Looks like anybody wanting to hold on to their tax money better be at this one. Wonder how the casinos will pay for their infrastructure? Wonder where the water will come from? But, hey, with that $34 million infrastructure, we'll have the most expensive $30 million dollar events center in the country. Bonus?
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
City Commission Chambers
Monday, March 3, 2008 5:30 p.m.
MEETING #4701
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
BUSINESS
1. Review and Action on Butler National Memorandum of Understanding
Re: Butler National Casino/Event Center Proposal
2. Review and Action on Global Entertainment Consulting Agreement
Re: Special Event Center
3. Review and Action on Joint Communication Board Agreement Amendments
4. Review and Action on Dodge City Resort & Gaming Casino Endorsement Resolution
ADJOURNMENT
Our Western Heritage
Front Street, Dodge City, circa 1879
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
$34 million for casino/event center infrastructure -- a record ? -- money certainly not a problem for an actual county museum
FORD COUNTY CASINO: Dodge City Could Pay an Estimated $33,340,000, Dodge City Daily Globe, Feb. 19, 2008
First, glad that money is just not an issue for CFAB/Dodge City Commission/Ford County Commission. That is obvious, since it is a fact that they didn't like this number being added up and put in a headline.
This may be a record, right up there with the "Big Dig" -- of potentially $34 million city tax dollars spending on infrastructure for a $30 million events center. How will they divide up the cost so that no tax money goes illegally to the casino? How does that work? Or is it not of interest to CFAB to stay within that law? How does a city file for bankrupt status? Should look that up.
Of interest is the failure by CFAB or the Dodge City Commission to plan ahead on the massive cost of putting the public event center by the casino -- in either location. Somehow, this planning was avoided until this week -- and the figures, as would be expected due to locations, are very, very high. $34 million dollars is the current estimate of the cost for water, sewer, roads for the far west location. And this figure doesn't seem to include a no-doubt necessary EMT/fire station for the west location. Costs would be similar for the east location, it was said.
What is sad is that the $10 million or so needed for an actual Ford County Museum with archive has been ignored as being to expensive by the same CFAB/City/County boards. It is just history -- not the 'fun' of gambling.
That makes it clear where the priorities are -- non-productive gaming wins over protecting history for the future. Perhaps the voters will keep this in mind in questions asked of the candidates for Dodge City Commission this spring.
As one that will not go into the casino (although, due to conventions, I have been in casinos in other states more than a few times -- I don't care if people want to throw their money away -- I just don't like to watch it happening, and don't consider it "entertainment"), the massive cost to Dodge City/Ford County of the casino's need for water, et al, negates the value of having the casino here -- except for those few companies and persons building it, servicing it, et al.
Seems that the cost of the infrastructure needs to carried by the for-profit casinos, not the event center. The location of the event center should be, again, reconsidered. And since the court order makes it necessary to build it before any other use of the Why Not Dodge! money, that location will mean the difference between a few million dollars and $34 million dollars for the tax payers.
Sorry to say, property taxes will be affected no matter what is being said now -- there is not enough sales tax money on-going to cover that huge cost, and build the events center -- and certainly not to get it done for an events center before the agri expo center (when did we vote on that ?) or a water park (again, was that in the vote?), as the judge requires.
Signed: Uncle George
First, glad that money is just not an issue for CFAB/Dodge City Commission/Ford County Commission. That is obvious, since it is a fact that they didn't like this number being added up and put in a headline.
This may be a record, right up there with the "Big Dig" -- of potentially $34 million city tax dollars spending on infrastructure for a $30 million events center. How will they divide up the cost so that no tax money goes illegally to the casino? How does that work? Or is it not of interest to CFAB to stay within that law? How does a city file for bankrupt status? Should look that up.
Of interest is the failure by CFAB or the Dodge City Commission to plan ahead on the massive cost of putting the public event center by the casino -- in either location. Somehow, this planning was avoided until this week -- and the figures, as would be expected due to locations, are very, very high. $34 million dollars is the current estimate of the cost for water, sewer, roads for the far west location. And this figure doesn't seem to include a no-doubt necessary EMT/fire station for the west location. Costs would be similar for the east location, it was said.
What is sad is that the $10 million or so needed for an actual Ford County Museum with archive has been ignored as being to expensive by the same CFAB/City/County boards. It is just history -- not the 'fun' of gambling.
