(ANGOLA) - Another public meeting in Steuben County ended Wednesday night with no new information about the casino effort voters are being asked to decide in November.
The casino issue came up briefly during the Steuben County Plan Commission meeting, but the commission did not hear a presentation.
Plan Commission member Jim Slaybaugh noted that some people in the audience appeared to expect a different discussion. He asked for clarification about what the commission was discussing.
Plan Commission President Karen DeForest said the commission would not hear presentations that night. She said the issue could possibly be placed on a future agenda, but not Wednesday night.
Realtor Mark Hansbarger was at the meeting. He has publicly discussed a possible resort and casino concept at Walters Lake west of Fremont.
Hansbarger was prepared to talk about his client's idea. He also had zoning overlay information.
The commission did not hear his presentation.
Attorney Don Stuckey said the Plan Commission could discuss a potential casino ordinance or overlay district. But he said general information about the casino itself was not a Plan Commission issue.
Board member Colt Ridenour also asked about the timeline. He asked when the commission would start getting information about what some of that might look like.
Board member and Steuben County Commissioner Andy Laughlin said there was no new news.
Christina Cress said that is the purpose of the commission's subcommittees. She said the subcommittees are researching issues and deciding what recommendations should be made to the full Plan Commission.
The commission kept the discussion narrow. It did not take up a casino ordinance, overlay district or moratorium.
Timeline After The Vote
County officials have repeatedly said a casino cannot happen unless Steuben County voters approve the referendum.
That is true. But it is not the whole story.
The referendum is November 3.
If voters say yes, Steuben County would have until December 1 to submit an application to the Indiana Gaming Commission.
That is less than one month.
The Gaming Commission would then have to make applications public and prepare its assessment by January 15.
A final decision would be due by April 15.
Under the state casino language, an application would have to include a commitment and plan for at least $500 million in casino and non-gaming development.
That money would come from a casino applicant or developer, not county government.
But the tight state timeline means planning could not realistically wait until after the referendum.
Voters' Questions
Steuben County voters will go to the polls in November to decide yes or no on the casino question.
Currently, they are being asked to vote yes or no without knowing any of the following:
- Where a casino would go
- Who the applicant or developer would be
- How large the project would be
- What zoning changes would be needed
- What roads, utilities or public safety services would be affected
- Who would pay for local upgrades
- What protections would be in place for taxpayers and nearby residents
- What work is already being done now to prepare for the December 1 state deadline
Wednesday night's meeting did not offer any new casino information.
For now, all voters know for sure is that there will be a yes-or-no referendum when they go to the polls November 3rd.
But voters on both sides are still being asked to make that decision with only broad information about what a casino project could involve.
A voter leaning yes still does not know whether the details would strengthen that support or raise new concerns.
A voter leaning no still does not know whether the details would confirm that opposition or change the way they see the project.
The referendum will ask voters to decide if Steuben County should be eligible for a casino.
As of now, voters still do not have formal answers about the casino effort itself.