Slots at the track? Hold your horses

The Arlington Heights Village Board has consistently and repeatedly told lawmakers home rule should not be usurped to allow for slots at Arlington Park, officials said Monday.

The board almost voted on a new resolution after hearing from six residents opposing a bill allowing slot machines at the state's race tracks. That bill could come up in the state legislature's upcoming veto session and would not give the village any say on the machines.

But Trustee Tom Stengren withdrew his motion for a letter reaffirming the board's position defending home rule after Village Attorney Jack Siegel said it was illegal to take final action on a matter not listed on the agenda.

Stengren said his motion dealt only with the board's desire to maintain its home rule rights, and he did not want to include any opinion about slot machines at the racetrack. Personally he opposes the expansion of gambling there.

While the board seemed united in supporting home rule, the position of all trustees on the slot machines themselves is not clear.

One resident, Allison Anderson, warned the board, “Silence in this matter is an agreement to casinos.”

The board has talked to lawmakers since 1995 whenever this issue has surfaced, most recently about 18 months ago, said Village Manager Bill Dixon.

“The very fact that we don't have slot machines at Arlington Park illustrates our strong position the last 15 years against expanding gambling and for home rule,” said Trustee Thomas Hayes.

Trustee Carol Blackwood, the newest member of the board, reminded trustees that residents supported slot machines at Arlington Park by a very small margin, in a nonbinding referendum held in 1994.

Stengren countered that in 1994 the proponents outspent the opponents at between 10-1 and 15-1.

“I believe in my heart that Arlington Heights does not want the expansion of gambling,” he said.

Siegel said legislators can usurp home rule with a 60 percent vote of both houses.