KCRag Forum

StL_Dan wrote:Elderly
Welfare recipients
Deadbeats
Children's college funds
Savings accounts

StL_Dan wrote:I'm not naive, Q, but am not OVERLY concerned about what's overseas right now since I'm fairly certain my children will not be exposed to such delights growing up in Olathe. Another good reason to live here.

StL_Dan wrote:That is a ridiculous statement. Faces aren't sex organs.

StL_Dan wrote:Wouldn't your wife prefer her body to be recipient of the honor of being the sole object of your desire?

StL_Dan wrote:Whoooooaaaa. Sex isn't bad. God created it as a way for man and wife to become closer to each other, to become one flesh, than they would with any other person on this earth. Sex is a BEAUTIFUL thing when used properly. Wouldn't you agree?

StL_Dan wrote:Well, Q, I'm glad we know where each of us stand.

That's about the only thing I can think of to say.

Posted on Sat, Sep. 06, 2003


KCK casino lacks fire sprinklers and occupancy limits

By RICK ALM
The Kansas City Star

There are no fire sprinklers or occupancy limits at the 7th Street Casino in downtown Kansas City, Kan., and government officials fear the place could be a firetrap.

Because the downtown gambling parlor is on sovereign tribal land, city officials can only watch as customers head inside day and night to play 152 slot machines.

Business has been brisk since the casino opened a week ago. A lunch-hour crowd Friday numbered more than 80 players.

"It's a ticklish and difficult situation," said Kansas City, Kan., Fire Marshal Ed Gripp. "We've had firefighters interested in going in" to do advance work to be prepared for an emergency.

"But I've been instructed to stay off the premises until something is ironed out."

Mayor Carol Marinovich of the Unified Board of Commissioners of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., said Friday that the city was drafting a letter to the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma expressing its concern over fire safety.

"There are issues over there about fire exits, capacity and so forth," she said. "We feel it is our responsibility to advise them."

The casino sits on a small plot of land owned by the Oklahoma tribe. Over state officials' objections, a U.S. Interior Department decision earlier this year granted de facto reservation status to the land, which paved the way for federally approved tribal gambling. The state has sued the federal government to overturn the decision.

As long as the land is a tribal reservation, city fire codes and state statutes have little or no effect.

The tribe has proposed cash payments in exchange for municipal services, presumably including fire protection. But tribal and city officials would not disclose details of the proposal.

City officials have endorsed the tribe's plan to build a casino resort hotel near Kansas Speedway and have a services agreement pending for that deal, which so far has failed to win necessary state or congressional approval.

The city is staunchly opposed to the downtown casino across the street from City Hall, and Marinovich has said she won't consider a services agreement with the tribe for that site.

The day the casino opened last week, city workers blockaded access to a vacant strip of land the tribe had been using for employee parking.

The National Indian Gaming Commission has regulated tribal casinos for the Interior Department since 1988. The first set of public health and safety guidelines for tribal casinos were issued last summer.

Those rules, however, leave it to the tribes to devise standards ensuring that "gaming operations on Indian lands are constructed, operated and maintained in a manner that adequately protects the environment, public health and safety."

The chairman of the Indian Gaming Commission, Phil Hogen, said Friday that investigators were involved in inspecting the casino to determine whether the tribe met all federal conditions for opening -- including its own fire safety standards.

"We're playing catch-up," said Hogen. "It did come as a surprise to us that they opened as suddenly as they did."

At this point, one week after the casino's unannounced opening, "we don't know all of the answers to all of the questions we are interested in," Hogen added.

He hopes investigators will issue preliminary findings next week. Hogen noted that the commission has the authority to temporarily close facilities in the event of any "imminent jeopardy" to property or human life.

Gripp said city fire codes generally require sprinklers in any public area 5,000 square feet or larger.

The casino's general manager, Ellis Enyart, estimated the casino's gaming floor right at 5,000 square feet, and the city agreed.

"We believe it is 5,000 feet, and we believe it probably should be sprinklered," said Unified Government attorney Hal Walker. "You'd think they'd want to avoid any potential catastrophe."

Enyart said tribal officials were well aware of fire safety issues in the casino and were working on remedies. Enyart declined to discuss specifics.

In the meantime, Enyart said, casino security officers have been instructed to monitor occupancy levels.

"We try to keep it to a minimum," said Enyart. "If it seems to be getting too crowded, they control the size of the crowd coming in and going out."

Enyart said he would have no problem with a visit from the city fire marshal's office.

"They can certainly come and visit us," said Enyart. "We have no objection to them coming on the property and having a look around."
To reach Rick Alm, call (816) 234-4785 or send e-mail to ralm@kcstar.com.

trailerkid wrote:From yesterday...
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 704173.htm

Sebelius I guess thinks she needs to bring the tackiness of Village West full circle.

She's gonna need something big if she wants to knock off Ameristar, Harrah's and newly energized Argosy. I think we already have enough casinos without Kansas throwing its hat in the ring.

KC wrote:Slappy....but you see that's INSIDE the 435 loop. Marinovich only sees things outside the loop.

She's currently trying to get the white City Hall building airlifed to the infield of the Kansas Speedway

I have been thinking, and if Kansas hurries and passes the gambling issue, and makes it so there are no limits, and no stupid cards like the Missouri casinos, then they could take a decent portion of the market away.

trailerkid wrote:KMBZ reporting...

Two Indian tribes will announce tomorrow a $200 M casino near the Kansas Speedway.