| 1/8/2008 |
A week into his term, Mayor Henry suggests he'd be open to the idea of a casino in Fort Wayne. (News-Sentinel, 1/8/2008) |
| 10/14/2008 |
During a Budget Hearing concerning a CEDIT Bond issue, Councilman Mitch Harper asks Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell about a casino coming to town. |
| 10/16-18/2008 |
A joint poll (between the News-Sentinel and WANE-15 TV) is conducted with one of the questions asking, "Would you favor or oppose a gaming boat in Fort Wayne as a part of the often discussed North River Project?" (AFW Blog post) |
| 11/2/2008 |
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP hired to lobby legislators for a referendum vote, among other City issues. |
| 11/4/2008 |
Ohio's Issue 6 defeated in General Election. (AFW Blog post) |
| 11/25/2008 |
A press release indicates merger of two companies, Exit Only, Inc. and Summit City Grand Resort & Casino Holdings Corporation which is planning to bring a casino to downtown Fort Wayne. (AFW Blog post) |
| 11/26/2008 |
A public hearing is held on the proposed tax abatement changes by Councilwomen Liz Brown and Karen Goldner. AFW blogmaster, Stephen Parker, addresses the Council asking them to consider addressing a casino's request for a tax abatement. It is discussed by the Council, but no action is undertaken. (AFW Blog post) |
| 12/12/2008 |
Mayor Tom Henry releases a statement, "on the issue of gaming" (AFW Blog post) |
| 12/15/2008 |
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly reports that the City's acquisition of the former OmniSource property (North River Now area) is off the table. (AFW Blog post) |
| 12/23/2008 |
The Anderson Herald Bulletin runs an editorial encouraging the State not to award a casino license to Fort Wayne. (AFW Blog post) |
| 1/7/2009 |
MSKTD & Associates signs a Architecture and Design Contract with Summit City Grand Resort & Casino Holdings Corp. for a Resort, Casino, 3,000 Seat Theatre and Water Park. (Press release) |
| 1/8/2009 |
Mayor Tom Henry announces hiring of Third House Advocacy Group & IPFW's Community Research Institute. The groups will study and report on the economic and fiscal impacts of gambling as well as the effects on a community. (AFW Blog post) |
| 1/22/2009 |
House Bill number 1677 introduced. The bill would authorize slot machine wagering at a satellite facility in Allen County. The bill did not make it out of committee. (AFW Blog post) |
| 2/1/2009 |
Legacy Lending Group, Inc., provides a Letter of Intent to provide commercial financing to Summit City Grand Resort and Casino in the estimated amount of $600,000,000. (Letter) |
| 2/6/2009 |
A second lobbyist, Krieg Devault, LLP, is hired by the City. |
| 2/12/2009 |
Mayor Henry's State of the City has a section discussing the issue of bringing a casino to Fort Wayne. (AFW Blog post) |
| 2/17/2009 |
Summit City Grand Resort & Casino Holdings Corp. presents 10 copies of it's proposal to build a "Casino, Hotel, Water Park, and Resort & National Concert Venue" to Mayor Tom Henry. (Letter) |
| 2/18/2009 |
Mayor Tom Henry writes an editorial, "Keep open mind about city gaming" in the Journal Gazette. (AFW Blog post)
Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Karen Goldner mentions the casino issue in her State of the Second address. In part: "My own observation of communities where casinos have opened is that the truth of the matter is somewhere in between, and I do hope that we are able to obtain some research that is more impartial before decisions are made on something this significant." (AFW Blog post)
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| 2/27/2009 |
First public call by Mayor Tom Henry to the Indiana General Assembly for a referendum vote on the issue. (AFW Blog post)
First television advertisements from the Say No to CasiNO! group (AFW Blog post)
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| 3/1/2009 |
Around this date, demolition of the former OmniSource headquarters at Fourth and Calhoun Street. (AFW Blog post) |
| 3/5/2009 |
Ben Lanka reports in the Journal Gazette that Governor Mitch Daniels does not support a referendum vote on the gambling issue in Fort Wayne. (AFW Blog post) |
| 3/10/2009 |
Indiana Live and Hoosier Park ask for tax breaks from State Legislature. (AFW Blog post) |
| 3/12/2009 |
Studies by Third House Advocacy Group and IPFW's Community Research Institute released by Mayor Tom Henry. (AFW Blog post) |
| 3/20/2009 |
Indiana Court of Appeals rules against Jenny Kephart saying a casino wasn't obligated to protect a problem gambler. (AFW Blog post) |
| 3/24/2009 |
Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richard's sends a letter to Mayor Tom Henry outlining her concerns on the issue. (AFW Blog Post) |
| 3/31/2009 |
Journal Gazette Editorial writer Tracey Warner writes in the paper about Mayor Henry wanting a referendum vote on the gaming issue. He writes, in part: "Without that voice, the casino is dead in the water, at least for this session." (AFW Blog post) |
| 4/1/2009 |
Around this date, demolition of the Blue Wall on the East side of the OmniSource property begins. (AFW Blog post) |
| 4/23/2009 |
Alleged Craiglist Killer, Philip Markoff, arrested after police say he killed to support his gambling addiction. (AFW Blog post) |
| 4/24/2009 |
The Coalition for a Better Fort Wayne or Say No to CasiNO! group holds a free lecture titled "Casinos, Crime and Community Costs" by Dr. Earl Grinols. (AFW Blog post) |
| 4/29/2009 |
Hoosier Park in Anderson sponsors a free trip to their Casino in Anderson. (AFW Blog post)
Summit City Grand Resort and Casino Holding Corp. posts a business plan on their website. (Business plan)
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| 4/30/2009 |
Ben Lanka, in the Journal Gazette, reveals the City has hired lobbyists (Taft, Stettinius & Hollister and Krieg Devault) to lobby for the referendum. |
| 5/1/2009 |
Mayor Tom Henry, Deputy Mayor Greg Purcell and City Counsel Tim Haffner hold a press conference to discuss the hiring of the lobbyists. (AFW Blog post) |
| 5/28/2009 |
Governor Mitch Daniels in town. At a press conference, he states that no other bills (outside of the State Budget) will be considered in the upcoming SpecialSession of the Indiana General Assembly. He further states that the gaming referendum should be explored in a summer study committee, "in the daylight" before being considered by the Legislature. Mayor Tom Henry is in the front row of the press conference. (AFW Blog post) |
| 6/15/2009 |
MSKTD provides Summit City Grand Resort & Casino Holdings Corp. with a Summary of Probable Costs. (Summary of Probably Costs) |
| 6/24/2009 |
The Coalition for a Better Fort Wayne, or the Say No to CasiNO! group travels to Indianapolis to meet with various local representatives to push for the denial of a referendum inclusion during the Special Session. (AFW Blog post) |
| 7/1/2009 |
Mayor Tom Henry makes a statement on the Special Session and lack of referendum. (AFW Blog post) |
