Iowa officials tour sites seeking casino licenses

David Pitt

Thursday, April 7, 2005 | 9:20 a.m.

FORT DODGE, Iowa -- The five members of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission boarded a charter bus Wednesday and began a two-day tour of proposed casino sites.

They were greeted at their first stop by a jazz band and about 100 people huddled under a tent in a chilly rain. Mayor Will Patterson told the commissioners that a proposed $50 million casino on the Des Moines River would help the area recover from difficult economic times.

"Give us the opportunity to continue the economic growth that we've already gotten started," the mayor pleaded.

The tour then moved on to Emmetsburg, where there are two competing casino proposals.

The first proposal would put a casino, hotel and RV park on the shores of Five Island Lake, where about 30 people crowded in the sunporch of a home overlooking the lake.

The second would put a casino next to a car dealership, where 150 people and a bagpiper gathered in the showroom. Supporters said their site would be best because it would leave the lake undisturbed.

The tour turned north on Interstate 35, stopping just south of the Minnesota state line at the Top of Iowa Welcome Center, where developers propose building the Diamond Jo Worth casino. Supporters dressed in lime green T-shirts stood outside the tourist information center.

Commissioners were treated to strawberry pie and given a brief tour of the tourist center. The mayors of six small towns in the area gave brief presentations about how a casino would help their towns.

"We need stuff on Main Street," said Rick Scholbrock, mayor of Hanlontown, population 229. "Hopefully, with a casino in the county, we'll see some benefit."

Asked about their preferences, commissioners declined to tip their hand.

"We want to wait until we have gotten everything we need to know about each site," said Diane Hamilton, commission chairwoman.

Commissioner Kate Cutler said it was important to see all the sites in person. By the time the trip ends this evening, commissioners will have traveled more than 680 miles.

"We've seen lakes. We've seen rivers. We've seen fields," Cutler said. "There's nothing in particular we're looking for. We're just trying to get a feel for what this looks like."

A decision is expected May 11.