Huntley gearing up for local video gaming
By Jeanie Mayer For The Courier-News June 8, 2012 2:24PM
Related Stories
Updated: July 11, 2012 10:20AM
HUNTLEY — The village is gearing up to allow video gaming at bars, truck stops, and fraternal and veterans clubs.
The Illinois General Assembly approved legislation in 2009 allowing computerized gambling as part of the state’s $31 billion capital improvement plan.
More details still need to be worked out by state authorities, but for Huntley it will involve a change in village ordinance and in licensing requirements for establishments that choose to offer the gaming devices.
Village trustees Thursday night spoke out favorably on the measure.
Trustee Pam Fender said that since the state completed the Route 47 widening project, she felt it would be the right thing to have the gambling machines in order to help recoup the costs of the project.
“I don’t think it would be right not to have it,” she said.
Trustee Nick Hanson stated he would like to see the village’s portion of the potential revenue from the gaming machines put back into the community.
“Prior to approving it, I want to determine how to put the money back into the community like awarding a scholarship to a graduating senior,” he said.
According to staff reports, the Illinois Municipal League estimated the village revenue per device would be approximately $2,250 a year.
A total of 10 establishments are eligible to operate the machines, with a maximum of five devices per establishment.
The total estimated annual revenue for the village would be $112,500 if each establishment operated five machines.
The measure is to be voted on at this week’s board meeting.
New development
In other business:
The village will be experiencing some new development, according to the concept plans for two new ventures.
The first is a new development phase in the Talamore subdivision at the corner of Route 47 and Ackman Road.
Proposed by Ryland Homes, the plan details the construction of 86 single-family residences for an age-targeted development that will be marketed to active adults, but without age restrictions as in neighboring Sun City.
The homes proposed are free-standing villas: single-story units with two bedrooms and a den, and ranging in size from 1,200 square feet to 1,900 square feet. The original planned unit development called for 126 “urban townhomes,” according to staff reports. The proposed reduction in the number of units and the zoning change from R4 to R2 residential will require a new review by the plan commission, according to Village Manager David Johnson.
The second development proposal was a concept review for the build-out of lots 4 and 5 at Regency Square at Route 47 and Kreutzer Road.
Staff reports indicate that two of the units will be restaurant uses, with Jimmy John’s and Rookies All-American Pub and Grill filling the spaces.
The plan includes an outdoor patio at the front of each building to accommodate al fresco dining and seating.
The board agreed to forward the plan to the plan commission for review.
The board discussed the award of a bid to Elgin Granite Works for the construction of a columbarium for funeral urns to be constructed in the village-owned Huntley Cemetery. The company bid $31,000 for a 96-niche granite burial chamber and $36,000 for a 120-niche unit.
Discussion ensued among board members as to whether the village should continue to maintain the cemetery as a service to residents or to transfer all or part of the cemetery to a private company.
Hanson proposed the village privatize the cemetery at least in part and asked for documentation on the costs versus the returns of maintaining the proposed columbarium.
Several of the trustees spoke out against privatizing any part of the cemetery on the grounds that the village has provided this service to the community for many years.
The bid award will be up for a vote next week.
