At a standing-room-only meeting attended by many disgruntled citizens, the Lake Ozark, Missouri board of aldermen tabled Resolution No. 2023R-17 supporting the Osage Nation’s proposed casino, pending additional information.
The resolution stated the city supported the tribe’s development project and its plans to re-establish and build upon its cultural and ancestral ties to the area. In addition, the resolution would have authorized city staff to work with the tribe to gather information about its casino plans and other development projects.
Lake Ozark Mayor Dennis Newberry said he wanted more information before endorsing the casino. He said at the meeting, “You have given the city no information, and this has been going on 18 months. We cannot endorse something we know nothing about.”
Osage Nation legal counsel Michael Crowley said he didn’t know what was the projected revenue for the proposed casino when asked by Newberry. “When I do something, I research it. I do due diligence in order to make a quality decision,” Newberry said. He added he was surprised the resolution was included on the board’s agenda since the tribe had not provided the city with a proposal.
Several citizens expressed concerns that local law enforcement would have no jurisdiction on Indian land if a crime were committed at the casino. Crowley responded he had met with the Lake Ozark police and fire chiefs, the Miller County sheriff and other government officials regarding the casino project, and said the Osage Nation “sometimes” entered into a deputization agreement with local law enforcement, allowing them to conduct business on Indian land.
However, when asked by Newberry to produce an example of a deputization agreement the tribe has with another municipality, Crowley said he could not. “Osage County in Oklahoma does not have a deputization agreement,” Crowley said.
Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association Executive Director Ron Leone agreed the city needed more information to make a decision about the resolution, including applications, permits, planning and zoning, impact on roads and traffic, the impact on city services including police, fire and first responders, the impact on the environment and local, state and federal and tax collection and remittance.
Leone said it seemed the resolution was written to convince Governor Mike Parson to approve the tribe’s gaming application. In addition, he said the resolution was unfair and harmful to existing businesses, convenience stores, truck stops and tobacco shops.
Jim Baker, a lifelong Lake-area resident and owner of Warrenton Oil, which operates 50 locations in Missouri, said his company employs 600 people and annually pays $28 million in fuel taxes, $550,000 in property taxes, $600,000 in tobacco taxes and sales tax revenue of $3.7 million.
He said at the meeting, “I am here to oppose the resolution. The Osage Nation would have a tax advantage over my business and multiple businesses that would be completely unfair, and a threat to our very continued existence, including the people we employ, the taxes we pay, the causes we support and our future development. Please do not support the casino until you are completely sure there is a level playing field for all of the businesses you represent.”
Bruce Elliot, owner of J.B. Hooks restaurant, asked how the board could consider endorsing a business that is not subject to the laws, ordinances or rules of the city or state, including paying taxes. He said he has owned several businesses and employed hundreds of people over the past 53 years with no tax incentives, tax increment financing or any other assistance from the city. “We employ more than 100 employees, and we pay substantial taxes to the city,” Elliot said.
Local businessperson Joe Roeger also opposed the tribal casino. He said, “While I am all for economic development, I feel it is a reach to believe gambling will increase tourism.”
Former state representative Rocky Miller, a consultant for the Osage Nation, spoke in favor of the casino. He said, “I get the moral issues with casinos, but the board has already voted twice to support a casino. This would be an additional cog to economic growth in the area.”
Meanwhile, the Osage Nation continues to make a financial impact on the Lake Ozark area. It recently announced another round of donations to recipients including giving Camden County money to purchase new medical kits for patrol cars, $20,000 to the Lake Ozark Fire District, plus contributions to the School of the Osage Foundation, Lake Ozark Police Department, VFW and others.
