Off-track betting up for vote tonight in Buffalo Grove

Gambling is on the table in Buffalo Grove.

But the village's newest elected trustees would like the board to wait before playing its hand.

Trustees will vote today to amend its zoning ordinance to allow off-track betting facilities.

If it approves, the board would be paving the way for the opening of an OTB at Adam's Rib and Ale House, 301 Milwaukee Ave.

On a request made to Village President Elliott Hartstein by two newly elected trustees, Lisa Stone and Beverly Sussman, the actual petition has been taken off the agenda.

But that isn't enough to satisfy Stone and Sussman, who will be sworn in at tonight's meeting.

Sussman said of the text amendment, "To me that's the bigger part. That's the part that will allow gambling in the village of Buffalo Grove."

Stone said the public has not been sufficiently alerted that the issue is coming before the board. She said the village has not publicized it through its print or electronic materials.

"Government has to be very transparent," she said. "There are not many votes that come about in Buffalo Grove that have the gravity of legalized gambling. It's not just like putting in a Target."

But Hartstein said the public has been amply informed on the issue through public hearings and several newspaper articles.

"This is not any surprise to anyone," he said. "And it's certainly not a surprise to our new trustees who were well aware of the proposal."

Stone has even suggested the issue is important enough to warrant a village referendum.

But that idea was strongly opposed by Trustee Jeffrey Braiman.

"You don't govern by referendum," he said. "When people are elected as trustees, they are elected to do what the trustee believes is in the best interests of the village. If we go to referendum for this, are we going to go to referendum when we build a public works department building?"

Braiman said the village actually has been looking at the concept of an OTB for a couple of years. The board once received a proposal to put one in at eSkape, the bowling and family entertainment facility in the Town Center. But the board was uncomfortable having an OTB in proximity to so many youths.

Braiman said it is a good opportunity for the village to make a significant amount of money from tax receipts.

"We receive 1 percent of the entire handle, win, lose or draw," he said. "The one in Niles, they make, I think, $400,000 (to) $450,000 a year. It's a much bigger facility, obviously."

He said the village has concerns about parking and police protection but has done its due diligence.

He said the police department has received positive feedback about 14 or 15 other locations.

"The biggest police problem they have told us about is locked keys in cars," Braiman said.

"If they fail to comply, we can close them down," Braiman added.