Residents of Kimmswick rally against proposed casino

Sunday, Aug. 13, 2000 | 12:29 p.m.

At a rally Saturday, about 200 people listened to speakers who urged them to fight the development of a $100 million Isle of Capri gambling boat complex.

"Write. Call. Bombard your legislators," said shopkeeper Barb Obermeyer. "Let's try to sandbag this casino. We have to say enough is enough."

Last month, the Missouri Gaming Commission gave tentative approval to the Isle of Capri riverboat, which will be located north of Kimmswick on the Mississippi River. Most of the town's 150 residents have voted against the idea of a casino.

Those opposed to the casino are now circulating petitions that ask the commission to reverse its decision.

Obermeyer said she was forced to close her craft and antique store in St. Charles after the Station Casino opened in 1994. Traffic headed for the casino drove people away from her shop, she said. She relocated to Kimmswick.

"Seven shops went out of business near us (in St. Charles) and we were going to be number eight," said Obermeyer. "People would come into our store in St. Charles, and they said they liked stuff, but they couldn't buy it because they were going to the boat and needed all the money they had with them."

No one ever came into her store and said they had won a lot of money and wanted to spend it, she said.

Chris Rice, an official with Isle of Capri, said owners of small businesses in other towns where the company has opened casinos have glowing things to say about the impact on business.

Those towns include Biloxi and Vicksburg, Miss., places Rice said were depressed economically before the casinos opened.

"I understand the concerns that the citizens in this town have," Rice said. "But we really want to fit into this community and do whatever we can to help this town."

Brian Selsor, Kimmswick's mayor, said his town is known nationally for "good, wholesome entertainment."

"That's what we're about, and that's what they're going to destroy," he said.