That makes it clear where the priorities are -- non-productive gaming wins over protecting history for the future. Perhaps the voters will keep this in mind in questions asked of the candidates for Dodge City Commission this spring.
As one that will not go into the casino (although, due to conventions, I have been in casinos in other states more than a few times -- I don't care if people want to throw their money away -- I just don't like to watch it happening, and don't consider it "entertainment"), the massive cost to Dodge City/Ford County of the casino's need for water, et al, negates the value of having the casino here -- except for those few companies and persons building it, servicing it, et al.
Seems that the cost of the infrastructure needs to carried by the for-profit casinos, not the event center. The location of the event center should be, again, reconsidered. And since the court order makes it necessary to build it before any other use of the Why Not Dodge! money, that location will mean the difference between a few million dollars and $34 million dollars for the tax payers.
Sorry to say, property taxes will be affected no matter what is being said now -- there is not enough sales tax money on-going to cover that huge cost, and build the events center -- and certainly not to get it done for an events center before the agri expo center (when did we vote on that ?) or a water park (again, was that in the vote?), as the judge requires.
Signed: Uncle George
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Ford County Casino Proposal from Dodge City Gaming Inc.
Dodge City Gaming Inc. proposal includes free land for county/city, horse barns, rodeo area, and 3 percent for non-profit tourism venues.
Endorsement Postponed: Commissioners to decide on casino endorsement at later joint city, county meeting, Dodge City Daily Globe, Jan. 23, 2008
Proposal from the Wichita-based Dodge City Gaming Inc. includes free land for the city to build our events center, something not in the current Butler Services proposal. Dodge City Gaming Inc. also welcomes horses, rodeo, the Old West. This means that a second expo center currently under discussion by CFAB would not be necessary, saving millions.
The location suggested by Dodge City Gaming Inc. is on the north east side of Dodge City, north of the highway, near Ave. P, a location that will not require a new fire/emergency building, again saving a lot of dollars for the tax payers of Ford County.
The state of Kansas will have two solid proposals for consideration, and both include money for non-profit venues, Boot Hill, et al. Guess it is a good bet, so to speak, that Ford County and Dodge City can save a lot of money by having the free land for the Events Center -- no doubt Butler can match this offer in the future.
Endorsement Postponed: Commissioners to decide on casino endorsement at later joint city, county meeting, Dodge City Daily Globe, Jan. 23, 2008
Proposal from the Wichita-based Dodge City Gaming Inc. includes free land for the city to build our events center, something not in the current Butler Services proposal. Dodge City Gaming Inc. also welcomes horses, rodeo, the Old West. This means that a second expo center currently under discussion by CFAB would not be necessary, saving millions.
The location suggested by Dodge City Gaming Inc. is on the north east side of Dodge City, north of the highway, near Ave. P, a location that will not require a new fire/emergency building, again saving a lot of dollars for the tax payers of Ford County.
The state of Kansas will have two solid proposals for consideration, and both include money for non-profit venues, Boot Hill, et al. Guess it is a good bet, so to speak, that Ford County and Dodge City can save a lot of money by having the free land for the Events Center -- no doubt Butler can match this offer in the future.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Boot Hill Museum struggles with attendance, Museum has received $775,000 in local sales tax money
stuggle
"Over the past four years, the Boot Hill Museum has received $775,000 in local sales tax money to keep it afloat, according to figures from City Hall.
"But some local officials wonder what the museum, founded in 1947 as a tribute to the heritage that has made Dodge City known throughout the world as a symbol of the Old West, has done to improve its financial viability....
"The last Kansas Humanities grant Boot Hill has applied for was a 1991 mini-grant for a one-night speaker, according to a Humanities Council database dating back to 1991...."
Boot Hill Museum struggles with attendance, Dodge City Daily Globe, January 20, 2008
It is good to finally see some public figures on Boot Hill Museum's budget -- first time for most of us, including Dodge City Commission. Thanks to Mark Vierthaler, Daily Globe reporter, for getting those facts somehow.
Time for Boot Hill to actually reach out to the community, become transparent in their operation, and get going on fund raising, grant applications, advice gathering from state and national museum professionals in Dodge City -- all normal for every successful museum.
[Important note: the figures on historical attendance have grown and grown over the years -- no actual solid figures exist. Urban legend would indicate a few hundred thousand per year in the 1960s, but the 300,000 figures for later decades are not to be believed, and are not fair to the current management of Boot Hill Museum Inc.]
