Schlitterbahn is a $750 million project. But, at stake is $225 million in publicly-financed bonds needed for the next phases of construction.
Leaders in Kansas City, Kansas are happy the Schlitterbahn Vacation Village opened this summer, offering another destination attraction for visitors traveling to Wyandotte County.
But, the Unified Government says it will not authorize the sale of $225 million in taxpayer financed bonds to expand the waterpark until Schlitterbahn shows that it's hiring more local, minority and women-owned companies.
"There has been no public dollars, public funding put into this project. Before that happens, we just want to ensure that the issues that are outstanding out there, that we address those before we move forward with issuing STAR bonds," said Unified Government Spokesman Edwin Birch.
The Carpenter's District Council of Kansas City is pressuring Schlitterbahn to hire more union workers from the metro area. The union has been urging families to boycott the waterpark.
In a prepared statement, Schlitterbahn disputes the Unified Government's conclusion.
Marketing Director Chris Ozimek says, "The numbers that the Unified Government released were part of an incomplete report that has pieces of the puzzle missing. The numbers should improve when all invoices are received and paid, and we will continue to closely monitor our practices in this area."
The agreement calls for 18 percent of the construction to go to Wyandotte County contractors. Minority-owned firms are supposed to get 15 percent of the work. And, the waterpark agreed to provide 7 percent to women-owned businesses.
"We want to ensure that this project is entirely successful. What we want to do is continue to collaborate with Schlitterbahn developers and the local community to insure that the goals that have been established in the developers agreement have been met," said Birch.
Schlitterbahn says it is asking the Unified Government to allow the waterpark to begin selling the publicly-financed bonds needed for its expansion.
