Clueless; Lets talk Casino again.

[Redhead 18]

Clueless;



Lets start over again if you do not understand my questions.

(1). Location.

The people (voters) sent a mandate to the Elected Officals that 73 per cent said NO to building in the park area. Do you understand that? You did not reply to this question.
Before voting on Gambling I want to know where it will be located. Location should stand on it own merit.

(2). Your picture and statements in the Globe stated, “Their preferred site is 64 acres south of the Santa Fe railroad tracks, up against the Arkansas River”

. I asked, “How will the Gaming board be able to purchase City /County property”? No answer.

Let’s use this as an example. Your board will try to purchase the ground for a casino.

OK.


Next I will ask if I can purchase the same property for an Amusement Park.


Now “WE” have a problem.


Both will be saying that it will bring money to the area Merchants. It will benfit Downtown Dodge.


If I go to an Out of Town Bank to get money (Loan) to purchase ground and to build, they will ask about location. Is this in a Flood Plain and will I have clear title to this property? My answer is No. I think this might be a City Park. “Sorry but we can not make a Loan to purchase ground in a City Park / Fairgrounds”. Wonder why.

As noted in your News release, it stated County Commissioner Kim Goodnight was on the Board, with (3) three bankers. Does that mean your BANKS meet a different standard than other banks?

To keep thing even, the ground to build on must be purchased from the City / County. That means you and me. We are part owners already. How do you determined who will get the property. To be fair to me it will have to be put up for bid. Some of our local socker players will say you are discriminating against our socker club. This is a City Park. (Mueting Nusery several years ago installed a 45 thousand-dollar underground sprinkling system, so it must be a PARK). They will say you can’t sell this ground. Who ever heard selling a City Park / Fairground for Gambling. They might have a point.

Now do you see why I made the statement.” It appears there are a million questions that need to be answered. Location must be Number 1.

I did not say that PUBLIC money (bonds) would be used for purchase and construction of the Casino. You will get people so mixed up talking about Private and Public.

First off, I didn’t know that we had wealthly people in Dodge City that could build a $50,000,000.00 (Fifty million-dollar) casino and never ask for a loan. Does that mean it’s a drop in the bucket what can be spent on winning the election. I’m learning something new every day.


Another example.

USD 443 wants to build a new school. They want a bond issue to pay for schools. The payments will come from your taxes collected to pay for Bonds. Every month the Bond money is used to pay the Contractor for the building. I’m sure you understand this.


Boot Hill Gaming wants to build a casino. They have the cash. Each month when Construction starts they will write a check to the Contractor. You said, “there are no bond purchasers”. Sounds good.


Then what you are saying this is so good of an investment that the BANKERS do not require any collateral, they are willing to use the people money (yours and mine) that is deposited in their Bank. Please tell me who the Bankers are because I want my money out of that type of a bank. I have never heard of such a scheme.

I agree with you, The public doesn’t have a vote (if you use Private Money) where it goes. The owner (Boot Hill Gaming) will build it where they think the best location is.

If you try to put this Casino in the Park area you might have 73 per cent of the people taking money out of your BANKS. Is that a good trade off?



Senate Bill No 66, states.

“ The power of EMINENT DOMAIN shall not be used to acquire any interest in Real Property for use in a lottery gaming enterprise”.

It also states, “ No revenue bonds, tax increment financing or similar finance shall be used to finance any part of any lottery gaming enterprise or any race track facility. No State or Local Tax abatement shall apply to any part of any lottery gaming enterprise or any racetrack gaming facility”.

Now how did you say the land would be purchased from City/County?

[Clueless]

Redhead 18 -

I think you're spinning out of control in trying to make your point. Let's look at this rationally.

First - No, your question wasn't fully answered on where the casino complex would be built. Not ignored - just not answered. From what I've learned from the gaming supporters, it probably won't be in the Wright Park area. They seem to need too much land. A final site isn't selected.

Second - I have to remind again that this is a private project. You wouldn't have a right to vote on where I want to build my house (assuming zoning is correct of course) or a restaurant, or a hotel, or a store or much of anything else. If it's an approved use for that land, I-you-all of us, have a right to go broke and the public doesn't have a vote. That sounds kind of cold, but we've got to get that clear before we go on. I'm sure you wouldn't invite a public vote on every aspect of your business - no one would.

Third - There's no mystery about Boot Hill Gaming funding the development of a casino complex. They can borrow the money or raise it through investors. Terms of the loan or capital injection is between them and the lender/provider. Again, not our business at all. You don't invite the public to go to the bank with you when you want a loan - no one would.

Fourth - Whoever builds the casino will have to buy or acquire or lease land from someone. The seller will probably be a private owner. But, it could be a municipality too. However, a municipality has to already own the land and they can't use rights of eminent domain to acquire the land for a casino. The gaming developer cannot use any form of sales tax, etc in buying the land or building the casino and no tax abatements. That's as clear as it can be. If you and Gaming both wanted to buy the same land (whether municipal or private) I would expect the seller to want the highest value, as it should be. That rule of market value shouldn't be converted into some idea of conspiracy.

Summary - our vote June 26th is on the question "Shall the Kansas Lottery be authorized to operate a lottery gaming facility in Ford County?" Yes or No. Respectfully, we all have opinions about where the complex should be built, design, size etc - and I'm sure the developer is interested learning what we think, but that's not the question on the ballot.

