Those Gurnee folks sure are a hoot. Last year, their public works crews forgot how to plow the streets in winter. This year, residents are all of a sudden up in arms over Waukegan getting the state's last casino license. Where have they been?
Waukegan has been working to get a license for a number of years and while they're one of three vying for the gaming license, there's no guarantee they'll get it, even though the state law allowing for casino gambling is written for towns like Waukegan.
The city has a spot all set to build on if the Illinois Gaming Board awards the license to Waukegan. It is at Fountain Square. That's what has homeowners in Providence Village and Providence Oaks, which are off O'Plaine Road, south of Route 120, upset.
They're worried about traffic and property values. This from homes that are just down the street from a sewage treatment plant. The Hound has smelled that plant on a couple of occasions and on summer days. It sure can get ripe.
Did they think of the property values of those who live in trailers --- oops, mobile homes --- when Gurnee annexed that tire recycling place? The Hound doesn't think so.
Then there's the traffic issue. Are they kidding, or what?
Didn't Gurnee lose the traffic card years ago. First there was Six Flags Great America, then Gurnee Mills and then the Grand-Hunt Corridor. Ever try to get from Lindenhurst to Route 41 using Grand Avenue at rush hour. It's not a hoot.
Besides, Gurnee could piggy-back on a Waukegna casino: "Here kids, go to Hurricane Harbor. Dad and I are going swimming at the slots." And, if Gurnee had a shot at getting a casino, they'd be right up there elbowing for position.
These folks may give a game attempt to stop Waukegan from getting a casino at Fountain Square, but they're doomed, hoisted on their own petard of suburban sprawl. Besides, only the gaming board can quash the city's gaming attempt.
Greetings Doggie: Just read the item on the Gurnee person who is in LaLa land. My grand father built a cottage on gages lake in 1909, thats right, 1909! When I was a kid Gurnee was a cow path, it still is!
Capt Billie
THE HOUND SEZ: If Gurnee was a cowpath in 1909, Gages Lake had to be Eden, right?
The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on.
THE HOUND SEZ: Umm, Goodnight, Irene! Is this some Arab proverb you're spouting? We were talking about gambling, not the Silk Road.
Why do you have such a problem with Gurnee? It's just one snarky comment after another. Did Gurnee do something to you, take away your toys????? As far as the roads go, call IDOT about the traffic and maybe they will do something to alleviate it. And, I'm sure there are a lot of people E, W, N & S of Gurnee that go to and enjoy Six Flags and shop at the Mills. Maybe you should tell all of them to stay home so they don't clog up the roads. Growth equals more traffic....anywhere...not just Gurnee.
There may be a few dissidents opposing the casino but myself, as a long-time Gurnee resident, look forward to it. I don't have much money but wouldn't mind spending a few $$$ there when I have some extra to play with.
And sorry to blow your mind, but the Mayor of Gurnee has stated her only position is a casino should NOT be in Gurnee and has declined the request to oppose it. (That's info from a real newspaper). I recommend you go out have a drink or 2 or 3 and try to mellow out a little and get over your hatred of Gurnee.
THE HOUND SAYS: Snarky? Really, Carol, one expects more from you, considering you're sounding like a flummadiddle.
Of course growth equals more traffic, you ninny! And Gurnee has grown so fast it's schools are overcrowded and so are the roads. By the way, the state did add to the roads, by widening Route 132 from the tollway west to Route 45, exactly to handle the added growth.
The Hound only drinks if others buy. Besides, The Hound is poor and doesn't have any toys. The Hound has no idea what you mean about a "real newspaper", but here's what Gurnee's mayor had to say about a possible Waukegan casino from two News-Sun stories, one this fall, one in 2005. .
Here's what Mayor Kovarik said in an Oct. 16, 2008 News-Sun story:
"As Waukegan officials continue to play wait and see with the
city's newest casino bid, neighboring politicians are doing
the same, but with hardly the same enthusiasm.
Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said Wednesday she's only been
casually following Waukegan's most recent bid, and she
hasn't given any new thought to the effect a casino on the
Gurnee/Waukegan border would have on her village.
"We've been down this road before. (Whether Waukegan is
awarded a casino license) remains to be seen," Kovarik said.
Unlike her mayoral predecessor, Kovarik said she doesn't
oppose Waukegan's bid.
"I'm not going to tell Waukegan what they should or
should not be doing," she said. "I certainly
wouldn't want Waukegan to get involved in Gurnee
decisions."
This is the complete story from June 20, 2005 Gurnee Village Board meeting which appeared in The News-Sun:
" Mayor Kristina Kovarik took heat from residents and
trustees during Monday's meeting of the Village Board for her stand in the
event Waukegan lands a state gaming license.
