New Jefferson County commissioner opposes casino

BARNHART, Mo. -- True to his campaign pledge, Jefferson County's incoming presiding commissioner says he'll work to make sure any proposed casino in this community would be anything but a sure bet.

The Missouri Gaming Commission in June voted to consider another St. Louis-area casino. An economic analysis showed that the market could support another riverboat, notably in the region's untapped, southern portion that includes Jefferson County.

The commission plans to start reviewing proposals early next year.

But Mark Mertens, who takes office next month after having unseated incumbent commissioner Sam Rauls, said he opposes casino gambling, believing it promotes addiction and would draw crime to the county south of St. Louis.

To Mertens, the county could do more to attract other businesses to boost its revenue. And he believes the 260-acre quarry property, where Rivera Holdings Corp. wants to build a $150 million casino and entertainment complex, would be suited for a shopping center.

But Mertens' fellow commissioners -- Ed Kemp and Pat Lamping -- have backed Riviera Holdings' plans. Argosy Gaming Co. of Alton, Ill., Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. of Biloxi, Miss., and others have proposed rival projects in south St. Louis County.

"Mark's opposition is well-known," Lamping said. "The issue at this point is before the Missouri Gaming Commission."

Jim Oberkirsch, the gaming commission's chief financial analyst, said regulators will consider Mertens' opposition to the Riviera project when they take up the various proposals.

"Local support is one of the many criteria," Oberkirsch said. "It will undoubtedly have an effect, but it isn't necessarily a death knell."

The issue may be moot in the short term, Oberkirsch said, because regulators now are focused on the Admiral casino in downtown St. Louis. That casino's parent company, President Casinos Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection in June.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has urged the gaming commission to award a second license for the downtown riverfront if President Casinos doesn't upgrade its Laclede's Landing operation.

All of that will have to play out, Oberkirsch said, before other license applications can be considered.

Riviera estimates that if approved, the company's project would generate about $13.1 million in annual revenue for Jefferson County and its various taxing entities -- a boon for the county that saw only a 2 percent increase in sales tax revenue this year.

Jefferson County government's general revenue, law enforcement and public works budgets are funded largely through individual taxes of one-half of 1 percent on items sold in the county. Other funding sources include fees, state reimbursements and federal funding for highway projects.

Ron Johnson, Riviera Gaming Management's president, said the combined casino, hotel and restaurant complex would employ 1,135 people at an average pay of $14.10 an hour, including wages and tips.