(File photo from Flickr/roundnoon)
By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner will not veto recent city council action extending the freeze on new video gaming machines in the city to give aldermen more time to examine video gaming’s impact on the community.
Renner said he considered a veto because he didn’t want to leave in limbo businesses requesting additional gaming terminals. The mayor said some real estate deals are also on hold awaiting council action.
“I’m not a gambler, but I now that it has economic development implications for the sale of property, and for businesses, and for jobs in our community. That’s why I was opposed to the extension,” said Renner.
The council two weeks ago voted 5-4 on lengthening the one-year ban to September 1 instead of April 9. Alderman Kimberly Bray wants city staffers to study the impact of video gaming, especially if state lawmakers approve sports betting and recreational use of marijuana.
Renner is fine with giving staffers a few months to come up with possible video gaming regulations.
“I’ve got assurances from the council, as well as from the city manager that we can get our work done on this temporary extension of the moratorium through late June or early July. That would have been my goal. My goal would have been to try to not keep as many businesses in limbo as we move forward,” the mayor also said.
The city council Monday night will decide whether to allow fraternal groups to receive video gaming licenses while the temporary ban is in place. City leaders say the Knights of Columbus wants video gaming, but the organization’s plans have been on hold during the moratorium.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
