SNYDER: “We’re going to take a little break here, Graham. When we come back, I’m going to ask you your thoughts on the sign ordinance, the noise ordinance, the gun ordinance – - – that was turned over last night – - – the firing of blanks, and a couple of other things. My guest this morning is Borough Councilman Graham Weaver. He’s the new kid on the block, as far as council is concerned. Don’t go anywhere, we’ll be right back.”

@*#*@#$**$@&^$*@&# B – R – E – A – K @*#*@#$**$@&^$*@&#

FRED SNYDER: “My guest this morning is Councilman Graham Weaver, he’s the new face on council. He just took the seat in January. Graham, I’m going to throw some stuff out at you…and get your impressions. The first (topic) is the ADA issue in Gettysburg. That has caused some great concern, what are your feelings on that?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “We’re concerned about that too. There have been a number of suits filed, under that act, we’re required to try and ensure that handicap folks have access to sidewalks through ramps, and we’re in the process of making those changes. It will take time, it will take money, but we’re actively working on it.”

FRED SNYDER: “The sign ordinance. I know you’ve only been here five years, but I think the sign ordinance and updating the thing has been kicked around for about that long too. What is your feeling on that? Do you have something that everyone can live with? I understand that some of the sign makers have been meeting with the borough people, and they’re coming to a successful conclusion.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s correct, I believe they had some more meetings last month, and they’ve kind of narrowed it down to an ordinance that will pass muster. It’s planned to come up at the March meeting, and be acted on by council at that time, so it’s about ready to go.”

FRED SNYDER: “The noise ordinance, I know you’ve been in Gettysburg for five years. It’s been the last two years that this piece of legislation has been kicking around. It still hasn’t been finalized yet. Where are you with regard to noise?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “The ordinance that’s currently being considered was patterned after one over in Lancaster. This particular version has been found to be enforceable, and it’s – - – I believe – - – considered to be something that will past muster in the courts, should that be necessary. I support the idea of having some limitations on noise, where it’s feasible. When I first came here to Gettysburg, and started looking for a house, I looked at a house on Baltimore Street. The noise from the motorcycles was so loud that I said uh-uh, I don’t want to go there. I want to move over into a more quiet neighborhood, so that’s what led me to Colt Park. So yes, I do think we need to take a look at doing controls over noise.”

FRED SNYDER: “You mentioned noise, what about trucks?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s also true. People also complain about idling tour buses. You’re quite correct in mentioning others.”

FRED SNYDER: “You mentioned the fact that you might want to put a hold on getting these two other police officers. You’re going to need people that would enforce this (noise) law, once you put it into effect, have you guys given thought to cost and manpower?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s something that has to be taken a look at. I’m not sure if this is something that can be enforced by the police officers that are currently out there – - – just one more thing for them to look at, but that has to be factored in as well.”

FRED SNYDER: “There is a proposal to put a gaming resort outside of Gettysburg in Cumberland Township. We were talking earlier about expenses and property tax relief, and of course everybody’s looking for a break on their taxes, and this may help a bit. What’s your feeling on a resort outside of Gettysburg?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “First of all, have you gotten any break on your taxes?”

FRED SNYDER: “Actually, I did last year.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “Oh, you did?”

FRED SNYDER: “It was 100-some bucks.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “Oh OK, well good.”

FRED SNYDER: “Yeah.”

GRAHAM WEAVER: I’m personally against the casino. I was last time, and I am this time. If I wanted to retire to a gambling community, I would have gone to Atlantic City or Las Vegas. I think it could also lead to problems that aren’t discussed much…like additional strains on the infrastructure, a lot more cars on the road, the Emmitsburg Pike coming up from the Eisenhower Center toward town. In addition to that, there’s the potential for social problems. Habitual gamblers have ruined their lives, broken marriages, lost houses – - – these are extreme cases, they have been reported. Basically, I like the environment of the community the way it is. There is a lot of division on the part of residents in the community about whether to have it. A poll was run in the Hanover Sun recently, that showed 43 percent in favor, and I guess about 33 percent or so opposed as far as the casino. That’s the latest poll, however, keep in mind that only 43 percent were for (the casino), and of the people that had a strong opinion on it, those people that were against outnumbered the pros by about a 2-to-1 factor. Others that gave the 43 percent to the pros were people that, in many cases, well, as long as you ask me, I’m for it.”

