Marion
County Voters to Decide Casino Issue
As reported by the Hillsboro
Free Press: "Marion County voters will
have the chance in about 10 weeks to decide
in a mail-in referendum whether to allow casino
gambling that could bring in a resort hotel
and casino with $75 to $100 million annual payroll
to the county.
"Former
Wichita Mayor Bob Knight, who supports the referendum,
and his team told the Marion County Commission
Monday that the $300 million development could
have 'dramatic consequences' for the local economy.
"They
estimated the construction phase of the 59-acre
development with central 12-story 300-room hotel
could alone generate $186 million in construction
spending with 1,500 workers employed. The permanent
work force would average 2,500 workers, said
Dennis Smith, president of the Law Co. at Wichita.
"Yet,
Knight said, the development would require no
tax money, no bond issues and no land give-away
because investors would fund everything.
"That
and the rest of the presentation was welcome
enough economic development news that Commission
Chairman Bob Hein moved to pass the question
on to a yes or no mail-in public referendum.
"…The
approval put Marion County into an apparent
race for casino approval with neighboring Harvey
County, which Hein said has scheduled an election
for the same purpose to be conducted in December…"
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