County plans to consider seizing land from Strip resort

Tuesday, May 20, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The move has Caesars officials outraged since the county didn't bother to let them know the action would be considered.

Caesars spokesman Phil Cooper said there is a "shroud of secrecy" over the vote and suggested county officials have "a hidden agenda."

"What is the state of county government if a private business has to virtually camp out at the County Government Center to be made aware that commissioners are about to decide its destiny?" Cooper said.

The county is holding up approval for Caesars' proposed 14-story, 700-room hotel tower and other expansions until the resort relinquishes land on its' western border for use as a frontage road to ease traffic on the Strip.

Caesars officials have said they would give up the land, but they want to retain air rights over it.

They are concerned that the county will grant Mirage Resorts the right to build a monorail over the land. The monorail would run from the Mirage Hotel to the new Bellagio resort.

Caesars officials say they do not oppose the monorail, as long as there is a stop at Caesars. But that has not been guaranteed.

Officials of Caesars and the Mirage have been negotiating to try and work out a deal for a monorail stop at the Forum Shops, adjacent to Caesars. No deal has been struck.

Meanwhile, Caesars officials say the county is playing hardball in acquiring the land without assurances their rights would be protected.

County officials will decide whether to spend $4 million to buy the land in an eminent domain condemnation.

Cooper described the move as "giving away truckloads of tax dollars for something Caesars already offered the county for free."

County commissioner Bruce Woodbury said the county has always taken the positon that it "should have the determination as to what happens on, around and above public roads."