We are now one day removed from the close 3-2 approval vote by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for Greene County’s casino and entertainment facility by Wild Rose Entertainment.

Chief Operating Officer and President of Wild Rose Tom Timmons says yesterday’s vote was like a baseball game.  After the first commissioner, Carl Heinrich voted to deny the casino, it was like the visiting team scored the first run.  Then after Dorles Mertz voted in favor of the project, it was like the home team scored a run to tie it, adds Timmons.  After Kris Kramer voted against it, Timmons points out that the home team needed two home runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the game and sure enough Richard Arnold and chairman Jeff Lamberti voted in favor for a 3-2 approval.

Timmons comments after the vote, one Commissioner who voted against it, told him that he would do whatever Timmons needed to get the project completed on time.

“Even in Carl Heinrich’s speech he gave he felt like he had to stay the course of what he said on his earlier vote on Linn County.  But I talked to him after the meeting and he said he supports this project 100%.”

Now that the vote has passed, Timmons notes that the City of Jefferson officials will get to work later this month to extend water and sewer services out to their site at the northwest corner of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4 before they can start construction which will begin in the next 30 days.

After the start of construction, Timmons points out that their goal is to have the facility enclosed by winter and to have the $40-million structure open for business by next August.

To view a video of the facility, click HERE.