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Brad Franzwa Comment

[Note: This material is copyright by The Kalona News, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Kalona News.]

The opening was two years to the date that voters of Washington County approved riverboat gaming in the county and one day short of a year from receiving a $120 million building permit. The Riverside City Council approved the building permit September 1, 2005.

Under the guidance of CEO Dan Kehl, general manager Joe Massa and construction manager Tony Baxter, the 65 contractors finished the casino of un-matched class in Iowa ahead of schedule.

As Riverside Mayor Bill Poch said during his remarks at the opening: Who would have thought it for Riverside?

Over 6,000 people were in attendance with very little incidence the opening evening. That is in addition to several hundred special guests including contractors, the 700 Iowa investors, city and county officials and other special guests.

The evening before the opening officials from Earth Park (a.k.a. Rain Forest) spent several hours visiting with Kehl and other Casino officials. The group included former Governor Robert Ray and governor candidate Jim Nussle.

Casino board member Glenn Patton spoke enthusiastically about the potential of Earth Park choosing to locate at the site of River Products grounds across the road from the casino.

Kehl knows that the Earth Park officials are non-committal but promised a decision by the end of September. He stated that if Earth Park is built, he would also build a "water park" motel that may have some "Disney"-like attractions but would be a facility that would feature the latest in energy conservation and education.

"We would feature the best of what Iowa has," commented Kehl.

While optimistic about the potential of the educational value that Earth Park could bring to the area, Patton expressed concern that the Riverside City Council could "kill" the project, as the Earth Park officials want to be where they are welcome.

Riverside Mayor Poch expressed support by the city for the Earth Park Project. Poch noted that Earth Park would be the final phase of a complete package that could be a catalyst to economic development in Riverside and the Eastern Iowa corridor.

During his remarks at the opening, Poch spoke optimistically that the casino and golf resort could help stimulate more economic development in Riverside and Washington County.

Joe Massa served as master of ceremonies for the opening ceremonies. He praised the efforts of Tony Baxter and his 65 subcontractors and 1,000 workers who made it possible to complete the construction of a hotel, casino and spa within one year of getting a building permit. He also praised the 950 employees and noted most of these are from Washington county and eastern Iowa.

Board president Dale Scheibe thanked all of the investors for their faith in the potential of the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort.

Bob and Ruth Kehl, who formerly owned Robert's Smorgasbord in Dubuque (which featured 40 feet of good food) and received the first riverboat gambling license in Iowa, were thanked for making the casino possible. Dan Kehl thanked his parents and his wife and two children for allowing him to spend the past two years "chasing his dream" to build the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort. Kehl noted Robert's Buffet, named after his father, features some 130 feet of excellent food.

Before the 30-minute opening ceremonies, Kehl kissed a pair of red dice three times and threw a nine for the traditional roll of the dice at the crap's table as 25 people watched.

After a special video on the casino telling about its 58,000 square foot casino with 1,181 slot machines, 30 gaming tables and 14 poker tables, four restaurants, 200-room hotel, gift shops, spa and 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones (and to open next June), Kehl gave the following toast: May the work you do be the play that you love. Let the games begin.

Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission chair Diane Hamilton, Council Bluffs, praised the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort as a first class facility, recalling the visit the commissioners made to the site two years ago when it was a cornfield.

For more information on the Riverside Casino & Golf resort visit its web page: www.riversidecasinoandgolfresort.com.

Interesting article here regarding my two favorite public works projects. Of note, it is interesting that the newspaper (Schlecta) reported 6000 opening night guests that were in addition to the special guests, investors, etc.

However, the official report submitted to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (http://www.state.ia.us/irgc/August06.pdf) states that the casino only admitted exactly 2004 visitors for all of August (the casino was only open 1 day in August making this check-figure quite simple). Is the casino using the rain forest accountants again? If their admissions were that far off, then how far off were their taxable revenue reports? This casino was found to be a cheat by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Are they at it again with official reports?

Brad Franzwa, North Liberty, IA