Elks get gambling variance
Jody MurphyArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG - The change of seasons apparently brought a change of opinion to the Parkersburg Board of Zoning Appeals over a request by the Elks Lodge in downtown Parkersburg to have video lottery.
Wednesday, the board, by a 3-0 vote, with one abstention, approved a request by the Elks to operate both video lottery and Keno at its Market Street location.
In April, the board denied the Elks' requests for video lottery for fear that approval would lead to a swarm of additional requests.
On Wednesday, several board members had a change of heart and approved the request despite opposition from a nearby church.
"Our attorney found sort of a loophole in there, which means even if we had turned it down we could have been challenged," board member Jim Ball said. "Rather than go through any court fiasco, being they are non-profit, and totally a membership-only organization and they do so much for youth, veterans, and local groups. It was not an easy decision to make, but it will pay rewards back into the community."
In the last few months several of the Elks' neighbors, members of area churches and a business owner attended the appeals board meetings to speak in opposition of the request. Several members of the Trinity Episcopal Church also spoke against the request.
Trinity member Susan Fitcher, who has previously challenged the request, said she was surprised by the boards 180 degree change of heart.
"Before, it was unanimous," she said. "So I was very surprised."
Fitcher wouldn't speculate as to what led board members to change their mind. She also did not speculate if the church would appeal the board's decision to circuit court.
Board member Bill Morrison said his change of heart was based on Assistant City Attorney Bob Tebay's letter, which was penned in March. Morrison said he also supported the request because the lottery and Keno would stay with the Elks and not with the Market Street property.
"Mr. Tebay stated that everything was legal to go ahead and do it," he said.
The board had Tebay's letter in hand when it denied the Elks' request in April.
In the letter, dated March 27, to Zoning Administrator Lydia White and appeals board members, Tebay stated such a limited video lottery variance is permissible.
"If the board were so inclined, it may issue a `temporary variance' to Elks 198, for so long, and only so long, as it occupies the subject premises," he stated.
At its former downtown location, the Elks had video lottery machines which were allowed under a grandfather clause. White said when the group moved to their South Hills location, and the appropriate time lapsed, the Elks lost the grandfather clause.
White said city code does not allow a video lottery establishment within 1,500 feet of a church or another video lottery establishment. According to White there are no less than four churches and two video lottery establishments within that zone.
"When I first stepped in, not knowing all the background and history I was opposed to it," Ball said of the Elks' request. "We have way too many video lottery and Keno machines in the city, but for the most part those are just set up so anyone can just walk in and use them. In this case the money provides good back into the community whereas the others do not."
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nonesuch
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11-14-08 4:28 PM
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linda, it's because we have among the widely considered worst status quo, do-nothing representation in the nation, and they consistently prove it right.
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linda905
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11-14-08 12:21 PM
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An addendum to my prior post, why can't local governments or businesses come up with a better way to help the community?
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linda905
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11-14-08 12:14 PM
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I would never go to a gambling joint, although I buy an occasional lottery ticket-about 3-4 a year. If a person wants to throw their hard earned money away on such a thing (sometimes their rent, food, etc.), they shouldn't go crying to anyone because they don't have the money for gas or groceries or rent. If a friend came to me and said they needed money for food or whatever, I would help them out. But if they lost their money gambling, I would tell them to go elsewhere. Gambling hurts a lot of people, and to me, it just isn't worth it.
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Brooks
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11-14-08 6:21 AM
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Why shouldn't the Elks profit from it? At least they contribute to the community! Unlike City Perk and places like City Perk. When they close all those gip joints....then they can take the machines away from the Clubs.
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greetingsyall
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11-14-08 12:36 AM
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some political back scratching going on. who owns the building? another example of waiting until the election is over to do the dirty work
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nonesuch
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11-13-08 11:06 PM
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Our entire elected representation sees this as the proverbial honey-pot. Does anybody recall when a proposal for River Boat gambling in the 90's was shut down as unthinkable? This is how far and fast we've sunk with these shameless fly-by-night gyp joints.
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Centrist
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11-13-08 9:57 PM
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Let's not suppress our only growth industry left in the Mid-Ohio Valley. Because we can no longer have an economy that creates wealth, we must instead find ways to extract existing wealth from our citizens. Who better than schmucks that never took enough math in school to understand their "snowball in hell" chance of spending their last dollars on gambling. Personally, I prefer the adoption of prostitution over gambling. At least you go home afterward with something... well, maybe that warm feeling would be something you didn't plan to take home.
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WVCommissioner
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11-13-08 7:01 PM
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A pre-election no vote, then a post-election yea vote.
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Ricotubbs
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11-13-08 6:13 PM
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Sweeeeeet. I cant wait for the hookers
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VotingVet
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11-13-08 4:56 PM
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When the church pays taxes...they can get into politics.
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MatthewBB
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11-13-08 4:28 PM
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who gives a you-know-what what the flippin church thinks!
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nonesuch
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11-13-08 12:07 PM
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"sensitive to churches with concerns with gambling" Uh? how about recognizing that most everybody in the community recognizes this blight for what it really is. It's a crying shame that our entire State budget is now financed by gambling. Yeah, we couldn't survive without another one huh? Wake Up Mr. Tebay!
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