FRED SNYDER: “Real quick, your ideas to stimulate economic development here in this area. You know, the suggestion was made that bringing in the gaming facility might do that. Do you have some alternate ideas on how to increase economic development?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “I’d like to see more done in terms of increasing tourism type businesses. Now, I expect to be getting involved in the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Battle of Gettysburg, the 150th anniversary. A lot of work is being done on this, by Main Street, and this is being done from the perspective of not only having a celebration, but also getting an economic bounce for the community. I would sooner spend my efforts encouraging that kind of new business in Gettysburg rather than a gambling casino.”

FRED SNYDER: “So, you think there’s a future in tourism then?”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “It’s our biggest economic base now. Depending on who you talk to, we have anywhere from 1.8 to 2-3 million people, visitors, annually.”

FRED SNYDER: “Graham we’re out of time…”

GRAHAM WEAVER: “Thanks for having me.”

FRED SNYDER: “Councilman Graham Weaver, our guest this morning on the Gettysburg Borough Show. That does it for the Breakfast Nook. We’ll be right back.”

TRANSCRIPT: 02/09/10 – Gettysburg Councilman Graham Weaver appears on 1320 WGET with host Fred Snyder

By Scot Andrew Pitzer

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During a Tuesday morning interview with radio host Fred Snyder on 1320 WGET, Weaver became the second council member since the New Year to publicly voice concern over Gettysburg businessman David LeVan’s casino project.

“I’m personally against the casino,” said Weaver, now in his second month on the nine-member Borough Council. “I was last time, and I am this time.”

He vocally opposed LeVan’s previous gaming proposal: Crossroads Gaming Resort & Spa in Straban Township. Now, LeVan is eyeing a Category Three slots license to convert the Eisenhower Inn along Business 15 south of Gettysburg into a casino.

“If I wanted to retire to a gambling community, I would have gone to Atlantic City or Las Vegas,” said Weaver, who moved to Gettysburg’s Colt Park five years ago, after a long career in government.

“Basically, I like the environment of the community the way it is,” said Weaver, noting a recent newspaper poll about the project. “There is a lot of division on the part of residents in the community about whether to have it.”

Weaver fears that the proposed Mason Dixon Resort & Casino “could lead to problems that aren’t discussed much…like additional strains on infrastructure, a lot more cars on the road, the Emmitsburg Pike coming up from the Eisenhower Center toward town.”

He also forecast potential “social problems.” “Habitual gamblers have ruined their lives, broken marriages, lost houses – - – these are extreme cases, they have been reported,” said Weaver.

Last month, Council President John Butterfield also raised apprehension about the project’s impact on the borough, explaining that LeVan and business partner Joseph Lashinger had made “no overtures” to council.

It is unlikely that any “overtures” will be made to Borough Council. After being promised $2 million in annual gaming revenues from the Crossroads slots project in 2006, the cash-strapped borough government is unlikely to receive a cut from the Mason Dixon proposal.

However, LeVan and Lashinger have pitched the proposal to the Adams County Commissioners and Cumberland Township. Officials in each municipality have been informed that, under a state gaming formula that determines local government share, it would take $50 million in casino revenues to generate $1 million in tax revenue for the county and Cumberland Township.

While those revenues would represent about one-third of Cumberland’s annual budget, Weaver argued that there are “other ways” to stimulate economic growth in Adams County, at a time when the unemployment rate has topped eight percent.

“I’d like to see more done in terms of increasing tourism type businesses… I would sooner spend my efforts encouraging that kind of new business in Gettysburg rather than a gambling casino,” said Weaver.

Weaver’s entire interview can be found at: www.gettysburgtimes.com/articles/2010/02/10/blogs/doc4b724131a8ebd930093361.txt

By Scot Andrew Pitzer

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The Gettysburg businessman who failed in 2006 in his bid to build a casino in Straban Township, and whose second plan has been stalled since last summer, is trying yet again to bring slots – and possibly table games – to Adams County.

On Wednesday, LeVan said he and an anonymous business partner are poised to aggressively pursue a Category 3 “resort” gaming license, which would limit the number of slot machines to 500.

The site of LeVan’s newest proposal is the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center, which sits along Emmitsburg Road in Cumberland Township, about five miles from downtown Gettysburg.

LeVan – who owns Battlefield Harley-Davidson on Route 30 – said he and his business partner have secured an option to buy the 100-acre property that will expire “almost a full year from now.”

But, LeVan said, he will not purchase the property unless he can first secure a Category 3 license. What that means is that several events must unfold perfectly – and within a year – if LeVan is to be successful:

The state Legislature must amend gaming laws to either allow new applicants a chance to obtain the one Category 3 license that has yet to be awarded, or it must increase the total number of Category 3 licenses available.
The state Gaming Control Board would need to reopen the application process for at least one Category 3 license.

