LJWorld.com / Governor will meet with Oz developers' lawyer

Archive for Wednesday, October 24, 2001

October 24, 2001

Gov. Bill Graves is scheduled to meet this afternoon with John Petersen, a lawyer representing developers of the proposed World of Oz theme park and resort.

"There's an assumption on the governor's part that developments in the Oz matter will come up," said Graves' spokesman Don Brown.

The meeting, Brown said, will be private and brief. It's unclear whether other representatives of the Los Angeles-based Oz Entertainment Company will participate in the meeting.

"There's nothing on the governor's agenda that indicates anyone else will be along for the ride. At this point, it appears to be one on one," Brown said. "But for something like this, that could change."

Attempts to reach Petersen and Oz chairman Robert Kory for comment were unsuccessful.

Petersen, a former deputy chief counsel for U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, is a longtime Graves supporter.

"It's not unusual for the governor to meet with Mr. Petersen," Brown said.

Earlier this month, the Johnson County Commission voted 3-1 to drop its consideration of Oz Entertainment Company's $861 million plan to convert the former Sunflower Ammunition Plant near DeSoto to a theme park and resort. Commission members said they had lost confidence in the numbers used to sell the project and in the company's abilities to make it happen.

Without the commission's support, the project will not have access to tax incentives and financial aid considered critical to the project.

It's doubtful, Brown said, that Graves will intervene on behalf of Oz.

"The way the process is designed, there's an assumption that the governor's involvement comes after all the other entities local governments and all the different state agencies have given their approval," Brown said. "In Johnson County, it appears that approval isn't there, so at this point there does not appear to be an opportunity for the governor to navigate."