There’s nothing quite like local politics. Good, bad, ugly, and crazy can all usually be found at city council meetings, selectman’s meetings, and other such gatherings. The fine people of Cato, NY know this more than ever after aneventful evening full of colorful quotes from a local man who wanted to open a mud bogging facility in their town. He got shot down, but not shut up.
Using a classic move, the zoning board decided that the project would have a negative evironmental impact and said that they would submit paperwork to the county stating that, effectively killing the project. The guy looking to build the place is one Mark Wattam. The man sounds like a bit of a character and he was not at all afraid to stand toe to tow with the coning board on this project.
The zoning board first tried to go after Wattam on the fact that he has not submitted paperwork certiying that the fill he had been using on the property was free of hazardous waste. His response?
“It’s all hard fill. We ain’t a nuclear plant.”
After the fill was questioned, concerned local citizens took to the floor and offered a large list of concerns ranging from noise to traffic, etc. After getting his ass shot full of arrows by the local residents, Wattam uncorked another classic.
“I don’t want to die with $10 in my pocket,” Wattam shouted. “I’m trying to build an empire.”
Finally sensing that the odds were firmly stacked against him, he pulled out the nuclear weapon of bargaining techniques. He used the ol’, “If you think this idea sucks, wait until you hear plan B!” He told the meeting that even if the mud bog deal was rejected he had another plan that would apparently give him the same inner peace as the boggin’ hole. That plan?”
“If not, I’m going to work on having a giant man-made lake,” Wattam said.
Hit the link below to read the whole story. This guy is pure comedy gold!
Same thing happened here in Nebraska…except there was a guy attempting to build a full 1/4 mile NHRA certified dragstrip…and ended up getting shut down by the county board’s good-ole boy redneck-work, hell, there were guys on the board SLEEPING through the meetings.
I like plan B…but I would have said, OK, I’ll just start a hog farm instead.
seems there is room around there someplace. on a bizarre note.. the point of orign of my internet keeps showing up as one town over from cato ny as my home town..I am in bangor maine. been doing that for years..no definition.
Although it is a bit difficult to determine EXACTLY what writer Samantha House was referring to, it would appear that Mr. Wattam has the green light, initially at least, with this paragraph from the story:
After filling out the SEQR, the ZBA unanimously voted to submit a positive declaration regarding the proposal. The declaration, however, isn’t the final say on the mud bogging project. Jorolemon said Wednesday’s decision was the first of two.
Again, I might be wrong as Ms. House’s writing is a bit difficult to decipher. If not, then Wattam has an initial go-ahead with his plans.
Birdman is right – a positive declaration means he passed the environmental review – with stipulations (like fencing, noise mitigation, etc). But also think the statement about legal is the biggie – anyone want to lay odds that the area isn’t zoned for spectator sports? Given the answers of the owner, I can’t imagine he’s done the legwork to get that hurdle cleared.