History, Facts and Questions

First a little history, currently there are 23 members of Kohr family living in 6 homes on 767 acres of Lauxmont Farms. Out of that they have 140 acres now under agricultural security protection. They also control through agricultural right of way an additional 400 Acres. They principally have dairy and beef cattle and virtually their entire livelihood comes from the farm.

Yes they were in bankruptcy but they are not now. They are currently in the recovery stage. Everyone they owe will be paid back 100% plus 10% interest. They owe York County nothing!!!.

Yes they have permitted some development on some of their land to aid in this recovery effort but they retained the agricultural right of way on major portions of that land. The land under Ag Security is not intended to be developed and what further development on land unprotected by Ag Security, if any, is not known but if it is done legally, satisfying all agencies and rules it is really only their business. No private group or government body should take it upon themselves to subvert their ownership. Further more it is a travesty when within miles of their location there are other developments which also have views of the river, that was started after their land was attacked, and have now broken ground to build hundreds of homes but not one of the people involved in taking of Kohr land has done anything against these developments. Why were they singled out? Unlike the other developers who build and leave, Kohrs will continue to live and work here so it has always been in their own best interest to have as low of an impact as possible.

When their parents purchased what is now known as Lauxmont Farms, the building and land were badly neglected. Many of the fields now deemed so beautiful were so over run they could hardly be called fields and the views were not there. Their father and mother rebuilt this farm and the beauty you see today is only there because of the hard work they, their children and there children’s, children put into it. How was their Mom and Dad to know that in doing these things that they would be drawing the attention of others that when they encountered difficulties, would try and get control over their land by any means possible.

To try and get this behind them and relieve the stress it is causing their whole family, they have reluctantly offered to sell to their assailants, 180 acres where the actual historic sites are located. Furthermore this 180 acres and only this 180 acres is all they really need to do what they say they want to do. The land lies right behind an existing park (Klines Run Park) facing the river. This 180 acres would have easy access to either Long Level Road (in front) or Klines Run Road (in rear) and when cleared will also have wonderful views of the river. It even sets behind the recently renovated historic mansion where Lancaster York Heritage Region now resides and they can build whatever visitor center or museum they want. Note that the historic dairy barn they refer to no longer exists as described and would need to be rebuilt from ground up so if they truly need this why not rebuild it on the 180 acres? Even the nation’s first capital court house is not on the original site in York City Square. Even though parting with this land will affect their dairy and cattle operation, losing that parcel will not eliminate its operation as would the land the county is really trying to extort. Why is it that Lancaster York Heritage Region vision for this heritage park can only exist on the very land where they live and work? Why can not their vision be reached with this 180 acres plus Klines Run Park and the stone mansion? Then everyone can go on with their lives and save tax payers tens of millions of our tax dollars?

To go into all the lies and half truths our adversaries are saying would take many pages so we will not burden you with that, other than to say that everything they say or do is done ultimately to make the Kohr family out to be bad people and in so doing make their own shameful deeds and aspirations more acceptable.

Here are some questions we still have?

How come we keep hearing about the bankruptcy but Kohr’s say not so? They say they have been out of bankruptcy since 1996. If they were still in bankruptcy then why would the county need to petition the courts to put them back into bankruptcy. Note that they failed in their attempt.

How come we have never actually heard from anyone that is actually owed money from the settlement? Maybe it’s because they are going to get paid back 100% by the agreed to terms of the settlement and because they are making 10% on the unpaid portions which right now is not a bad return on your money?

How come if the Kohr’s owed taxes the county just does not foreclose on them? Do you really think the county would cut them a break and not foreclose on them if they did owe the money?

How come County Commissioners Lori Mitrick and Doug Kilgore are so keen on saving open space why did they not keep the 1800 acres around Lake Redman that was already a park but instead gave up our lease and let it divert back to the owners to be sold for a housing development?

How come park supporters have not said word one about the Gerry Horst housing development less than a mile up the road from Lauxmont. Will not all the bad things that would occur by developing the lands along Klines Run Road also happen at the Horst housing development along Knights View Road?

