Casino opponents say development would jeopardize artifacts

Clayton Bellamy

Friday, June 1, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A proposed casino near Kimmswick would endanger prehistoric artifacts buried near the quaint river town, opponents told the Missouri Gaming Commission.

About 40 Kimmswick-area residents gave commissioners a letter on Wednesday from the Missouri Archaeological Society regarding the so-called Herrell Site -- one of four ancient sites they say would lie beneath the casino or its access road.

"There is doubtless much important information preserved in the soil around Kimmswick," said the letter, dated Friday and signed by society president Alan Banks. "Development in this area should be avoided if possible."

The residents rode a bus to the commission's meeting to urge commissioners not to approve Mississippi-based Isle of Capri's proposal. They fear the casino would destroy the historic charm of their town, with its many antique shops and bed and breakfast inns.

Isle of Capri, which has a casino in Kansas City and another to open later this year in Boonville, stressed to commissioners the positive economic impact of the casino.

Economics professor Don Phares, hired by the casino, told the commission that the casino would generate 3,000 new, permanent jobs and pump more than $300 million a year into the Missouri economy.

The commission is deciding whether to approve Isle of Capri's license to build the casino. The review, which has no deadline for completion, comes after last July's 3-2 vote to move forward with Isle of Capri's bid for a $100 million hotel and casino.

That vote came despite opposition from many in the Jefferson County town of about 135 people and plentiful support for a casino in Lemay, near St. Louis. Commissioners have said they opposed the Lemay casino for fear it would have driven St. Louis' struggling President Casino out of business.

A report released last month by Attorney General Jay Nixon concluded that the commission's choice of Kimmswick over Lemay was based on analysis by commission staff and not on favoritism.

Banks' letter said that the Herrell Site, first recorded in 1902, was where American Indians produced salt from nearby salt springs.

"Previous investigations suggest that this site is significant enough to be eligible for National Register of Historic Places status," the letter said.

Glee Heiligtag Naes, of the Kimmswick Historical Society, said salt pans used by Indians more than a thousand years ago at the site are on display in Missouri museums.

Phares, of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, said the casino would also benefit government through increased tax revenue. He said an accumulation of fees, income tax and sales tax would put about $48 million annually into state coffers.

Of the more than 3,000 new jobs he projected, about 1,300 would be in the casino with the rest coming from "a small amount of anticipated growth in the area," Phares said.

At least one commissioner was skeptical of Phares' numbers.

"There's a limit on the amount of entertainment money people can spend," said commissioner Lynne Nikolaisen. "Some of this money is just switched" away from other entertainment options.

Phares replied that his figures are "not purported to be a net increase."

Angry Kimmswick residents have appeared at almost every monthly meeting of the commission since last July's preliminary vote.

The casino proposal survived a scare last month when Arnold residents voted to ban gambling within city limits and to annex Chesley Island, the casino's proposed site.

But state law requires that a majority of annexed territory's residents approve a move, and the island's only two residents, Rickie and Patricia Reno, voted against it. Rickie had been hired by Isle of Capri as caretaker of the site.