McHenry County wants public to weigh in on video poker

McHenry County leaders, divided among themselves over whether to allow video gambling in local drinking establishments, will ask the public to help them make the call at a public hearing next month.

County board members Wednesday tentatively scheduled an Oct. 6 public hearing to present information and listen to voters' opinions of state legislation allowing video poker and other computerized gambling in drinking establishments.

The measure is expected to raise as much as $367 million annually statewide to fund road construction and other infrastructure improvements.

"The more information the public has, and the more information the board has, the better off we'll be," board member Barbra Wheeler said.

Board members say they will follow up the hearing with an Oct. 20 vote to either allow the gambling, ban it or leave it up to the voters through a referendum. If the board takes no action, the gambling will be allowed.

Several board members already are indicating where they stand on the issue, including Chairman Ken Koehler. He said banning video gaming could jeopardize hundreds of millions in construction revenue expected to come the county's way through the state's $31 billion capital bill, as well as future state funding.

"I know this is a gut-wrenching decision for everyone involved," Koehler said. "But this is an important funding mechanism of the capital bill, and McHenry County - and the municipalities in McHenry County - stand to receive a large portion of the dollars from the capital bill."

But John Hammerand, chairman of the county board's liquor and license committee, said that funding would come at too steep a price, including the county's reputation as a family friendly place to live.

"If we really want to keep that (reputation), then we really should think about this," Hammerand said. "If we want a civil community, this shouldn't be done here. Revenue should not trump principle."

Wheeler, also made no secret of her opposition, jokingly suggesting that if boosting income were the issue, why stop at gambling.

"If we're looking for revenue, apparently marijuana grows pretty well in the county," she said, drawing laughs from fellow board members. "It's a big cash crop."

Board member Bob Bless said the board simply should leave the decision up to voters.

"They're the voting public. We should let them decide," he said.

The county is not alone in seriously considering a ban. DuPage County officials approved a ban last month and the Lake County Board will consider a similar measure in October. Kane County has formed a task force to examine the issue.

Any action the board takes would effect only the 44 establishments eligible for video gaming in unincorporated portions of the county. Individual municipalities have authority to decide whether they want video gambling within their borders.