Some residents of village subdivisions near the former Lakehurst property,
proposed for a casino, voiced their displeasure with comments Kovarik made
on the issue at a meeting of the City Club in Waukegan.
"Waukegan's made their decision," Kovarik said May 17 at the meeting also
attended by Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde and North Chicago Mayor Leon
Rockingham. "Whatever they do is fine with me. I just ask for a place at
the table."
Kovarik, who defeated former Mayor Don Rudny on April 5, stood by those
sentiments, making a statement after being called to do so last week by
opposing trustees.
But first, she read the 2001 resolution against gaming in Waukegan, which
she approved along with other members of the former board.
The resolution asked Waukegan to "carefully consider the negative
secondary impacts to the region caused by gambling and then oppose and
deny expansion of gambling into the City of Waukegan and Lake County."
"I support that resolution and I will support it again today," Kovarik
said. "But Waukegan has made a decision. If they get a license, I will not
bury my head in the sand and pretend it will go away."
Kovarik argued the village would be better served by cooperating with
Waukegan in understanding and finding resolutions to impacts from the
casino. She pointed to positives that could result from such cooperation,
including a proposed Metra train station for the Lakehurst site and a cut
of gaming revenues that could be shared with the financially strapped
Gurnee Grade School District.
But Trustee Karen Wasser accused Kovarik of skirting the issue and of
failing to state her position on gaming during her campaign.
"You misled citizens of this village because you never addressed this head
on," Wasser said. "The issue is will you represent your constituent base
to fight with the Gaming Board against Waukegan getting that casino?"
Trustee Tom Chamberlain reminded Kovarik of the 2002 Warren Township
advisory referendum in which 75 percent of voters opposed a casino in Lake
County.
"I believe our mayor should support those citizens who are vastly against
this," Chamberlain said, arguing that surrounding municipalities had a
right to oppose gaming in their midst.
"Will you write the state a letter against this?" he asked.
"Opposing it is a waste of breath and ink," Kovarik insisted.
"The Gaming Board is already aware of Gurnee's position," argued Trustee
Jeanne Balmes. "Don Rudny lost the election. I would say residents of
Gurnee have also made other positions quite clear."
"We didn't know she was for a casino," someone in the audience yelled.
Residents of the Providence subdivisions and a professional anti-gaming
lobbyistaddressed the board, pointing to studies and statistics that show
gambling hurts communities. One resident called on Kovarik to resign if
she was "not willing or able" to "carry out the will of the people."
Other residents supported the mayor's stance.
"I don't see it's any of our business what Waukegan does," Bill Smith
said.
"What happens in Waukegan should be Waukegan's decision," said business
owner Tony Maniscalco. "We should concentrate on building relationships
with other cities like Waukegan. We have to work together."
Becky Howell-Adams, a resident of Providence Oaks, warned that home values
typically drop once a casino goes up nearby. She worried for the safety of
her children, she said. She argued a casino should be put "on the
lakefront where it belongs or not at all."
Howell-Adams said she was disappointed by Kovarik's position and added
that gaming was not on voters' "radar" during the recent campaign.
Kovarik, however, refused to back down.
"Our fate and our future are irrevocably tied with Waukegan," Kovarik
said. "I will not oppose them. I am not going to work against Waukegan as
the mayor of Gurnee."
Waukegan really needs and deserves getting the 10th license for a Casino. Gurnee has been taking away the bigger businesses and tax base from Waukegan for years with all kinds of tax breaks and gimmicks. Waukegan has a right to decide what is best for Waukegan without complaints from the same city that put a Junk Yard right next to homes with families. Did they even think about the safety of those families. And what about the traffic caused by Great America & Gurnee Mills. Lets be fair !!! If you are against Waukegan getting a Casino to help cover the taxes that have gone to Gurnee are you willing to share Gurnee Taxes. I bet not....
THE HOUND SAYS: Dee-Dee, quit complaining about Gurnee. Who cares about Gurnee, except for all you Waukegan folks who moved there. There's only one way to get back at Gurnee: Don't buy cars there, don't shop there, don't eat at the restaurants there.
Was there some objective you were trying to achieve by inserting old news items about the casino? I read it all when it was news and I'm still shaking my head over the waste of space.....and now...by reading today's news, you have a new faction to sic yourself on. Imagine that! There are a whole slew of ministers in Waukegan who don't want the casino. Smells like a new bone for you to chew on or chew over. Kibbles anyone?
THE HOUND SAYS: Yum, nothing like a bone to chew or kibble. Illinois preachers are 0-7. Let us count the ways: Bingo, lottery, off-track betting, casino gambling, pull-tabs for veterans' organizations and "Las Vegas" nights for church/school fund-raisers. Carol, did you note the "church" mention? They will be 0-8 by the end of the month. By the way, are they protesting the Rosemont or Des Plaines locations?