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The company planning to build a casino in East Toledo

The July 23, 2023, By Jerry K. Polak

The company planning to build a casino in East Toledo stretched out its hand with a $1 million check and City Council on Tuesday night told it to come back in two weeks.

Penn National Gaming Inc. has offered the city more than $1.03 million as reimbursement for improvements the city made to land on the east side where the company wants to build the casino. A minority of council held up the acceptance two weeks - frustrating some of the other members and Mayor Mike Bell - through use of a procedural vote not typically taken on council measures.

"This is a million dollars that is not owed to us," said Councilman Mike Craig, whose district includes the casino property. "I can't believe we are sitting here arguing over this."

Councilman Joe McNamara moved for a slow roll call on suspending the rule that states every measure needs two readings before a passage vote. The roll call would have needed nine affirmative votes to pass, but the count was 8-4. Joining Mr. McNamara in voting against were Councilmen D. Michael Collins, Phillip Copeland, and Lindsay Webb. Mr. McNamara said he supported Mr. Collins' desire to do his "due diligence" on the issue.

Mr. Collins was first last night to raise the issue when he questioned the Bell administration on whether the city was protected from lawsuits regarding the property, including from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency or the Ohio Department of Development. Steve Herwat, Toledo deputy mayor of operations, told council that the city had assurances from both state agencies that the city was insulated from lawsuits; at the same time, he said a two-week delay would not jeopardize the casino project.

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