A news release from Capitol Beat News Service issued on Feb. 5, has caused quite an uproar after it showed a conceptual rendering of a casino site at Islands Highway on the east side of the I-95 exit corridor.
Rick Lackey, founder of Atlanta-based City Commercial Real Estate presented three drawings shoeing sites he is proposing as viable future casino locations, one being in Liberty County.
The Facebook posts went viral within minutes with many people expressing their opposition to the proposed location noting it would increase crime and traffic, especially for folks living in East Liberty County like Sunbury, Colonel’s Island and Yellow Bluff.Rep.
Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, introduced H.B. 30 which would allow for a proposed amendment to the Constitution to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for the local authorization of a limited number of licensed destination resort casinos within the state.
This amendment would allow for local control as to whether citizens want such a facility in their area and allow the state to control the number of such facilities as to prevent our cities from being a Vegas-like show place disturbing our natural integrity.
According to Capitol Beat News Service, supporters of legalizing casino gambling in Georgia have failed to make headway in the General Assembly year after year for the last decade amid intense opposition from religious conservatives.
But due to loss of jobs and income this past year due to the pandemic Lackey said Georgia’s economic plight makes this year different.
Supporters of legalized gambling have heavily promoted the sites in Lavonia, Columbus and Midway. According to the article, City councils in all three communities have endorsed putting resort casinos in their midst.
However local leaders want the public to know the drawing, for now, is just that – a drawing.
Liberty County Administrator Joey Brown said the first time he saw the concept drawing was when he read the Capitol News Service Article, written by Dave Williams.
“The rendering, nor it’s specifics, have been on any Commission agenda,” Brown said.
“This conceptual site layout shown in this publication includes 4 parcels totaling 190 acres,” Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission Executive Director Jeff Ricketson said. “The 17 acres closest to the interchange are in the City of Midway. The entire site is owned by Laurel View Properties LLC (Loretta Cockrum). This site has had a number of lookers over the years. It doesn’t surprise me that casino proponents are floating it. It certainly has a lot of advantages. Neither the Planning Commission nor the City of Midway nor the Liberty County Board of Commissioners have been presented with this conceptual layout.”
Ricketson said if the site was selected, zoning approval would be required from the City of Midway and Liberty County. Additionally, water and sewer infrastructure would have to be extended by the City of Midway and/or the Liberty County Development Authority.
Brown said the only action taken by the Board of Commissioners in reference to the matter, to date, was adopting a Resolution encouraging the State to allow the citizens the right to vote on it in a Statewide referendum. The Resolution did not identify Liberty County as a specific site, Brown said.
Local officials say a potential casino within Liberty County does have its plus side.
“It would be a wonderful opportunity for Liberty County,” Liberty County Development Authority Director Ron Tolley said. “If the legislation is approved and the voters approve statewide, Liberty County should work strenuously to pass it locally and secure a location for it in Liberty County. It would be a real economic generator of jobs with benefits, new payrolls, and new tax revenues for the county.”
Liberty County Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Leah Poole said it would boost tourism in our area.
“I would add that the pros would also include an increase in tourism in our community,” she said. “If handled correctly, this could really help our local historic sites by bringing more eyes, interest and funding to their front doors.
Poole and Brown said the community would benefit from an increase in revenue from sales tax, jobs, and development which could possibly be used to offset property taxes.
State Representative Al Williams (D-Midway) who supports HB 30 has said legalization of casino gambling could fund a 30 percent cut in property taxes.
Williams told a local news station that casinos could generate revenue of taxes between $3-5 million for Georgia.
“This is the only major industry we’ll ever be able to recruit that is not asking for tax abatement, they’re not asking for us to give them land,” he said. “They’re not asking for anything. They’re just bringing 800-1,200 permanent jobs with an average income of $42,000 a year plus benefits.”
Lackey said the planned casino site in Midway is a perfect spot being that it is near to where up to five million people live within a two-hour drive.
“It’s basically suburban Savannah,” Lackey said.
The House has yet to hold a hearing on House Resolution 30.
Read the previous article here: https://coastalcourier.com/news/proposed-casino-sites-add-meat-case-legalized-gambling/