Money was on the minds of lottery officials as they met to get more information on a proposed Sumner County casino.
The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board met via teleconference, Wednesday morning, to discuss changes to the proposed contract held by single gaming developer Chisholm Creek and to obtain additional information about the proposed casino before making their final decision.
After hearing about the contract changes should a tribal casino be built in Park City by the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma, discussion opened up to what the board was still needing to know about the Sumner County contract.
Board member Jack Brier brought up revenue projections and what a tribal casino could mean to the state’s only pick.
“Given the 383 scenarios in the flow chart, how in the world are we going to look at revenue projections for every contingency? Or are we? Or should we?” Brier asked.
With a number of different scenarios to consider and with word that the Wyandotte Tribe may try to get state approval for a Class 3 casino, there would be more than 12 different financial situations to look at, Dr. Bill Eadington said.
“I don’t think it would be wise to plan for every contingency, but we should be able to give you a good flavor of what the differential revenue situations might be under the key considerations of having a tribal facility, versus not having a tribal facility and then having the various sizes for the Chisholm Creek facility,” said Eadington.
Regardless of what size and when, should a tribal casino come to Sedgwick County, competitive pressures would most likely keep it from building beyond the requirements, Eddington said.
“I would like to get some sense of if this is as good as a casino as we can expect under these circumstances,” Board Chairman Matt All said.
Additional information on the financial stability of Lakes Entertainment and what different amenities would do for the casino were also requested.
Board member Dean Farrell also brought up water issues to the board and where exactly the casino would be getting their supply from.
In addition to financials, talk was brought up regarding what is happening on the County level with planning and zoning at the site.
Developers requested two plats, or about 84 acres be converted to C-4, commercial highway district zoning at the northeast corner of Broadway and 140th Ave., in early February, but were denied the plats by the Planning and Zoning Commission based on unresolved drainage and traffic problems.
“Sedgwick County has got to be part of the solution,” said Board member Jackie Vietti of the drainage situation near the County border. “If I’m not misunderstood and it requires partnership between those counties I would like to know what conversations have taken place,”
Board member Jack Brier said he didn’t want to see “undue burden” on taxpayers, who would have to pick up the slack for infrastructure.
“If there are infrastructure that costs a lot of money, or any money at all, I think have all agreed that it should not be a cost to the taxpayer in the jurisdiction where the gaming facility is being built and what we expect is that the developers will in fact pay for those and I think we have an obligation to make sure those agreements are in place,” Brier said.
Garry Boston also expressed his need for more information from the Kansas Department of Transportation regarding entries and exits to the site.
Legal counsel Patrick Martin for the lottery said local government in Sumner County was “aware of the time frame we are under” and word was that Chisholm Creek was in the process of resubmitting an application for changes in the platting.
All said issues regarding drainage and traffic would be taken care of by those on the local level and by experts who know the best course of action for the site.
“We have to be careful not to slide into usurping the authority of other entities and also doing things that are beyond our level of expertise,” All said.
Board members will continue to consider best and worst-case scenarios for the Sumner County casino to see if the single proposal from Chisholm Creek is the best fit for the State and the County.
A public meeting in Topeka will be set at a later date. Officials are hoping to hold the meeting in a single day.
For the latest on the Sumner County casino, check back with www.wellingtondailynews.com
Wellington, Kan. —