Signed: Uncle George
"Over the past four years, the Boot Hill Museum has received $775,000 in local sales tax money to keep it afloat, according to figures from City Hall.
"But some local officials wonder what the museum, founded in 1947 as a tribute to the heritage that has made Dodge City known throughout the world as a symbol of the Old West, has done to improve its financial viability....
"The last Kansas Humanities grant Boot Hill has applied for was a 1991 mini-grant for a one-night speaker, according to a Humanities Council database dating back to 1991...."
Boot Hill Museum struggles with attendance, Dodge City Daily Globe, January 20, 2008
It is good to finally see some public figures on Boot Hill Museum's budget -- first time for most of us, including Dodge City Commission. Thanks to Mark Vierthaler, Daily Globe reporter, for getting those facts somehow.
Time for Boot Hill to actually reach out to the community, become transparent in their operation, and get going on fund raising, grant applications, advice gathering from state and national museum professionals in Dodge City -- all normal for every successful museum.
[Important note: the figures on historical attendance have grown and grown over the years -- no actual solid figures exist. Urban legend would indicate a few hundred thousand per year in the 1960s, but the 300,000 figures for later decades are not to be believed, and are not fair to the current management of Boot Hill Museum Inc.]
Signed: Uncle George
Friday, January 11, 2008
Gambling decisions are ‘not for sale’
Gambling decisions are ‘not for sale,’ leader says, Lawrence Journal-World, Jan. 11, 2008
And that should be interesting for us all to learn from in Western Kansas, don't you think....
Stephen Martino, executive director of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, also says that nothing would be left to chance in the process for choosing precisely which companies will get the exclusive contracts to build, develop and operate such state-sponsored gambling centers.
“This process is not for sale,” Martino said. “It’s going to be squeaky clean.”
And that should be interesting for us all to learn from in Western Kansas, don't you think....
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Dodge City Casino: Third applicant - Epic Gaming, Las Vegas
Update 07 January 2008: Kansas Lottery Commission voted unanimously to deny Ford County Commission's request for extension which would have enabled Epic Gaming's application to be accepted.
Casino developer asks county for extension, Dodge City Daily Globe, Dec. 29
"A developer who missed the deadline to file an application with the Kansas Gaming Commission to build a casino in Ford County is now requesting an extension. The Las Vegas-based company Epic Gaming asked the Ford County Board of Commission on Friday to petition the Gaming Commission for an extension, and the commissioners agreed.
"They had the application physically on the premises, but the Lottery Commission didn't feel like they could receive it because it was shortly after 5 o'clock," said Dave Snapp, a Dodge City attorney representing Epic Gaming. "Of course, we think it's in the best interest of the public that you look at all qualified proposals...."
Surprised that the Ford County Commission could have an unannounced meeting for this approval? Always thought that would take an emergency? Means none of the applicants can be turned down by Ford County/Dodge City Commissions, that's for sure.
And now, really, no Event Center can be built until location of the casino is known -- or we build the smaller version down south by race track. Glad that CFAB is thinking about a more affordable Events Center, something under $10 million or so. Then we won't need the sales tax anymore.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Second Dodge City casino application: Dodge City Resort and Gaming Co
Lottery receives second Dodge City casino application, Hutchinson News, Dec. 27, 2007
"Dodge City Resort and Gaming Co., based in Wichita, was the second applicant to beat Wednesday's deadline for submitting a Ford County gambling proposal to the Kansas Lottery. It will compete with Butler National Service Corp., of Olathe, for a contract to build and manage the casino for the Lottery.
"The new applicant's president is Steve Joseph, a Wichita attorney who also is representing prospective developers of a Sumner County casino. He said he had caught "green felt fever" and believes Dodge City can develop into a tourism destination like Branson, Mo.
"To me, the best place to do this is Dodge City," Joseph said during a telephone interview. "It's a brand name."
"Dodge City Resort and Gaming Co., based in Wichita, was the second applicant to beat Wednesday's deadline for submitting a Ford County gambling proposal to the Kansas Lottery. It will compete with Butler National Service Corp., of Olathe, for a contract to build and manage the casino for the Lottery.
"The new applicant's president is Steve Joseph, a Wichita attorney who also is representing prospective developers of a Sumner County casino. He said he had caught "green felt fever" and believes Dodge City can develop into a tourism destination like Branson, Mo.
"To me, the best place to do this is Dodge City," Joseph said during a telephone interview. "It's a brand name."
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