Board members would have to award that license to LeVan and his business partner before they would choose to buy the conference center

LeVan said he has been making the case to lawmakers that a gaming resort near Gettysburg and the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., markets would mean big bucks for the state.

It’s an argument LeVan has been making for years. He first attempted to bring gaming to Adams County in 2006. But his plan to build a standalone casino on an open field off Route 30 was rejected largely because of objections to the idea of a gambling facility so close to the Gettysburg battlefield, where thousands lost their lives in 1863.

Then, in July 2008, LeVan pursued the last Category 1 license, with which he could have also built a horse-racing track. But the state gaming board has yet to rule on the application of company that wants to build a casino near Pittsburgh. LeVan had said he would attempt to secure that license if the other group didn’t get it.

On Wednesday, LeVan declined to comment on the status of that proposal.

“At this point, I am totally focused on (the Category 3) project,” he said.

He also emphasized that the resort would simply move into an existing facility, unlike his 2006 attempt. LeVan thinks the conference center’s location – just under a mile from the southern boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park – would not interfere with the plans of battlefield visitors.

He’s even got a name picked out – the Mason-Dixon Resort – for the site, only about two miles from the Maryland border.

LeVan said he was not yet prepared to discuss many specifics, but he did say Adams County and Cumberland Township could each expect at least $1 million annually in tax money as a result of hosting the resort. He said the community could expect the project to produce about 200 new jobs, and current employees of the Eisenhower center would be retained.

By Erin James

Copyright © 2010 – Daily Record/Sunday News

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He did — however — acknowledge that “there are probably some other places that would be more appropriate for a casino.”

“This is one of the most unique communities in the state, with its history,” added Casey.

Local businessman David LeVan and former state lawmaker Joseph Lashinger have teamed up to form the “Mason Dixon Resort & Casino” project. LeVan and Lashinger are eyeing the state’s lone remaining “Category Three” slots license.

The key word: “state.”

“It’s a state issue,” said Casey, explaining that the federal government has “zero influence” in Pennsylvania’s gaming application process.

The first term Pennsylvania senator pointed out that gaming laws are primarily handled by individual state governments, opposed to the federal level.

So even if he receives a million calls and emails at his Washington, Harrisburg or Erie offices — pro or con — Casey won’t be a factor.

Neither will other federal lawmakers.

In fact, Casey (now in his fourth year in Washington) said Congress has “zero influence” over state gaming proposals.

“We have heard from people, but you try to point them in the proper direction,” he said.

Casey recalled LeVan’s previous gaming proposal in 2005-06: the failed Crossroads Gaming Resort in Straban Township. At the time, Casey was serving as state treasurer, a position he held until 2007 when he defeated incumbent Rick Santorum in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race. The plan was rejected by the state’s Gaming Control Board, primarily because of the opposition it generated.

“I sat in all of those meetings and hearings as treasurer, and every time, you’d have three or four people from Gettysburg in the front row,” said Casey. He called the project’s objectors “passionate.”

Supporters of the Mason Dixon project tout economic development and new jobs, referencing the eight percent unemployment rate in Adams County.

Opponents argue that the Eisenhower Inn, along Business 15 in southern Cumberland Township, is too close to the Gettysburg Battlefield, and will therefore “tarnish” Hallowed Ground.

Area lawmakers, such as State Rep. Dan Moul and Pa. Senator Richard Alloway, are staying neutral on the project, noting the divisiveness of the issue. They probably should take a stance, but refuse to do so.

Others, like Casey, simply don’t have a dog in the fight.

And he shouldn’t.

By Scot Andrew Pitzer

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Court papers filed Dec. 14 have asked that the optional agreement of sale of the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center be terminated because the agreed upon price was for a hotel, and not a casino.
The request for a motion for special relief was filed by Attorney Joseph C. Korsak, of York, on behalf of the Sanders Group in the Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County, Orphan’s Court Division.

An agreement establishing an option to purchase the 2634 Emmitsburg Road, Cumberland Township, property was recently entered into between co-executors of the Eisenhower and Battlefield Harley-Davidson owner David LeVan.

Mason Dixon Resort and Casino, led by LeVan and business partner Joseph Lashinger, are hoping to secure a state gambling permit that would allow the establishment of a casino at the site.

Dave LaTorre, LeVan’s spokesperson, said Sunday that he was unaware of the motion so he could not comment.

