Iowa regulators consider casino proposals from 10 communities

David Pitt

Thursday, March 24, 2005 | 11:14 a.m.

JOHNSTON, Iowa -- A parade of casino supporters, some with flashy computerized slide shows, made well-rehearsed pitches Wednesday to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, pleading to become one of the groups granted a license to build a new casino.

The five-member commission has not yet decided how many licenses will be issued and the competition among the 10 groups seeking licenses has been fierce.

Commission administrator Jack Ketterer opened the pitch period Tuesday evening, announcing, "Welcome to March madness."

Commissioners strictly enforced a 45-minute time limit using an oversized clock with a ticking second hand and an air horn. No one dared go over the 45 minutes.

The commission will visit the 10 sites April 6-7 and hold a public hearing May 4, at which the number of licenses to be issued will be announced. The commissioners will announce the winners on May 11.

"It's kind of an exciting process and after hearing all of these projects, they all sound so good," said Diane Hamilton, commission chairwoman. "You can tell how excited these people are and how desperate they are for jobs, economic development and helping their town economically."

Some of the presentations included impassioned pleas to consider the infusion of cash a casino would bring.

"With industrial plants closing in Washington, Mount Pleasant and other cities, 850 new jobs are needed in Washington County and the southeast Iowa region," said Tim Putney, president of a group proposing a casino and 18-hole golf course and resort hotel on 340 acres near Riverside.

Another group proposed a $45 million casino, theater and bowling alley on the site of the former greyhound dog racing track in Waterloo, which closed in 1996. It would be jointly built by the Meskwaki tribe, the National Cattle Congress and area investors.

Animation video showed elements of the project dropping out of the sky onto the 62-acre track site. Supporters said it would create a "great doorway to the city of Waterloo."

The project is one of three Waterloo area proposals.

The IOC Black Hawk project would cost about $118 million and include two hotels and a water park. It would be built by Isle of Capri Casinos, which owns riverboats in Bettendorf and Marquette.

The Cedar Valley Gaming Co. proposed a $116 million hotel and casino in downtown Waterloo.

"We'll forever change the face of downtown Waterloo, Black Hawk County and the Cedar Valley region," said Gary Hoyer, project manager for Cedar Valley Gaming.

There are two proposals for Emmetsburg. One, Wild Rose Emmetsburg, would be developed and financed by Des Moines area businessmen Gary Kirke and Mike Richards. It would cost about $20 million and would include a 65-room hotel and recreational vehicle park.

"We really need an economic kick-start in our community," said Julie Clarkson, president of the nonprofit group which supports the casino.

A competing $35 million plan on Five Acre Lake would include a 48-room hotel, entertainment complex and an RV park. It would be run by W.M. Grace Cos. of St. Joseph, Mo., former owners of the Lakeside Casino in Osceola.

Kirke and Richards also are behind a proposal for Wild Rose Ottumwa, which would cost $24 million and include a 90-room hotel and restaurants.

"If Ottumwa gets a license, it will have an unbelievably long-term effect on the stability of that community," Kirke said.