How come the land being used by the Gerry Horst development was also under Eminent Domain by Eastern School District, to be used to build a new high school was thrown out of court? How come Eminent Domain can not be used to build a school, which was what it was intended for but can be used to build a park which it was not intended for?

How come developers never live near their housing developments but Kohrs will? Would it not be in Kohrs best interest to keep things as beautiful as possible and the impact on the community as low as possible since they are still living and paying taxes there? Is that why of the 500 acres that has been developed, Kohrs have preserved 400 acres of it as agricultural land so they can continue to farm it?

How come they keep saying that the whole farm must be sold? If true, why would the Kohrs of sold the 500 acres for less than it was worth just to keep 400 acres as Agricultural Right of Way. Why would they need Agricultural Right of Way if there was not going to be a farm?

How come some of the people who signed those agreements to build their homes on Lauxmont land do not want others to have the same rights? Could it be that they see building the park as a way to break that agreement and there by gain unlimited control over the land removing Kohrs agricultural right of way. Maybe they don’t want other to ruin their views? Could they also figure that their land value would increase as park front properties?

How can Tom Wolfe of the York Lancaster Heritage Region who’s President of a family owned business, want to take away another family’s, business not to mention their homes? Wonder if they would like their business being taken away not to mention their homes?

How come the contractors (i.e. Robert Kinsley) on these boards often get the contract to build the Resulting parks / visitor centers much like Gettysburg? FYI - Gettysburg was originally just to cost 30 million not using tax money, now we believe it is approaching 100,000 million or more using tax money. Mr. Kinsley headed that project, now he is also involved here.

How come Robert Kinsley, Vice Chairperson of Lancaster York Heritage Region, is so intent on stopping development on the Kohr farm but has no problem with his company developing the farm at the Route 30 exit of Wrightsville? What about the battle that occurred on and around that farm. Sitting on the main corridor, think of all the historic travelers that passed that farm. What about the history lost there?

How come we see attention given to people who present their selves as authorities on Indian affairs without having any known accredited academic background on the subject and on these self proclaimed authorities we are to spend millions? Are these people looking for a job as museum curator?

How come we have not really seen any recognized Native American involvement in this process other than some Indian want-to-be’s?

How come they don’t seem to understand that grant money comes from our pockets when they say this park will cost us nothing? Millions of grants are billions of dollars that are taken out of our pay checks.

How come they say it will cost a million dollars a year to maintain the park and staff of the Visitor Center and Indian Museum and it still will not cost us anything. Do you really think that this park will generate that kind of income and if not who will have to pay?

How come we need to reconstruct a dairy barn at Lauxmont, we thought they were going to do something like that with the Horn Farm in Hellam Township making it into an agricultural education center plus we have the Agricultural and Industrial Museum already in York. How many of these things do we really need? By the way how big of a money maker is the Agricultural and Industrial Museum?

How can the county criticize the Kohrs on how they keep their farm when the Horn farm which was under their control was so neglected that it burned down?

How come it is not going to cost us any money but they have already floated an 11 million dollar bond?

How come it is not going to cost us any money but they have already spent hundred of thousand of county dollars in consultants, legal and design costs not to mention all the time of county employees? Would hundred thousand dollars keep the senior centers open?

How come Mark Platts and Lancaster York Heritage Region can not build their park on the 180 acres which sets directly behind Klines Run Park which the Kohr family has offered to sell to them? This is the same acreage where the Indian burial grounds are located and directly behind where the York Lancaster Heritage Region is currently located in the restored stone mansion.

How come Lori Mitrick can set on the board of Lancaster York Heritage Region and vote for what Lancaster York Heritage Region wants as our county commissioners and there is no conflicting interest.

How come we have so many big ticket projects for Private and special interest in this county? What are the odds people in the inner circle will make millions on the creation of these projects? What are the odds that the people who made the millions won’t be around when these two projects bills comes due and we and our children have to pay it. Now and forever more!