By: Chris Gilson, cgilson@cbs4qc.com
Do you think the City of Davenport should get into the gaming business by buying Rhythm City Casino?
Well, it's a question some folks wish the city asked them a long time ago.
Dozens of folks on both sides of the issue came out to the Adler Theatre in Davenport to voice their opinions at a public hearing Monday night.
\While some said it'll be a big win for the area, others aren't so sure.
City leaders will vote on Wednesday whether or not to go ahead with a plan to buy Rhythm City Casino from the Isle of Capri and move it off the river.
It's a deal some people said the city should think over more before placing their chips on the table.
"Personally I think the city should be doing city business if you're going to own a casino why not a grocery store," Ray Youngman of Bettendorf said.
Ray Youngman of Bettendorf said he gambles at Rhythim City Casino. Youngman said city leaders are trying to rush into buying the casino before asking the people he thinks matter the most.
"I think the public should have more input. It sounds to me like they've already made up their mind," he said.
But, Mayor Bill Gluba said the city has every right to go forward with trying to buy the casino.
"Government does a lot of good things and we can do this like Dubuque by hiring a non–profit group to run and do it just as well or not better," Mayor Bill Gluba said.
Mayor Gluba said all of the money made by the casino will go right back into the community.
"This will be in the best financial interest of the City of Davenport not some gaming operation but what's in the best interest of the people of Davenport," Mayor Gluba said.
Curt Wisely of Dixon, IA is on board with the mayor. Wisely represents a union labor group who helped build a casino for Waterloo and said the same can be done here.
"Once they have the population come in and take care of construction, place workers at the casino and I am sure this is going to grow into other projects," Wisely said.
City leaders stress that this is only the beginning and it will be a very long process even if council votes in favor of trying to buy the casino.
If you want to learn more about the City's plan and voice your opinion there will be two more public hearings Tuesday night for the 4th and 5th wards. Both start at 6.
