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Three Fort Smith directors support a possible riverfront casino, while other board members said it’s too early to take a position on the matter.
Bennie Westphal, chief executive officer of The Westphal Group investment company, has sold 10 acres north of the River Park events building to the United Keetoowah Band, where the tribe wants to build a casino.
With the casino as a development anchor, Westphal would like to see buildings for residential living, museums and retail in the remaining 65 acres his company owns around it on the riverfront.
But before the Keetoowah could build or operate a casino, the Bureau of Indian Affairs must approve the tribe’s application to put the land in trust and the tribe must receive permission from the National Indian Gaming Commission to operate a casino.
At-Large Director Ben Shipley said it is premature to take a position until and if the BIA agrees to put the land in trust, which he doesn’t believe will happen. Shipley said he would start out with a bias against the project, but would listen to a formal proposal from Westphal and the tribe if the trust application is approved.
Like Shipley, At-Large Director Gary Campbell said he has not taken a position on the matter and the need for the board to discuss a proposed casino is “down the road.” Campbell said residents who support or oppose the proposed casino should contact the state’s congressional delegation, who have direct contact with the BIA.
Ward 2 Director Velvet Medlock, Ward 3 Director Rick Parrish and Ward 4 Director Bill Maddox, who support the proposed casino, said the opposition won’t prevent gambling, because casino gambling is already here.
Medlock said a drive through casino parking lots in Roland and Pocola will reveal that at least 75 percent of the vehicles have Arkansas license plates.
While Medlock supports the proposed casino, her support comes with two caveats.
She will not support a stand-alone casino; there must be the surrounding development proposed by Westphal. And the tribe must agree to pay the city a defined percentage of the casino revenue, Medlock said.
“Casino gambling is already here (in Oklahoma), we just don’t receive any of the benefits,” Medlock said.
If not for pre-existing casinos in Pocola and Roland, Maddox concedes he wouldn’t support a casino in Fort Smith.
But if Fort Smith and Sebastian County are going to support casinos in Oklahoma, Maddox said, Fort Smith should get some of the jobs and financial benefits of a casino.
His support, like Medlock’s, also requires the tribe provide a direct financial benefit to the city, Maddox said.
Parrish echoed the sentiment of Maddox and Medlock.
Ward 1 Director Ken Pyle had no comment and At-Large Director Cole Goodman could not be reached for comment. |
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