Web posted
Thursday, April 10, 2008
City, county see casino road impact
By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
mews@arkcity.net
People are already taking a rural route around Arkansas City to get from Wichita to the casinos in Oklahoma. Because of that, an idea from some of the casino-owning Native American tribes to improve the roads has gotten the county's attention.
Arkansas City city commissioners met with County Commission members Tuesday to discuss the idea and to voice opposition.
County Commission Chairman Gary Wilson said there has been no formal proposal. He said he talked with the tribes "a few months ago" and he has not talked to them since.
He said they talked about resurfacing and widening the roads, as well as working on drainage issues that would be involved.
Arkansas City commissioners are concerned that if such a development were to occur, more people would be going around the city instead of through it.
"We told them we would entertain the idea. Nothing like this has been done before. But at this point we have not seen an official proposal," Wilson said.
He said there would be lots of steps involved in allowing a private group to substantially change a highway.
The tribes were talking about spending at least $3 million for the improvements, and would help with maintenance later on.
The county would be interested because eventually they will have to do resurfacing on those roadways anyway.
Arkansas City Mayor Dotty Smith said she had talked with people who live on those roads and they were concerned about safety. Many of them are reporting that there is already a large increase in traffic, and they fear there will be even more if the improvements are made.
"It is dangerous now. It would only be more so (later)," she said.
She said people are often drinking at casinos, and she is concerned about intoxicated drivers driving on country roads.
Commissioner Joel Hockenbury had the same concerns, and said it would be a drain on the Arkansas City EMS system.
Commissioner Scott Margolius said it would be more beneficial if the county would encourage the tribes to help with upgrades and repairs on South Summit Street and Madison Avenue in Arkansas City.
Commissioner Patrick McDonald said the route would take people to one casino first; one that has not yet been built.
He said the other casinos might be willing to help make repairs to other roads, which would encourage people to drive by their casinos first.
Commissioner Mel Kuhn said he does not want to see Arkansas CIty bypassed.
He said a lot of money is being drained out of the city already by the casinos.
Jim Ramsey, who lives on 41st Road, said there is already a lot of new traffic on his road since the casinos have been open.
Kim Waldrop, who lives on 322nd Road, said the traffic has increased dramatically on her road.
"We used to exercise on that road. We used to walk there, but we are not able to now with all the cars," she said.
She is concerned about speeders on the road and wondered if more police officers would be hired to patrol the area.
"The beer cans and other trash has also increased. It has tripled. We see them throw things out of their cars. We know it is from the casinos because their names are on things being thrown out," she said.
Wilson said it really is a moot point until there is a proposal.
He said maintenance issues on the existing roads are an issue the county is going to have to deal with. He said there were positives and negatives either way.
Wilson said he wants to also look out for rural people. Sometimes farmers have to park large equipment, or wheat trucks, on the road, and that is a safety issue if there is a lot of traffic.
He suggested that Arkansas City should look at ways to attract people going to the casinos.
County Commissioner Dick Bonfy said he had some calls from farmers who were concerned.
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