Trustees Once Again Split On Bringing Video Gaming To Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — Village Board trustees once again revisited a familiar conversation last week. During a Committee of the Whole workshop April 11, the Board sought input on a draft ordinance regulating video gaming.

As in previous years, trustees seemed to be split on the discussion.

Though no vote was taken, the proposed ordinance, if passed in the future, would permit video gaming terminals in certain establishments licensed for the on-site sale and consumption of alcohol.

But not every business would qualify. Being in proximity to a church or a school, for example, would hinder a business from getting a gaming license. Gas stations, too, couldn't have gaming terminals — it wouldn't be "serving the original purpose of helping small business," Mayor John Argoudelis said.

For Trustee Patricia Kalkanis, businesses that are at a disadvantage are her first concern, she said.

"My concern is with them, the businesses that are at a disadvantage. ... I'm a little on the fence," she said. "I see the revenue — I know a lot of it does go to the country; I know we get a portion of it. Aside from that, I don't really see any other benefit."

Trustee Brian Wojowski said he fell on the same side as Kalkanis. Trustee Tom Ruane said he remains on the fence about the ordinance, voicing concern with the sound and signage.

"I'm good with the revenue of it, but I'm always cautious of the impact and the image that this type of gaming brings," Ruane said. "We spend a lot of money in our downtown, and it has a certain feel to it. ... I'm just talking about downtown right now; I'm very concerned with downtown."

As a suggestion, Ruane said one possible solution would be not to allow video gaming downtown, though he said he doesn't know if it's legal or "if it's fair or not."

Ultimately, he said he isn't fully in favor of the ordinace "unless it's truly restrictive to the nth degree."

"I'm just trying to limit the impact," he said. "I get it. People want to be entertained, and that's why I'm good for having this in ... an entertainment area, like a bar or a restaurant or something like that."

Not all were opposed, though. Trustee Harry Benton, who said he is for bringing video gaming to town partially as a way to generate money, echoed similar sentiments about Plainfield business owners. He said some people he has talked to "are pretty much begging for this" as a way to help "make them whole again" after adverse COVID-19 effects.

When introducing the topic, Village Administrator Joshua Blakemore added that some businesses in the McHenry County town where he previously worked were kept afloat, including during COVID-19, as a result of video gaming.

Argoudelis, as well, seemed to be in favor of video gaming in town. He added that the owners of Fox's Restaurant & Pub, which closed last October, told him "if they had video gaming, they'd be open today." Fox's owner had pushed for the village to allow video gaming as far back as 2013, Patch reported.

"That's where I come from," Argoudelis continued. "We'll get a little tax revenue out of it. The police department assures us they don't think it's going to be a big crime issue, but boy, it helps our small businesses."

For people concerned about the negative effects gambling can have on families, Argoudelis said while he understands the concerns, "what we do in Plainfield I don't think is going to change that" because people can instead go to neighboring towns to gamble.

"Why shouldn't we support our small businesses by allowing those who want it and are eligible under our ordinance — which is a very restrictive ordinance, and thankfully so — I don't see why they should be punished and not be allowed to find another revenue source that really helps them maybe make ends meet," Argoudelis said.

Trustees Cally Larson and Kevin M. Calkins were absent from the meeting, and Ruane voiced his hopes they'd share their opinions via email.

It's not the first time, and likely not the last, a video gaming discussion took place among Village Board trustees. In 2013, all but one trustee struck down a decision from the previous year to allow video gambling machines, citing social problems that had arisen from the terminals.

RELATED: Village of Plainfield Doubles Down on Anti-Gaming Stance

In 2017 and 2018, the conversation returned, but in the latter year, the Board voted 4-2 against video gaming, Patch reported.

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