To The Editor: Plenty Of Reasons To Oppose An Osage Nation Casino At Lake Of The Ozarks

My name is Bob Thomas, the Indian casino idea at the Lake has spurred many different voices, I would like to share my voice. I am opposed to the project, will share my reasons below as well as my credentials and experience.

The biggest impact a casino brings to the Lake is a huge culture change. The community of the Lake since Bagnell Dam was built has worked very hard for 90 years to build this community culture which will be permanently changed into a gambling city, gaming destination, and all the negative social elements that follow.

READER POLL: Do you like the idea of a casino at Lake of the Ozarks?

Editor's note: this poll was originally published in Dec. 2021.

Yes, but ONLY an Osage Nation casino

Yes, but NOT an Osage Nation casino

Yes, I support both proposed casinos

Did you know:

• The casino will pay no sales tax to the city.

• The city will likely not receive any positive fiscal impact from the casino.

• Most casino projects require a “concession” from the city for the privilege of having the casino in their town. This will cost the city.

• The casino will NOT have to do an Environment Impact report, (EIR). An EIR is a process of assessing environmental impacts a proposed project will create on the environment and local community. Categories studied include Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Fiscal, Libraries, Parks and Recreation, Police, Schools, Sewer, Traffic, Water. No studies will be done.

Federal government controlled:

• The reason there will be no EIR, the federal government is giving the Osage Nation $60,000,000 to purchase all the assets, with the Osage Nation generating huge profits with no liability. The federal government will not govern or monitor their own project.

• All local controls will be gone. If the casino wants to build a parking structure that is 25% over the height limit in the city, they just build it.

• Traffic will not be studied. Roads, intersections have a rating system called LOS (Level of Service). LOS A (best road) to LOS F (worse road). This measures the number of vehicles on a road during certain times of the day. Can you image business 54 by Big Thunder business with 3 times the number of vehicles it was designed for? Or how about business 54 and highway 54 with 3 times the vehicles it was designed for that intersection?

Economics:

• Where is the casino workforce going to come from? The Lake community is already struggling with a shortage of labor which will last into the foreseeable future as the workforce nationally finds its new normal.

• What about workforce housing? Where will employees live?

• I have experienced this next point several times, I want to get across the concept, if 75% of the Lake labor force is making between $12.00-$18.00 an hour, the casino will pay $23.00 to $25.00 an hour.

I am Bob Thomas; I live at the Lake with my wife Dee from May-Sept. each year at The Willows, 1MM, rest of the time we live in San Diego, CA

Cell: 619-203-8604

I am a member of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, BDSA and volunteer at Hope House.

In San Diego County there are at least 6 Indian gambling casinos that have cropped up over the past 10-40 years. As a former planning commissioner from a neighboring City, I believe I have experience to share.

Experience

Former Chairman of the Chula Vista Planning Commission, Chula Vista, CA, population at time of serving, 200,000 residents.

Former Chairman of the Safety Commission dealing with traffic and all aspects of vehicles; traffic; speed limits, left turn lanes, parking, safe route to schools.

Former member of GMOC (Growth Management Oversight Commission).

• Purpose of GMOC, the commission monitors the EIR of a project and helps the city stay on target.