Ankeny Residents Plan Petition Drive to Oppose $150 Million Casino

Residents have begun a petition drive against plans to build a casino in Ankeny, reports KCCI.com.

About 40 people gathered at Kirkendall Public Library Monday to begin their drive for 6,600 signatures.

Ankeny resident Mike Meyerring told KCCI the group's members know the petition would have no binding effect on the City Council.

On Oct. 29 the council agreed to support efforts by Wild Rose Entertainment to acquire a state license for an Ankeny casino. The $150 million casino project would be built near the new 36th Street interchange on Interstate 35 in Ankeny.

The project is estimated to create 600 full-time equivalent jobs and generate $8 million in property tax and other annual revenue for the city, according to the Des Moines Register.

The project could come to the Ankeny Plan and Zoning meeting on Dec. 4.

Wild Rose officials would have to request rezoning of the area of the proposed project by Friday to be on the Dec. 4 agenda, Deb Dyar, public relations officer for the city, told the newspaper.

No request has been filed. Jamie Buelt, a spokeswoman for Wild Rose, would not tell the Register if the company planned to make Friday’s deadline.

The casino opponents also decided Monday to have an anti-casino representative at every City Council meeting.

Council members Bobbi Bentz and Mark Holm -- who have spoken out against the casino proposal -- attended Monday's gathering.