If we say Yes - this facility will create 700+ new jobs, pay over $3 Million in direct and property tax payments to the City and County each year and effectively lower everyone of our real property taxes. I read last week that their property tax alone would equal 700 new $100,000 houses. That's a lot of new revenue to the City and County! The casino operator will pay millions more to the State and into problem gaming fund for social programming. From what I can see, it will be a good business and re-develop our tourist and convention opportunities and allow existing and new businesses to grow and prosper.

Why do you think that this is a smokey picture?

[Bubba]

I think that a vote of NO for the casino is a vote for the DEATH of Dodge City. Dodge City is dying, with all the packing plants and the amount of water that they consume and the pollution that they create in the way of nitrates and other nasty stuff that is leaching into our groundwater. The overall condition of the city is deteriorating and the taxes for property owners is ungodly. All the "supposed" GREEN ethanol plants coming to this area to further depleting our groundwater situation, etc.

Dodge City would benefit from a nice place of entertainment that the casino, restaurant and hotel would provide. If you want to give Dodge City a chance to survive, you should vote YES for the casino. If you want Dodge City to speed down its path of death then go ahead and vote NO for the casino.

[deuce91]

I will second Bubba's post!

[TexKan]

Me too (but I ain't got a vote) I do think that some folks feel like they thought XL was gonna save DC as well. Look how that turned it - it saved it alright but at what price???? Now you are looking to save DC from what XL has wrought - sort of. Course I also wonder what kind of DC would be in exisistance today had XL not of given the shot to the economy that it did. I can remember people dancin in the street over XL.

[LordFoulsBane]

We, as citizens of Dodge City and Ford County, will only be voting on June 26th on if we will allow the Lottery Commission to operate a casino in Ford County. This is how I interpret the ballot wording. The way it seems, we allow the operation only, who builds it, where and how they aquire the land (except eminent domain) is up to the State and their rep. Im not sure if this would include is the city giving any type of tax breaks for the first few years.

Its my belief that the folks who voted for the new jail will vote for the casino. Actually, thats my hope.

Lots of good questions and answers on this thread so far. Well thought out. Thanks to ya.

P158

[MissKitty]

Deal me in for the casino.

[BroncoFan]

Originally Posted by Clueless

Redhead 18 -

I think you're spinning out of control in trying to make your point. Let's look at this rationally.

First - No, your question wasn't fully answered on where the casino complex would be built. Not ignored - just not answered. From what I've learned from the gaming supporters, it probably won't be in the Wright Park area. They seem to need too much land. A final site isn't selected.

Second - I have to remind again that this is a private project. You wouldn't have a right to vote on where I want to build my house (assuming zoning is correct of course) or a restaurant, or a hotel, or a store or much of anything else. If it's an approved use for that land, I-you-all of us, have a right to go broke and the public doesn't have a vote. That sounds kind of cold, but we've got to get that clear before we go on. I'm sure you wouldn't invite a public vote on every aspect of your business - no one would.

Third - There's no mystery about Boot Hill Gaming funding the development of a casino complex. They can borrow the money or raise it through investors. Terms of the loan or capital injection is between them and the lender/provider. Again, not our business at all. You don't invite the public to go to the bank with you when you want a loan - no one would.

Fourth - Whoever builds the casino will have to buy or acquire or lease land from someone. The seller will probably be a private owner. But, it could be a municipality too. However, a municipality has to already own the land and they can't use rights of eminent domain to acquire the land for a casino. The gaming developer cannot use any form of sales tax, etc in buying the land or building the casino and no tax abatements. That's as clear as it can be. If you and Gaming both wanted to buy the same land (whether municipal or private) I would expect the seller to want the highest value, as it should be. That rule of market value shouldn't be converted into some idea of conspiracy.

Summary - our vote June 26th is on the question "Shall the Kansas Lottery be authorized to operate a lottery gaming facility in Ford County?" Yes or No. Respectfully, we all have opinions about where the complex should be built, design, size etc - and I'm sure the developer is interested learning what we think, but that's not the question on the ballot.

If we say Yes - this facility will create 700+ new jobs, pay over $3 Million in direct and property tax payments to the City and County each year and effectively lower everyone of our real property taxes. I read last week that their property tax alone would equal 700 new $100,000 houses. That's a lot of new revenue to the City and County! The casino operator will pay millions more to the State and into problem gaming fund for social programming. From what I can see, it will be a good business and re-develop our tourist and convention opportunities and allow existing and new businesses to grow and prosper.

Why do you think that this is a smokey picture?

Well stated facts! Good information. Who really cares where the casino is built. It has nothing to do with us. Just so the location will be accessible for the droves of people coming to spend money in Dodge City!!

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Redhead 18

...(1). Location.

The people (voters) sent a mandate to the Elected Officals that 73 per cent said NO to building in the park area. Do you understand that? You did not reply to this question.
Before voting on Gambling I want to know where it will be located. Location should stand on it own merit...

I believe you are confusing the casino with the Special Event Center. The people voted that they didn't want the SEC at the park. There has never been a vote nor will there ever be a vote about the location of the casino. The only question that you get to vote on for the casino is do you want a casino in Ford County, Yes or No. No other options will be voted on.

[Mike B.]

Redhead18,

Did you or someone say Kim Goodnight was the Boot Hill gaming board, or is he on the Boot Hill board of directors? There is a difference.