The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will be in Jefferson Thursday, May 29, for a site visit and a public forum regarding the application of Grow Greene County Gaming Corp and Wild Rose Entertainment for a gaming license.
The five members of the IRGC will arrive in Jefferson at about 10 am. They’ll take a tour around town, see the proposed casino site at the intersection of Highways 4 and 30, and finish the tour at the top of the Mahanay Bell Tower.
Grow Greene County organizers have planned a free community barbecue on the east side of the courthouse to begin at 10:45 am. The Greene County Cattlemen and the Pork Producers will man the grills, cooking burgers of both varieties. At the barbecue, Grow Greene County will also give away green T-shirts to casino supporters. “We’re hoping that when the Racing and Gaming Commission folks look down from the top of the tower they’ll see a sea of green, a sea of supporters for the casino,” said Grow Greene County member Guy Richardson.
The public forum is scheduled for the Sierra Community Theatre beginning at 12:30 pm. Doors will open at noon. All are welcome to speak at the public forum, and organizers know already that representatives of Prairie Meadows and the city of Fort Dodge plan to speak in opposition to the proposed casino. All those who intend to speak must sign in before the forum begins. Individuals will have a three minute time limit. Groups will be limited to five minutes and those from the gaming industry will have 10 minutes to speak.
According to Richardson, the forum will continue until all those who have signed in have had a chance to speak. The forum held in Cedar Rapids in March regarding the proposed Cedar Crossing casino lasted four hours, he said. “It’s the Racing and Gaming Commission’s event. They will control how it goes,” he said.
The forum in not a question-and-answer session, nor will there be a prepared presentation.
The IRGC will leave Jefferson after the public forum. The commission meets Thursday, June 12, at Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington, and will make a decision at that meeting.
