Dozens Turn Out to Tell Ankeny City Council a Casino Is a Bad Fit for Town

Most of those in an overflow crowd at Monday’s Ankeny City Council meeting were opposed to plans announced last week to build a casino on the north side of the city, with speakers saying the venue would bring more crime and traffic to town.

As people spilled out into the hallway at the start of the meeting, Mayor Steve Van Oort asked, “How many people are here to speak to the council about the casino?” Dozens of hands shot into the air, joined by dozens more after he followed up by asking how many gathered oppose the project.

In all, 21 community members spoke to the council about an agreement to help Wild Rose Entertainment LLC, a company proposing a $150-million casino and entertainment venue near the interchange of Interstate 35 and Northeast 36^th Street. Under the agreement approved at last week's council meeting, Wild Rose agrees not to seek a state casino permit in Polk, Dallas, Jasper, Story or Warren counties and the city agrees not to work with any other entity wanting to operate a gambling establishment in those counties.

The company is led by West Des Moines businessman Gary Kirke, who had earlier proposed a casino in Urbandale; it was roundly criticized in the community and plans shelved.

Only three of the night’s speakers spoke in total support of the casino. Most, like Jodi Ahlman, spoke in strong opposition to the development.

“You can bring business into the area, but it must be business that fits with the community,” she told the council.

Ahlman’s concerns about the harm the casino would have on the community’s character were echoed several times by other speakers, many of whom also cited an increase in crime, disruption of now-peaceful neighborhoods and misgivings about the economic growth Wild Rose has stated the project could bring.

That potential for economic development is why Robert Terrell said he supports the project.

“It is going to spur growth in this town,” he said. The 55-year Ankeny resident said the proposed casino should be put to a vote by Ankeny residents, who Terrell said should push to use the revenues brought by the casino for property tax relief.

But several residents of the Briar Creek neighborhood, just a few blocks from the proposed casino’s location, said they’re skeptical of the revenue and positive economic impact being advertised. Even more important, they said, is that they just don’t want a casino in their backyard.

Kurt Bogseth said he and his wife, Kristi, moved to their current house to avoid the problems that often arise near bars and casinos.

“This is six blocks from a densely populated and still-growing neighborhood,” he said. “I’m all for taking risks, but not with uncalculated rewards.”

His neighbor, Brett Stewart, is also unconvinced. “There’s all those hidden costs,” he said. “There needs to be a non-developer study on this.”

The Bogseths and the Stewarts said they were surprised more of their neighbors weren’t at the meeting, but many Ankeny residents are making their voices heard on the topic. Beyond the estimated 130 attendees at the council’s meeting, council member Bobbi Bentz said she’s been keeping track of the comments she receives pertaining to the casino. So far, she’s counted 125 emails, 12 phone calls, 20 in-person statements and two letters, in addition to comments on social media. Of all those, she said, only four were in favor of the project.

But council member Jim McKenna said he’d been receiving a significant amount of positive feedback, and he emphasized the importance of allowing the discussion to continue.

“I’ve been telling everyone the same thing I’ve said from day one, “ he told the council. “This is a democratic process I would like to see go through. … I’d like to see everyone who wishes to weigh in.”

The City of Ankeny website has set up a Frequently Asked Questions section regarding the casino, and council members urged those gathered to use the site to find information and to submit additional questions.