What? Casino gambling might be coming to Ohio, and it is NOT in Cincinnati or the Ohio River area? Yep, that's right folks. Clinton County may be the home of Ohio's next casino. You heard it right, Quaker Country. Here's the scoop:WILMINGTON - The timeline for how a casino would make its way onto the state's ballot and into Clinton County was revealed Wednesday by casino developers to the Clinton County Commissioners.
With the room reaching capacity before the meeting started, people stood outside the room listening.
What they heard was a timeline, the long-awaited ballot language and an assurance that even though the decision is out of the local voters' hands, the developers will give every consideration to the public's opinions and concerns during the planning stages.
They also heard the developers would not seek any abatements or "favors."
Dr. Brad Pressman and Rick Lertzman said they would like it to be a full-scale casino with "Midwestern sensibilities."
The count starts today in Columbus as their attorney will begin the road to obtaining 1,000 petition signatures. They hope to have the petition to Attorney General Marc Dann by next week.
According to Clinton County Administrator Mark Brooker, he has engaged the county administrators in this region to conduct a social and economic impact study in response to a request from Our Clinton County Coalition, a group formed by religious organizations in the county to oppose the casino. Brooker said the first meeting for the group is this week. It includes administrators from Clinton, Highland, Greene, Fayette and Warren counties, as well as the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and representatives from the state's workforce development office.
The project will initially be a minimum of a $600 million investment, possibly burgeoning to a $1 billion investment. It will feature a hotel, several restaurants, a casino and later down the road, a golf course and other amenities. At $600 million, a similar casino would employ 5,000 permanent employees, they said, while a $1 billion investment would necessitate about 11,000 employees.
The developers said the average pay would be about $34,000.
Lertzman and Pressman said the casino operator will pay a 30 percent tax on its gross casino receipts. Of that 30 percent, 1 percent may be used to fund problem gaming and prevention and treatment programs statewide, "a reasonable amount" determined by the General Assembly to defray the expenses of operating the Gaming Regulatory Commission. Ten percent of the remaining gross casino receipts taxes would go to Clinton County as the host county. The remaining 90 percent would be distributed on a per capita basis among all 88 counties in Ohio. Clinton County also would receive its share from that 90 percent.
If voters say yes to the amendment, it would take about a year for the casino to be built.
Sounds like this could happen. I am more than willing to sign the petition. Sounds like this could be an economic coup for Clinton County, and more decent jobs created.
Why doesn't Cincinnati do something like this? Two reasons: 1. Lack of stones. 2. Mike Brown has to approve any such type of development per his agreement to keep the Bungles here. Boy, that was a great deal, wasn't it? A venue that is only used 10 times a year for a sucky football team, vs. having a casino that would be in operation and would provide jobs and tax dollars. But, what do you expect from the City Clowncil of Cincinnati?
