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Business Commissioners Unanimously Vote for Casino

Central Business Improvement District commissioners on Thursday unanimously voted to recommend the Forth Smith Board of Directors support the United Keetoowah Band's effort to build a casino and hotel along the Arkansas River.

The tribe has made application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place the land in trust. That must be generated by the BIA before tribe can seek permission from the National Indian Gaming Commission to operate a casino.

The vote came after a presentation by Commission Bennie Westphal, chief executive officer of The Westphal Group Investment company, which sold the property where the proposed casino would be located to the Keetoowah Band.

The proposed casino already has drawn interest from other investors who are considering developing along the river, Westphal said.

Richard Griffin, commission member, wanted to know what kind of gaming would be offered by the casino. Westphal said it would offer slot machines and simulcast wagering, but no card games.

Commissioners Griffin, Sam Sicard, Carl Corley and Birnie Pryor all voted to recommend the board support the casino development, while Westphal abstained from the vote. Westphal said the tribe will propose paying the city 7.5 percent of the casino's net profit.

Ward 2 Director Velvet Medlock, Ward 3 Director Rick Parrish and Ward 4 Director Bill Maddox previously have said they would support the proposed casino under specific conditions.