Casino agreement shelved

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 | 9:21 a.m.

MONROE, Ohio -- City Council, responding to complaints by a group of ministers, shelved indefinitely an agreement with an Indian tribe to build a $750 million casino complex.

The action Tuesday night came after the first reading of an intergovernmental agreement with the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

About 150 members of the Monroe Religious Council, which consists of 12 local ministers representing about 2,800 churchgoers, spent an hour explaining why it opposes the proposed casino.

They cited the negative aspects of casino gambling with regard to moral, economic, political and social issues.

Many of those in the crowd wore buttons reading "Don't Gamble with Our Future."

"There were concerns brought up tonight that more questions need to be asked," said Mayor Robert Routson.

"We don't have a problem with trying to find out more information before we make a decision."

Council member Suzi Rubin said Tuesday's action will give council more time to research the issue and vote on it at a later date.

In October, the tribe approved an agreement to purchase 150 acres of land for a casino off Interstate 75 in Monroe.

Jay Stewart, the city's development director, estimated that Monroe could receive between _$16 million and _$53 million in gaming and tax revenues over a 10-year period.

The new revenue would be good news for Monroe, as the state placed the city in fiscal emergency in August after it was discovered there was a _$6.25 million deficit in 11 funds.

Monroe is 23 miles northeast of Cincinnati. _centerline(PROFILE _centerline(COUNTRY:United States; ISOCOUNTRY3:USA; UNTOP:021; APGROUP:NorthAmerica;) _centerline(CAT:Business;) _centerline(CAT:Municipal;) _centerline(CAT:Gambling;) _centerline(SRC:AP; ST:OH;) _centerline)