Casino operator sues city

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000 | 11:10 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. LOUIS -- Isle of Capri Casinos has filed suit against the Mississippi River town of Kimmswick, seeking relief from the city's efforts to prevent the company from building a nearby riverboat casino and hotel.

In the suit filed Tuesday in Jefferson County Circuit Court, the Biloxi, Miss.-based company asked the court to bar Kimmswick from condemning or annexing the planned casino site. The suit charges that the city's efforts are not intended to serve the public good, as required by state law.

Kimmswick Mayor Brian Selsor said he had yet to receive a copy of the suit, but he believes it is without merit.

"We have done substantial work on the annexation and condemnation," he said. "We don't want a casino boat, and we have never been covert about that."

Kimmswick's Board of Alderman voted in August to annex the 45-acre site, north of the Jefferson County town and about 25 miles south of St. Louis, hoping to then condemn the site and turn it into a public park.

Despite the vocal opposition of most of Kimmswick's 133 residents, the Missouri Gaming Commission granted Isle of Capri tentative approval in July to build and operate a $100 million gambling boat complex that includes a hotel, parking garage and three restaurants.