City council denies gaming, again
BY RICK HAYES
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Despite a presentation by Mayor Fred Kondritz on the economic advantages of providing gaming opportunities in the city of Benton, the city council last night once again rejected the idea of allowing pour licenses to businesses for that purpose.
Using visual aids to make his point, Kondritz said the city's return on investment can come in three forms: monetary value, service value and pleasure value. The constant monetary cash flow can come through gaming. He described it as the golden egg on investment.
"When you pass it up, it's monetary insanity," he said.
When the matter was brought up for action, Councilman Donald Storey made the motion to allow for three pour licenses, which would allow local businesses to provide gaming opportunities. No other councilmen seconded the motion or offered any comment for their opposition.
Kondritz's presentation followed a proposal from Todd Jenney, chief executive officer of Huck's, who said they needed a pour license to offer gaming at their location at the intersection of Illinois 14 and 37. Jenney said the parent company, Martin and Bayley, has property to the rear of its present location that could be expanded.
He said the company has 15 sites in Southern Illinois that offer gaming opportunities -- one as close as Christopher. He said the lowest revenue site took in $23,000 last year, all free and clear income for the city. He said those revenues could go as high as $50,000, depending on location.
"It's a good revenue source for the city and increased revenue from purchases made by those visiting the stores," Jenney said.
He also shot down the theory that it would hurt local fraternal organizations, noting one Benton fraternal organization took in $14,000 last year.
This is the second time in the past year or so the city council has voted against pour licenses for gaming. K&M Liquors proposed a pour license for gaming at a location near its package store on Illinois 37 North.
"Our neighbors to the west are beating us up (on this)," Kondritz concluded.
West City village officials recently approved a pour license for a Mach 1 convenience store located at the corner of Illinois 14 and North Central Street.
Prior to the council meeting, about 15 community members attended a town hall meeting. Southern Illinois Municipal Electric Company (SIMEC) president Reg Ankrom explained the city's electric aggregation program. SIMEC is offering electric rates to residential customers through Homefield Energy at a rate of 6.285 cents per kilowatt hour beginning in June. Residents who do not wish to participate in the program can opt out.
Benton council denies gaming, again
Posted on 4/25/2017, 5:00 AM
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