City officials speak out against gambling

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 9:25 a.m.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa -- City leaders have issued statements to quell local speculation about a floating casino on Clear Lake as the Iowa Legislature considers an expansion of the state's gambling industry.

"The fact of the matter is that the Legislature is considering granting up to three new boat licenses for the entire state. No mention of Clear Lake or any other body of water is contained with the proposed bill," Mayor Kirk Kraft said in a news release.

"There is also no guarantee that the new licenses will even pass at this point," he said.

Kraft said no one has approached the city about putting a casino in Clear Lake.

If someone did, City Administrator Scott Flory said, the city would be opposed to gambling on Clear Lake.

"We basically have promoted ourselves as a gentle resort community" and gambling would destroy that image, Flory said.

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