Casino
Expansion Plan
There's
a deal on the table in the South Valley that could expand
a popular casino and generate cash for Kings County as
well.
Owners
of "The
Palace" want to add a hotel to the casino in
Lemoore to compete with the new Chukchansi
Casino in Coarsegold.
The
proposed hotel would have more than 200 rooms.
The
county is looking to impose a hotel room tax. Casino owners
already have a $95 million loan from Kings County. They
pay the county $900,000 a year for up-keep of the casino.
Both
sides say they expect to reach a compromise, but county
officials say the proposed hotel tax will either make
or break the deal.
Casino
To Create Hundreds Of Jobs For Struggling Economy
The
casino has been the talk of the town in International
Falls. Judging from a show of hands at the public meeting,
the community is evenly split over the idea. Tom Manka,
a retired school teacher, took out an ad in the local
paper inviting people to show up to oppose the plan.
The
Red Lake Band of Ojibwe already operates casinos in Thief
River Falls, Warroad and Red Lake. A gaming agreement
with the state says they can build one more. And Red Lake
wants to put it near a busy highway on the west side of
International Falls.
The
casino would be alcohol free. It would include 400 slot
machines, eight blackjack tables, a restaurant and, eventually,
a convention center. Gene McArthur, the tribe's business
development director, says putting a casino in International
Falls was not Red Lake's idea.
The
idea came from an economic development commission that
includes officials from the city and Koochiching County.
They've offered to give the tribe the land and put in
necessary infrastructure for free.
Like
other rural communities, International Falls has struggled
to attract businesses, industry and jobs. County Commissioner
Wade Pavleck says the situation has become desperate.
Several people at the public meeting stood in favor of
a casino. Phil Paulbeck, a local business owner, says
the town can't continue to rely solely on the Boise Paper
Mill.
But several people warned a casino will bring gambling
addiction, crime, and other social problems. Wilbur Fast
has written letters to the local paper opposing the casino.
"Opposition
to the casino proposal is growing," said Fast. "The
last chapter in the book has not yet been written. Like
Yogi Berra said about the ball game, 'It ain't over 'til
it's over.'"