The request for a motion states that the co-executors who entered into the sale option with LeVan did not act “in the best interests of the beneficiaries.”

Specifically, the Sanders Group, through Korsak, claims that the agreed-upon price tag for the Gettysburg area facility did not include consideration that “the value of the facility increases by a factor of five when considering its potential as a licensed gaming facility.”

Adams County Court records assess the property at $5,187,943; however, the owners have also requested the property be reassessed for $2,750,000. That reassessment currently awaits the approval of the Adams County Commissioners and the Gettysburg School District.

The court document also states that the Sanders Group has asked the co-executors for time “to make a counter proposal with an outside group” concerning the sale of the site.

“In typical fashion, the co-executors ignored the request and entered into the contract (with LeVan),” the court papers stated.

The Sanders beneficiaries (those represented by the motion for special relief) are listed as Patricia Sanders, Wanda Cox, Richard Smelser, Beverly Heare, Deborah Herring, Michael Eller, Richard Howard, Theresa Little, Toni Ramos, and Clayton Johnson.

The document also requests that the circuit court “void the contract and return all parties to the status quo ante.”

The court is also being asked to bar the “co-executors from entering into any further contracts for the (property)…pending resolution of the motion to remove them.”

Joseph C. Korsak could not be reached for comment late Sunday.

By Rick Fulton

Copyright © 2010 – Gettysburg Times

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A legal disagreement between the executors and the beneficiaries of the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center estate could compromise the plans of a Gettysburg businessman and a former state representative who want to convert the property into a resort casino.

The attorney for 10 past and present hotel employees – known collectively as the Sanders Group after being named beneficiaries by the estate’s late owner, Richard L. Michael – has filed a petition in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas asking that a judge void an option-to-purchase contract reached last year between the executors and the development company that wants to operate a casino at the Cumberland Township property.

The beneficiaries contend that the estate’s executors failed to anticipate the intentions of KJM Development Company – headed by former state Rep. Joseph Lashinger – to convert the hotel into a casino and therefore agreed on a “ridiculous” purchasing price, said York-based attorney Joseph C. Korsak, who represents the Sanders Group.

Korsak said the option-to-purchase contract is written under the assumption that the property would remain simply an “ordinary” hotel worth about $14 million. Korsak said he believes the beneficiaries are being sold short by the executors’ failure to research Lashinger and uncover his many ties to the gaming industry before signing the contract.

“Since they should have known that the plan was to develop this (as a casino), the price of the hotel should have been almost exponentially higher,” he said. “We think it’s worth at least $70 million as a casino.”

In December, Korsak filed court documents arguing those points and asking the judge to “return all parties to the status quo.”

Korsak said the estate’s beneficiaries were also put off by the option-to-purchase agreement because they had been in talks with another potential buyer when the contract with Lashinger’s company was signed.

“I asked (the executors) to hold off before committing anywhere else,” Korsak said.

Korsak said this disagreement is just the latest in a long history of conflicts between the estate’s executors – Michael’s former accountant and banker, according to Korsak – and its beneficiaries. In representing the Sanders Group, Korsak said he has filed numerous complaints against the executors, whose names are not mentioned in the December filing.

“The history’s been that if these guys find somebody whose body temperature is above room temperature they’ve gotta have a contract signed immediately,” Korsak said.

Because Lashinger’s company is named in the contract, Korsak said he was as surprised as anyone when Gettysburg businessman David LeVan announced in late November that he was a party to an option-to-purchase agreement reached with the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center.

LeVan, who owns Battlefield Harley-Davidson on Route 30, was unsuccessful in his 2005-06 attempt to bring a casino to Adams County. Pending legislation, LeVan said in November that he and business partner Lashinger hoped to obtain a Category 3 gaming license and convert the hotel into a resort casino with slots machines and, possibly, table games. With the recent passage of state bill 711, table games are now a definite part of their plan.

Contacted Monday, LeVan spokesman David La Torre said “we have been in contact with the executors.”

“We do not view this to be a significant impediment,” La Torre said.

He declined to comment further.

LeVan and Lashinger are in the process of filing an application with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to obtain a gaming license that would allow them to operate 600 slots machines and 50 table games at the property. They face competition from at least three parties that have also expressed interest in the sole remaining license.

In the fall, LeVan said he and Lashinger would not purchase the Eisenhower Hotel unless they could first obtain a gaming license. Unless it is voided, the option-to-purchase agreement will not expire until sometime in late October or early November.

Erin James

Copyright © 2010 -The Evening Sun

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