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Huntington hopes casinos
will help city's financial ills
By The Associated Press
HUNTINGTON -- Huntington's leaders are betting that casino gambling can help save the Ohio River city from its growing financial problems.
Councilman Jim Insco has proposed a resolution to be considered Monday that would support a casino in downtown Huntington. If the resolution passes, the issue would then go to the Cabell County Commission, which could place a referendum on the November general election ballot.
In 1999, state lawmakers passed legislation that allowed Greenbrier County voters to decided whether to allow The Greenbrier resort to open a casino in a former bunker.
Insco said he believes Cabell County voters can use the same law to approve a casino in the Frederick Building or some other downtown building.
Under state law:
The gaming facilities must be located within an existing historic resort hotel that has at least 500 rooms.
The hotel must be registered with the U.S. Department of the Interior as a national historic landmark under its national registry of historic places.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission is permitted to issue only one license to one gaming facility.
The hotel must obtain the approval of county voters before the casino can open.
The hotel must include "substantial" guest amenities in addition to the casino.
Only overnight hotel guests would be able to use the casino.
Mayor David Felinton said a local businessman contacted him Thursday about renovating property he owns so that a casino could be built in the downtown area under the current law. Felinton declined to say who the businessman was.
In March, City Council ordered Felinton to address a $900,000 deficit predicted for the fiscal year that ended June 30 and to balance the current budget. Final figures for the past fiscal year won't be available until the end of July.
At least 16 police and four administrative positions were cut July 1.
City Council has reject a proposal that would have cut spending by $1.5 million as too severe.
will help city's financial ills
By The Associated Press
HUNTINGTON -- Huntington's leaders are betting that casino gambling can help save the Ohio River city from its growing financial problems.
Councilman Jim Insco has proposed a resolution to be considered Monday that would support a casino in downtown Huntington. If the resolution passes, the issue would then go to the Cabell County Commission, which could place a referendum on the November general election ballot.
In 1999, state lawmakers passed legislation that allowed Greenbrier County voters to decided whether to allow The Greenbrier resort to open a casino in a former bunker.
Insco said he believes Cabell County voters can use the same law to approve a casino in the Frederick Building or some other downtown building.
Under state law:
The gaming facilities must be located within an existing historic resort hotel that has at least 500 rooms.
The hotel must be registered with the U.S. Department of the Interior as a national historic landmark under its national registry of historic places.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission is permitted to issue only one license to one gaming facility.
The hotel must obtain the approval of county voters before the casino can open.
The hotel must include "substantial" guest amenities in addition to the casino.
Only overnight hotel guests would be able to use the casino.
Mayor David Felinton said a local businessman contacted him Thursday about renovating property he owns so that a casino could be built in the downtown area under the current law. Felinton declined to say who the businessman was.
In March, City Council ordered Felinton to address a $900,000 deficit predicted for the fiscal year that ended June 30 and to balance the current budget. Final figures for the past fiscal year won't be available until the end of July.
At least 16 police and four administrative positions were cut July 1.
City Council has reject a proposal that would have cut spending by $1.5 million as too severe.