Meadows Mayor not worried over possibility of slots

Each time the Illinois legislature meets, Arlington Heights leaders have another chance to push for slot machines at Arlington Park.

The issue resurfaced in the village itself last month, when the Arlington Heights village board asserted it should decide whether 1,100 slots would be put at the racetrack, not state lawmakers.

So what's this got to do with Rolling Meadows?

With the track just across the border, the addition of slots could have an impact on its neighbor to the south. As a Rolling Meadows resident myself, I wondered if the city has an official stance on the matter.

"As a city we have not formally taken a position," Mayor Ken Nelson told me in a recent interview. However, his personal opinion is clear.

"Arlington Park is a tremendous asset to all the Northwest suburbs," Nelson says. "My personal feeling is that we want to make sure that track is successful."

The track generates $680,000 a year in tax receipts to Arlington Heights, but adjacent suburbs also reap benefits, Nelson says. "The people who come shop in our stores, buy our gas, eat our food. It's an economic engine for the Northwest suburbs."

The mayor says residents rarely talk with him about the possibility of slots; in the past six months he's received only one e-mail, from a person opposed to gambling in general.

That, however, doesn't mean its a non-issue. On summer weekends around noon, the roads near the northern border of Rolling Meadows are clogged with track goers.

"On days like the (Arlington) Million when you're getting lots of traffic, it's really disruptive," Nelson says.

Rolling Meadows police can be seen directing traffic at Euclid Avenue and Rohlwing Road -- but they are hired for overtime that's paid by the track, Nelson points out.

The mayor isn't worried about possible undesirable effects of expanded gambling spilling over the border. "Should they get slots there, I'm sure it will be handled very well. They're a first-class operation," he says, adding that he brings his family to the track.

As for when any decision will be made, Nelson says it's a state issue. Arlington Heights leaders may have a little more sway since it's their town, he adds, but ultimately it's up to legislators.

Indeed, the issue of slots at Arlington Park has been hot and cool over the years, part of proposals to expand gambling as a way to address the state's fiscal crisis.

Nelson says he watches the discussions with interest. "I never try to predict what will happen in Springfield," he says, "because I usually get surprised."