By Carol McIntire
Editor
January 24, 2012
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| Members of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) and Carroll County Commissioners were all smiles after the MWCD board approved an agreement that will transfer ownership of Atwood Resort to Carroll County Commissioners. MWCD Board Members seated above include (from left): Steve Kokovich, David Parham, William Boyle, Harry Horstman and Richard Pryce. Standing: Carroll County Commissioners Doyle Hawk, Jeff Ohler and Tom Wheaton, Carroll County Economic Development Director Glenn Enslen and MWCD Secretary/Executive Director John Hoopingarner. |
It’s finally over.
When Carroll County Commissioners approved an agreement Monday to transfer the Atwood Resort property to them, it brought the nearly four-year roller coaster ride to an end.
The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) approved the same agreement during their monthly meeting Friday in New Philadelphia. All that remains is the filing of necessary documents and the formal closing, which is expected to take less than 14 days.
The transfer, which is a donation to the county, includes Atwood Resort, the 18-hole public golf course, par 3 course, the golf course pro shop and home located near it, Atwood Chalet and the maintenance building along with 500 acres. The mineral rights transfer with the property.
MWCD Board Member Harry Horstman, a former Carroll County and now a Harrison County resident who has been an advocate for finding a way to save the lodge from demolition since the beginning, made the motion to transfer the property, which was unanimously approved by the other four members.
Speaking on behalf of Carroll County Commissioners, Tom Wheaton thanked the board.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Wheaton stated. “This has been a long road but we got there. I feel like I’ve just gained 200 pounds!”
MWCD Executive Director/Secretary John Hoopingarner, in a joking mood replied, “No Tom, you’ve just gained 500 acres!”
Horstman, MWCD Board Member Dave Parham, who resides on Atwood Lake, and Darrin Lautenschleger, MWCD public affairs administrator, attended Monday’s meeting of county commissioners.
“This has been up, down and around for several years,” Horstman said. “The people are the ones who fought for this. Now it is up to them to use it.”
Horstman said the last few days have been a good time for him. “It means a lot to me to see this finally happen,” he stated. “I saw this entire thing happening during my career at Carrollton and Dellroy schools.”
Speaking directly to Commissioners Wheaton, Jeff Ohler and Doyle Hawk, Horstman said, “You have to let the people in the county know it can’t bankrupt you. Nothing says you have to keep it. If it doesn’t make money, sell it. The only thing the county has to lose is the mineral rights, which will revert back to the district if it is sold.”
Horstman recalled the MWCD meeting in January 2010 when the board was asked to make a motion to close the resort in January and demolish it in March. “I knew I was in line to become president of the group and if we could just get past that meeting…” he continued.
Horstman said he was thankful for the support of Parham in the process. “We just had to convince one more board member it had to stay above ground until we could make something happen. I am glad to see you get it.”
He recalled a meeting when the statement was made that the MWCD would sell it to the county for $1. “Remember, Tom, you threw a dollar on the table,” Horstman laughed and said. “Well, now I’ll tell you, $1 was too much. We’re donating it to you!”
Horstman warned commissioners not to make the same mistakes the MWCD did in the operation of the lodge. “We signed a contract with a management company that assured us they could turn the facility around. We agreed to pick up the bill for five years. At first, it was smaller amounts, but when the economy tanked, it our bill reached the $1 million mark and we had to cancel the contract and close it. Why we ever agreed to that contact I don’t know,” he said shaking his head.
Ohler, president of commissioners, assured Horstman and county residents the acquisition of the lodge and associated buildings and land will not affect the county budget.
“This will not affect our county budget or the taxpayers,” he pledged. “The thing we have going for us is the oil and gas development. “We have the opportunity to sign an oil and gas lease and, for at least the next few years, can fill the facility with oil and gas workers.”
Atwood Resort was closed in October 2010 by the MWCD. In early July 2011, the board announced plans to demolish the resort and develop it in a capacity more closely tied to the recreational mission of the district.
Members of the community turned out in large numbers during a late July meeting in Dellroy to express opposition to the plan and plead their case that the resort be returned to a viable, functioning facility.
At that meeting, the MWCD board agreed to halt the demolition and attempt to locate a governmental agency to which they could donate the facility. Commissioners expressed an immediate interest and the two parties have been working with Curt Schneider of the Chartwell Group of Cleveland to facilitate the transfer.
Carroll County Economic Development Director Glenn Enslen said as soon as the necessary paperwork is filed, he is prepared to advertise for requests for proposals (RFPs) to operate the facility. He said a great deal of interest has been expressed by companies for both the lodge and golf course.
Enslen said the county is required by law to advertise for three weeks before any action can be taken.
Commissioners also plan to seek oil and gas lease proposals from companies for the property. They previously stated any money received from oil and gas leases would go directly back into the facility. |
