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Davenport casino awaits approval
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By Stephen Elliott selliott@qconline.com
By Stephen Elliott selliott@qconline.com
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Davenport city administrator Craig Malin suggested Thursday that the city council not express a preference when evaluating three multi-million-dollar casino development proposals for a land-based, city-owned casino. Mr. Malin was briefing fellow Davenport Community Improvement Corporation members on upcoming casino-related events. Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba appointed the seven-member nonprofit DCIC board — with city council approval — in November. The DCIC board will oversee casino operations if the city goes through with plans for a new land-based casino. Davenport has proposed buying the Rhythm City Casino from Isle of Capri for $46 million and moving it off the river to a location yet to be determined. The Davenport City Council, Riverboat Development Authority and Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission all must approve the proposal before it can move forward. Three casino developer proposals will be reviewed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, at the River Music Experience. It's open to the public. Proposals that made the Dec. 20 city deadline came from Restoration St. Louis, of St. Louis, Mo.; Ingenus Managment/Consulting, of Brainerd, Minn. and Atrium Holding Company, of Alpharetta, Ga. The DCIC board will be part of a 17-member interview panel that includes Mayor Gluba, aldermen, RDA members, consultants and a representative from the Quad-Cities Chamber of Commerce. "My suggestion for my bosses (city council) is that they do not focus on one clear winner," Mr. Malin said Thursday. "And, they don't express a preference. Then, you're putting yourself in a marginalizing negotiating position.We have three excellent proposals." Mr. Malin said a developer could be picked by the end of February. At the beginning of Thursday's DCIC meeting, Mr. Malin said he didn't want to chair the meetings, and suggested that DCIC member Kelli Grubbs, a Davenport attorney and businesswoman, chair the meetings. The board approved his recommendation. During the board's first meeting in December, Ms. Grubbs suggested the DCIC hire two additional members — with business and financial experience — creating a nine-member board. "This is a huge commitment for the city to ask of the taxpayers," Ms. Grubbs said after the meeting."If we're doing that, the most important thing we can do is find people with good financial experience to be on the board to analyze what the proposals are and to be capable of raising red flags." DCIC member and RDA president Mary Ellen Chamberlin said the city has been generous in its dealings with the RDA, which receives 4.1 percent of the Rhythm City's adjusted gross revenue and no less than $2 million annually in its contract with the Isle of Capri. Since 1991, the RDA has awarded more than $53 million of those casino gaming receipts to community organizations and projects throughout the Quad-Cities, through grants. Declining revenues have made the $2 million minimum the norm in recent years, Ms. Chamberlin has said. Mr. Malin has said the city estimates a city-owned, land-based casino would generate about $3.85 million annually for the RDA, which holds the gaming license. However, there still are concerns about whether the RDA will approve the city's proposal. The 12-member RDA board has not voted on granting the gaming license yet for a new casino. "We (RDA) would be very hard put to say we could get the same amount of money from a private developer," Ms. Chamberlin said. "From the perspective of the RDA, this has been a very generous proposal." "I hope it will be approved by the board," she said. "Their (RDA) question is more along the line of, 'should we do it?' than problems with the contract" proposal. DCIC member and Ald. Jeff Justin, 3rd Ward, told Ms. Chamberlin that, "from the city's perspective, we can't get there without your support." "If there is a schism, it's not over the terms of this contract," Ms. Chamberlin said. "I'm not sure what it is." The DCIC plans to meet again on Jan. 24 and hopes to appoint the two new members. Those plans are pending city council approval, which could come at the council's Jan. 23 meeting. 
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Today is Sunday, May 26, the 146th day of 2013. There are 219 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: The information called for in yesterday's Argus, in relation to thechild abandoned in Moline, by its mother two years ago, was furnished us last evening.The child was found by a Swede and has been kindly cared for.
1888 -- 125 years ago: The annual review and inspection of the Rock Island volunteerfire department took place today, and there will be a firemen's ball tonight.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Captain H.F. Young, former Mississippi river pilot, and T.W.Chapman left Rock Island today for Alaska to enter river service there.
1938 -- 75 years ago: Poppies were blooming today at the headquarters of the Rock Islandunit of the American Legion auxiliary at the Y.M.C.A. as the little red memorial flowers, which the people of Rock Island will wear in honor of veterans.
1963 -- 50 years ago: One hundred and fifty of the best show horses in Illinois and Iowaare expected to compete tomorrow for some $500 in trophies, ribbons and prize money inthe first major horse show of the season.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Moline Public Hospital presented blue ribbons to the winnersof a recent poster contest, held in conjunction with National Hospital Week. Utilizingthe theme of "You're Our Specialty," the following were grand prize winners: MindyBenson, Moline; Thao Dang, Moline; Gared Laux, Moline; John Murphy, Rock Island;Justin Pulford and Bennie Jo Starkey, Moline.
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